Question For Parents Of Spooks

[Annette]

I have a question regarding moving with a "recovering spook". Besides Miriam's track life, she has only lived only on 35 acres for the past 6 years and now we will be living in an apartment most likely for the rest of her life.

 

Background: I call Miriam a recovering spook because I know she will have a bit of "spookiness" in her forever. When we failed fostering 6 years ago, she was afraid of everything. She was only slightly less afraid of me (I guess it pays to be a short female human) than Roy. She would not even approach Roy. When Roy approached her, she just shook. For the first 1 1/2 years approximately, we attached a 15 foot rope to her collar when she would be out in the yard so we could reel her in. The first cold spell of winter after she came home it was in the mid single digits and we could not get her to come into the house. She would not approach us. Dixie couldn't convince her that it was okay to come in. It took more than 1/2 hour to get her to come inside. I was about in tears worried that we would never get her to come into the house. I still don't know how we got her to come in. When we fed her, the food had to be put in her stand and we had to sit still as possible and not look at her. She was and still is a "water 'holic". When she get nervous she chugs water like an alcoholic.

 

She now thinks her dad "hung the moon" and will approach people at gatherings to get some pets. She still prefers to "hide" outside. It is as if she is afraid to be confined. She is no longer afraid of her grandfather and looks to him for massages. My inlaws' house is no longer frightening to her.

 

We started moving into the apartment Labor Day weekend. Miriam has been in the apartment full-time for just under one month. We are still getting stuff in the apartment from our home, but are not done moving in the stuff we want here. (We aren't getting rid of our 35 acres. That is now our future retirement home.)

 

Her first full week she had anywhere from "pudding poops" to "liquid poops", but they improved by the end of the week. They became normal for her (her homemade liver diet causes formed but soft stools normally) for about one week.

 

We have attended two greyhound events since moving where she acted normal for her. The last one being the GPA-WI Gala this past weekend where we spent the night by her grandparents. She was totally comfortable there. Now back at the apartment she has had liquid poops again. I am going to try adding yogurt to her food since pumpkin does nothing for her. She has her next check up (for her liver) on October 21st at her vet "Up North". I may end up making it earlier if her poos don't improve.

 

Finally, my question: If you have ever moved with your spook, how long did it take for your pup to relax?

 

 

[NeylasMom]

That's quite a big change, not just the move itself, but from an area that had a lot more outdoor space and was likely a lot quieter to where you are now. Couple of suggestions to help her adjust:

 

-White noise machines strategically placed in a few rooms to drown out noise from neighbors/the outdoors

-Stick to your old routine as much as possible, but consider walks when it's dark if she seems worried in the new neighborhood. Things are often quieter and there is less traffic - car & pedestrian - at night or very early in the morning

-Use neutriceuticals to help relax her. I would use a combination of Zylkene (dose as instructed on packaging) and L-Theanine (start with 5mg/kg twice daily and you can go up to 15). You could also try a DAP collar.

 

I might also add a gut support supplement. I really like VetriScience's Probiotic BD. Hefty dose of probiotics, plus some other supplements to help reduce inflammation and soothe the gut.

[Annette]

That's quite a big change, not just the move itself, but from an area that had a lot more outdoor space and was likely a lot quieter to where you are now. Couple of suggestions to help her adjust:

 

-White noise machines strategically placed in a few rooms to drown out noise from neighbors/the outdoors

-Stick to your old routine as much as possible, but consider walks when it's dark if she seems worried in the new neighborhood. Things are often quieter and there is less traffic - car & pedestrian - at night or very early in the morning

-Use neutriceuticals to help relax her. I would use a combination of Zylkene (dose as instructed on packaging) and L-Theanine (start with 5mg/kg twice daily and you can go up to 15). You could also try a DAP collar.

 

I might also add a gut support supplement. I really like VetriScience's Probiotic BD. Hefty dose of probiotics, plus some other supplements to help reduce inflammation and soothe the gut.

 

Thanks

 

We did give her L-Theanine when she first came to us (along with prescription meds).

 

I have an email out to her internal medicine vet at UW-Madison about all the supplements you mentioned.

 

I know on a canine liver board I am on they suggest Honest Kitchen Pro Bloom and I know for the dose she would get there would not be too much copper for her.

 

I know for the noise, at least on the "outside" it does not seem to bother her. Our apartment is located at the edge of town at the bottom of a hill where drivers should be slowing down for the speed limit change (of course not all seem to think they need to, but that is a different story) and a lot of the semis like to use their "Jake Brakes". I have watched her sleep through some awful rumblings by the semis.

 

And of course the cat is handling it all in stride. He loves to lay in the patio door and watch the traffic go by.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Annette

[NeylasMom]

Stool issues could be totally separate then, and just coincidental that they started up again at home. I might actually make the association the other way - that the events stressed her and that made her stool soft afterward. Might be worth a fecal too.

 

On the supplements, definitely check on the Probiotic BD. I can't imagine either of the others would be an issue. Obviously you've already used the l-theanine. The Zylkene is a single ingredient, a very specific isolated milk protein. Both are incredibly safe, you can't really overdose a dog on them, they just pee out the extra.

[greysmom]

I would say ditto to Jen's advice above. And I would definitely say the anxiety caused the soft stools.

 

The three or four times we took our spook for extended vacations she was, contrarily, *better* than she was at home. I don't know if she just liked the beach better and so was more relaxed?? But we would be there for two or three weeks, and she was most like a "normal" dog there. My husband and I always joked - more than half seriously - that we should buy a vacation home for just for Cash!!