I'm taking Willow to the vet this afternoon. Over the earlier part of the weekend, we had a lot of snow. She was absolutely terrified by the avalanche blasting, even when she was inside at home and the bangs were really muffled. She's been refusing to go out for walks. Adaptil (diffuser and tablets) is having no effect whatsoever. Even today, two days after the last blasts, she's curled up on a mat in a corner of kitchen, rather than with me in the living room where she normally spends her day. It's heartbreaking to see her so upset, and I've reached my limit trying with desensitisation and counter-conditioning. So, we're going to talk to the vet about medication, and I'm hoping to get a referral to a noise phobia specialist in the UK. Poor girl
Oh no, how awful. I know how much work you've already put in with desensitisation so you must be devastated to see her like this. We'll be thinking of you and hoping for some positive outcomes x
Poor Willow, and you It's so awful when you can't explain to them that they're safe and have no need to be frightened! Fingers crossed you get what you need to move forward with her! Xx
I hope you can get some effective help for Willow. Poor mite sounds terribly upset. Good luck for your visit this afternoon.
Oh Fiona I'm sorry to read your post, poor Willow how dreadful for you both. Good luck at the vets. Xx
It only happens every now and again. When we have heavy snow, it normally happens the next morning. It's not predictable when it happens, even then. It can start at 5am, or not until around 7. Then, it can be one or two, or maybe ten blasts, spread over two to four hours. When there's the chance of avalanches impacting the road, the blasting can continue throughout the day, but this only happens every few years. She used to be absolutely fine with it, so I don't know what has caused her to get worse, but it is progressively getting worse and worse. I'm sure that, come Spring, we'll then have to contend with the birds buzzing her again, which terrified her last year and then, come hunting season, the gunshot. So it's not as simple as it just being the rest of the winter we have to get through, sadly
Poor Willow...I hope your vet can find a way to help, at least temporarily and that you find a good specialist you like. Brogan struggled with something similar (his big ones were fire crackers, thunder and gunshot) and only "recovered" when he went deaf, so I can really empathise with your frustration.
So sorry to hear. So distressing for you both. Let us know how the vet visit went and what was recommended to help her.
Oh @snowbunny so sorry to hear that Willow has been so distressed this weekend because of the blasting. You have put in so much work de-sensitizing and the poor girl is still suffering badly It must be so difficult when you can't predict when the blasting is going to happen or how long for.I know you mention the use of Adaptil diffuser etc, have you tried some Adaptil sprayed on a bandana around her neck as well? It can help some dogs as they have a more continuous scent. Some people also find essential oil of lavender in a bowl in the room helps - yes I know it's a bit of a old wives tale but if it helps all to the good and no risk either. Another thought - I know some behaviourists and vets, would mention is the possibility of changing her diet and seeing if she improves. I really hope that the vet can help this afternoon although from your later post the poor girls suffers not just with the avalanche blasting. The noise phobia referral would be interesting but I suspect to be effective you need to know the root cause of the change - the chain of events in that first instance when she heard a loud explosion and reacted. Life would be so much easier if they could just tell us how they felt.
I'm so sorry, poor, poor Willow, it's so upsetting to think of her so frightened, you must be beside yourself I really hope you can get some help for her. Thinking of you and hugs to all xxx
I've not tried the Adaptil spray, no. I thought the diffuser might have a similar effect as the collar, as it diffuses throughout the home. I've bough scullcap & valerian tablets, too, but I've not tried them - I'm a bit leery since you apparently need to use them for several weeks to see an improvement, and I don't want to go down that road without professional advice. I've had consultations with two behaviourists in the past, albeit for different issues, but I've mentioned this, too and neither of them offered any help other than the normal DS/CC route, and Adaptil/Nutracalm. I've changed Willow's kibble from a chicken to a pork to a fish-based kibble to address a slightly dry skin condition, without seeing any difference in behaviour, other than the progressive worsening, so I'm pretty sure it's not diet related. I'm really reluctant to medicate, but I feel like I've reached the extent of my ability to address her fears myself. It's very disheartening and easy to feel I've failed her I spent most of Saturday morning lying on the floor of the kitchen with her, so sad that I couldn't help her.
There's no way you have failed Willow as you have tried so many different methods to help her. She's a very sensitive girl. I know the blasting is extreme but have you tried the desensitising CD to loud noises? a long shot I suppose at this point. I wish I knew something that could help. Don't be disheartened, please. xx
Please don't feel as though you've failed her! You're the best Doggy mum ever! I think most of us to aspire to be as good as you.
Yup. She doesn't react to most noises played through a sound system. I found a YouTube video with some gunshot that she did have a reaction to, so I used that for a while, at very low levels, but didn't see any noticeable improvement. I think that if the vet agrees, that medication will be an entry way into doing DS with her. The problem is, she's so sensitive to so many things that on some days, she'd be able to easily cope with a certain level and a few days later, it would completely freak her out because of trigger stacking. I make it sound like she's a nervous wreck, and she's really not, day in, day out, but she is so scared by these certain things that it affects her deeply for ages, and I'm worried that it will end up with permanent damage.
Like you I'm not keen on giving tablets which need weeks to show any improvement. I know a few trainers that use Adaptil on bandanas for dogs that struggle in a training environment and it sems to be reasonably effective and of course is eadily removed at the end of the session. How was she when you were in the UK for puppy collection? Did she have any reactions to noise that were of concern? Sorry, just trying to consider whether there is an environmental aspect in play or whether it is a more generalised response.
She was fine. Watched fireworks no problem. She's never had any issue with fireworks. But the first time she heard a starter pistol was in the UK and she was scared by that. It's not just noises, though, because she's scared by the rock martins buzzing us in the spring - they seem to have a thing for black dogs, as they don't bother Shadow or other light-coloured dogs I know, but will buzz another black Lab and a black and tan dachshund that live nearby. That's regardless of whether it's in Andorra or Spain. The avalanche blasting is something she's only ever heard in Andorra, but gunshot anywhere scares her. She's also scared by high winds when she's inside the house, but not outside. Thunderstorms don't bother her - even when they're right overhead, as we get a lot here in the mountains.
