Busderpuddle

I have not tried clicker training and I just watched a show on the TTouch which was amazing. I do brush her each day which she loves. Her teeth chatter away the whole time. We also play outside when we can. She goes for at least 2 long walks each day (sometimes one of them is a quicker bike ride) but she doesn't really like to go. She gets real excited and then about 1/4 of a block away, she is ready to turn back. She is on her 3rd vet since we got her last July. The 1st one was a dud. The 2nd one wanted to put her down due to the anxiety and the one we have now had his medical training with a lot of greys and is willing to listen, read and do research. He has made several calls to other vets and also to labs to help find answers for her. He even gets on here and reads the info, so I feel pretty confident with him. She likes to roach and does it about half of every day. She is very happy when I am sitting beside her or where she can see me. It is the times when I have to be gone or she thinks I am leaving that the anxieties really go crazy. The phobias started a couple weeks ago and when I think back, she is much worse now than when I started to find her help. I will be anxious to see who she is when the Prozac is gone and I still wonder about the thyroid meds. Going to call tomorrow to ask if I can try it. I want to wait until the Prozac is out of her system first though. Thanks !!!

Thank you to all who have replied. After a long discussion with my husband last night, we have decided to take her off the Prozac and reassess as some suggested. Her issue originally was the S.A. and now we have all kinds of things going on. She now has new phobias and the lip smacking. I am going to wean her off slowly and then see what kind of dog I have. I still wonder about the hypothyroidism and will be talking to my vet tomorrow. I think the vet thought the Prozac might be helping because when I started to wean her off, she became fearful of a bunch of new things. It is like her mind is on overdrive. I know when I am feeling a bit "crazy", I can dream up all sorts of things and blow them out of proportion. I wonder if that is what is happening to her ?

I have not tried any CD's but have tried the TV, Country, Rock , Classical music and talk radio.......None of it seemed to help. I also tried all the OTC remedies I could find along with the calming pheromone plug-in, spray & collar. We tried colmicalm, xanax, and now the Prozac. It is now escalating to where she shakes most of the time. So sad. I just wish I could find that magic thing. I am wondering if another grey would help her ? The vet doesn't think it would make a difference. I can't afford another one right now anyway but she is really unhappy. Today on her last walk she was acting like she was afraid of the parked cars in the driveways. She was cowering before each one and I was having to pull her along. That was totally new. I also have a tranquilizer that I have tried a couple of days with no results. I was supposed to start with 1/2 and can work up to 2 1/2 a day. I am afraid to try more than the 1/2.

That sounds like Ruby...........a total freak and trembling all the time. She is a good weight and her coat looks great. Other than that, she is a wreck.

Mychip1-Thank you ! Walliered-do you give 10 mg of Valium every day? I think the Prozac is making her crazy too but she seems even crazier when off of it. I don't know what to do. I really want to find her some help. Will look in to that honey. I have never heard of it. Is it safe to give to a dog daily ? I tried xanax but it didn't do a thing.

greyhead-what kind of signs were you seeing in your greyhounds that are hypothyroid ? Ruby's anxiety is increasing so much and her phobias are increasing daily. Did yours have anxiety issues also ? I was half done with the weaning off of the Prozac when the vet called and said he had talked to some of his contacts and he said he thought the Prozac was maybe helping. I felt it was making her worse. Now that she has been on it another week at full dose, she trembles pretty much all the time, frantically circles at times and lip smacks. I will talk to the vet Monday. Just wondering what you noticed ?

I know my stress over her and not having a job (and probably losing our home) is not helping Ruby. I just don't know how to change that right now and am trying to do what is suggested by the professionals. As far as seeing a behaviorist for her, my vet also suggested that but the one he suggested charges $800+ for a consultation and I just can't afford it. Wish I could but it is just not possible at the moment. Ruby and I take a lot of walks and bike rides to help us both with the anxiety. Had another job interview last week and hoping and praying I get it. If I do, as soon as I can get the house caught up, I will arrange for her to see the specialist.

Yes, my vet did suggest thyroid meds but after I sent him the "normals" for greys, and he consulted with some other vets, he said he wanted to hold off on the thyroid. He suggested leaving her on the Prozac for a while longer to see if that would calm her "fears" of the world. Like I said earlier, when weaning her off the Prozac, she started being afraid of all sorts of things that had never bothered her before. I feel like my poor girl is a wreck. She has had no wretching or vomiting at all and usually eats well. Her S.A. is worse than ever however and the Prozac doesn't seem to be working as far as that goes. I am about at my wits end honestly, and yes, I am very stressed. I have never heard about that honey but will look in to it. Where do you buy it ? How much would you give a 60 lb dog ?

I thought the Prozac was making Ruby nuts too but when I started to wean her off of it, she started all kinds of new phobias so the vet suggested leaving her on it a while. She became afraid of some balloons, the kitchen water faucet, one of her food dishes, etc.....it was awful. Those behaviors seem a bit better but I just need to figure out the lip smacking. She is eating well. If it is nausea, is there anything i can give her for that ?

Ruby has started to lick her lips at all hours of the day and night. She has access to fresh clean water in and out, I brush her teeth every day and her food has not changed. I am assuming this is the Prozac that she is on but I can't STAND IT all day long !!! She even wakes me up in the night licking. This is just her mouth, she is not licking her feet or body at all. Any suggestions ? I am seriously considering moving her to another room to sleep in but then I think she will whine and howl.

I like the ice and kibble idea !!!! Seems like a brilliant one to me.

Prayers and good wishes sent your way.

Hugs and prayers sent your way for Lizzie.

Greyhound9797-Thank you so much for addressing the concerns I had. I said 2 weeks because I wanted to see if she liked it and if it was way more work for me to be honest. So far it seems easy except when I am staring at the meat case at the store trying to figure it out and then storing it. It does seem a bit pricy but I am on the lookout for a supplier and I hope that brings the cost down. Ruby seems to be doing well and eating with gusto. Thank you to everyone who offered ideas and suggestions !

Hugs to you for the loss of your boy.

Sending good thoughts your way.

So far so good. I ran and got some Benadryl and gave her one. Vet said I could give her 2 but thought I would start there. She is no longer panting or licking. Thank you for the advice.

Ruby was just out in the yard and I heard the GSOD and looked out and she was hopping around like a crazy girl. I called her to me and she limped over, favoring a front paw. She came in and I checked her over and found nothing. She then started licking a different paw obsessively. It doesn't look swollen and she will let me look at it and touch it. I am assuming that she got stung by a bee. She then started panting like crazy (she does this though due to S.A.) so I laid down by her and started petting her. She immediately calmed down. Then I gave her a jerky treat which she gobbled down. She is now resting but off and on pants. She looks very comfortable. I called the vet and he said to watch for bloody mucousy diarrhea and if that happens, go to the E-VET. Has anyone else experienced this ? What happened ? I am praying that she doesn't need to go in tonight since there is no way I can lift her and my husband is gone tonight. Just need reassurance. I am headed out to get Benadryl.

Thank you everyone. My vet is going to run a few more tests per your guidance. Will see what happens then.

I use Pill Pockets and they make one for sensitive tummies. Ruby loves them and just gulps them down without even chewing.

So far so good. No poop yet though but I know that can be normal. Will keep you posted on the journey. THANKS !

Thank you everyone for your help. She was on Prozac when labs were drawn yesterday. Will pass this info along to my vet and he is doing some research.

So sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful boy.

Thank you for your replies. I have forwarded the information about the lab values to my vet and will wait for his response. I thought he did a TSH but could be wrong. He ordered a Thyroid panel.