Feb. 25—Last in a series.
Koko’s anxiety goes beyond her antipathy against aerial aliens and her TV predator panic. He pestered for attention, nudging and pawing his people to distraction. He followed from room to room. They can’t even enjoy their privacy inside the bathroom. Annoying? Of course. But from my side of the exam table, I saw a dog in desperate need of peace, not to mention his long suffering humans.
Half-baked attempts to improve behavioral disorders deliver meager results. Pets like Koko deserve the best shot at a good life. Research-based behavior change and management methods are essential. Taking care of the physical neurochemical imbalances in their brain is less important. Safe, carefully chosen anti-anxiety medication can make a huge difference.
There are many drugs from different classes, each targeting different receptors in the brain. We do not prescribe tranquilizers. There are no acceptable side effects. Koko feels better now that there is no danger, short or long term, to her insides.
Koko’s anxiety responded well to sertraline, but sudden noises still caused her to jump out of her skin. Gabapentin, probably the safest drug of any kind, is added at low doses. No longer on the edge of hysteria, this sweet girl has learned. He started playing and his fear of the backyard began to disappear.
But the @#%&!! television continues to threaten Koko’s safety. His covered den, now a cozy den, was parked next to Jan and Marty’s seats, its open door facing away from the wall-mounted digital repository of marauding carnivores. A food-giving toy, called a Twist ‘n Treat, filled with canned food and frozen overnight, gave Koko a scavenging opportunity. Evil creatures on TV? Who cares?
Sadly, activities like gymnastics and ballet are off the table. Something about the lack of opposable thumbs. Letting Koko out of the house to play and sniff behind the backs of others of her kind can heal and tire her out. I know this. The Nichol family Border collie “Mick” wagging his tail at the K9 Resort. A tired dog is a happy dog.
For help with behavioral problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference on my website, drjeffnichol.com
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