Animals and mental illness

[BainsBane]

[kathysart_decoration]

1. My anxious dog

So glad to see this posted. I have an 11 year old collie mix dog and about a year ago she suddenly seemed to be having anxiety attacks - mostly at night. She jumps up very suddenly as if from a bad dream and jumps on the bed and, panting and drooling, tries to climb and lay on me. She is a about 65 pounds, not a small dog, and I am only 4'8", though I certainly weigh more than she does. This has, also, happened during the day, at which time she tries to stay between my legs. She has to be as close to me as possible. Eventually it passes, but it can take hours. What I do at night is make her leave the bedroom and close the door. She scratches at it and I eventually let her back in and she seems calmer. It's a bit like a time-out, though I think the behavior is anxiety driven. I hate the thought of medication but it may, eventually, be an option. It is a relief to know that this behavior may not be unusual. I have wondered about something in the environment, but I have no idea what. Again, thanks so much for posting this. I would love to see other replies to this with some info on how people handled this type of problem.

[ladjf]

2. She may be hearing distant thunder or fireworks. My dog has huge anxiety symptoms under those

conditions. nt

[BainsBane]

4. Mine too

I always know when a storm is approaching because she begins to shake. She is far more accurate than the weather. She's fine otherwise though.

[ladjf]

6. Our neighborhood has a lot of fireworks enthusiasts and

they are driving my dog crazy.

[passiveporcupine]

3. Or she may be suffering from bad dreams

I have a cat who wakes up crying like she's scared and/or confused. If I love on her she stops crying and calms down. She never cries like that when awake. She didn't do this when she was young. Only in the last couple of years. She's 16 now.

Many dogs do become more anxious with advanced age. Sometimes they shake uncontrollably, and it's heartbreaking to watch.

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. I have a little dog who needs tranqulizers for fireworks.

He shakes uncontrollably and there is no comforting him, he cowers and slinks from room to room and jumps in my arms, and then out of my arms and continues running and cowering. The Vet. suggested tranquilizers, and they work very well.
Poor little guy.