Oh, I'm sorry to hear this You know I have my own personal thing going on with Willow at the moment, so I really do feel your pain. I'd definitely get back in touch with the vet. My next port of call if it doesn't work is a referral to Jon Bowen - I can't recall where you are, but is that an option? Even my vet here in Andorra has heard of him!
Reading your thread is so like mine with Homer. Jon Bowen is who we went to see and who put Homer into Selgian. I know you've got Willow on something different. I'll look it up and investigate, like the dog sitter I'm not convinced that Selgian is right for Homer. One more week to go and I'll be on school holidays for two weeks so I can stay with him all day and do nothing but walks and cuddles.
I'm so not sure about how much is his learnt behaviour and how much is real anxiety,more one leading to the other. Sometimes like with the dustbin men yesterday morning, I just told him he was being a silly ninny and distracted him and he stopped but if I wasn't there he'd work himself up into a state, knock thing over which would give him a fright.
I think, like with humans with depression and anxiety, there's probably not a "one drug cures all". You have to experiment to find the right one. Sadly, they can't tell us whether they're feeling better and, if you're anything like me, you end up not being able to see the wood for the trees, as the anxious episodes mask your ability to acknowledge the progress you're making. I think that's where the log is helping me - and the lovely Barbara told me the other day that reading it, it seemed clear to her that progress was being made, even when I was in the midst of doom and gloom of a bad day. You'll get there, because you care. I'm sure it's not going to be easy, but I'm sure you'll find the right meds that will help him get back to some sort of normality.
Poor Homer, I find this so upsetting Fiona @snowbunny obviously is going through this with poor Willow but I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for you both. I really hope your vet can sort this out and Homer can go back to being a fun loving boy. xxx
Selegiline, like fluoxetine, and clomipramine, can ALL cause an increase in anxiety, depression, confusion, agitation, which is a paradoxical response. If you feel after 8-10 weeks things are no better (or worse) I would definitely discuss it with your vet. I feel really sorry for all you guys with anxious dogs too You just want to fix them.
I am so sorry that poor Homer is still so anxious. It must be so distressing for you. My mother had a noise-reactive border collie who was pretty extreme - if he heard a bang, even one we could barely hear,he would run away and hide in terror, it was a real shame
Agh, this is so distressing to read. Poor, poor Homer. It sounds like you're working with the best specialist possible, but it must be so frustrating to not see any progress after 12 months. I really hope that you manage to find the right medication.
I know a little bit about how the brain functions, and about the neurotransmitters in the human brain. Not so much about dogs though! In humans, it common practice to change within groups of medications. Anti-depressants work in very different ways, what works for one patient, may not work for another, this can also change over time. Homer seems stuck in cycle. You should have seen some effect on his stress-related hyperactivity, the extreme symptoms, such as digging by now. Your vet may be thinking about switching meds now, to a completely different class and mode of action, Selegiline is what we call a MOAI, and possibly not targeting quite the right area. Maybe something like fluoxetine combined with a short course of benzo to calm the immediate anxiety down. They should also take effect very quickly, however they will be a longish time without medication, before something else can be started. I am so sorry though, how deeply distressing for you
This last week has been quite positive, which in a way is frustrating. Hubby's been going in to work slightly later in the mornings. Homer's been quite happy to go into his cage in the mornings and be left there for about an hour until his dog walker comes to collect him. And the dog walker has but him back in his cage for the few times they've dropped him off just before I've got home. He's been quite calm and happy, not taking any notice at all of the bin men on Tuesday and a few builders deliveries up the road. I've now got two weeks at home with him so will do some more positive crate training. We have family friends with us for the weekend until Tuesday, two girls (11 and 13) who adore Homer and have been giving him constant attention. Unfortunately Sunday afternoon was the Boat Race, which results in lots of commotion going on along his normal path. The girls wanted to take him for a walk but he was having none of it, the road was still quite busy with street sweepers trying to deal with the mountains of rubbish left behind. This morning, just as we'd got everyone ready and dressed to take him out for a walk a skip lorry came down the road to drop off a skip at the house with building works - Bad timing! He's taken a little while to settle but no scratching just a bit of passing around. They've all gone out, so H and I are settled down with the gentle hum of the dishwasher.
Houdini has returned. I left him downstairs in his cage, I'm sure I closed the door. Next thing he's by my side with a full body wiggle so pleased with himself but anxious at the same time. Did I close his cage properly or just fold down the cover.... Later I had to go to the dentist, near by so no more than just over an hour. I popped him in his cage and ensured I closed the door properly and folded over the cover. I return to find Homer running down the stairs. Most definitely out if his cage. He'd tipped his water bowl over soaking the mat and kitchen floor a was panting quite heavily. This dog was given to us to test my nerves!
