Separation Anxiety and Clomi-calm

[Jade]

Anyone have any experience using clomi-calm? Creole is still having severe issues with separation anxiety (started a couple weeks after DH left) and the independence training I've been doing over the last month or two doesn't seem to help so I finally broke down and called the vet to try it. I came home yesterday to a severely bent kennel, tray across the room covered in poop, a dog covered in poop and a carpet covered in poop. I just can't handle him panicking to that degree, so I'm going to try some medication. I'm picking it up today. It'll probably be a few weeks before we notice true results, but I was wondering if anyone else had anything to offer in the way of experience.

[kathydip]

I haven't had any experience with it but good luck. Poor little guy. And I feel for you as well. It's too bad he cannot understand how much you love him. With everything you have done for him it's obviously you truely love him.
What is the vet saying at this point? You seem to have done everything right and he is still having issues.
Good luck to both of you.

[Jade]

The vet didn't really have any insight, just a "let's try this" kind of option. I don't know what else to do with him, really. Maybe a straight jacket?

Thanks for your support, Kathy. I'm hoping this gets him over the hill so he can start making some progress.

[Nikko]

I don't really know much about seperation anxiety since I've never experienced it with my dog, but I was just wondering how long you are out of his site or gone before he starts "freaking out". I'm sure you've tried this, but I'll say it anyway, have you tried leaving for a short time and then coming back. Then leave for a bit longer and so on. Another thing you could try is putting on music for him, probably won't work, but it's worth a shot. Whenever I know I'll be gone for more then 2 hours I always put music on for Phoenix, it seems to calm her.
Sorry I'm not much help, I try.

[mulder]

my dog used to chew the house, well, both our dogs at some point. then we'd leave the tv on low volume, and the chewed less and less then eventually stopped. im not saying it'd work with creole, but it's my experience

[marmilla]

I leave my puppy with a stuffed Kong toy every time I leave. It usually has frozen peanut butter with a treat in the middle. However, it sounds as if Creole has great destructive powers! :O I don't know anything about the medicine, but I hope it works. Poor guy Is there anywhere (like the kitchen) that you can contain him in? That way if he gets out again he can't make such a mess. He must REALLY miss you when you're gone. Best of luck!~

[Jade]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, but I've tried just about everything I can think of, including everything listed. Riese, what you're describing is the independence training we've been working on. Even with the training, as soon as I walk away he starts whining.

Marcia, he didn't get out of his kennel, he just pooped then tried to get out and in doing so, shoved the tray out, thereby spreading the mess even further.

[Nikko]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jade Thanks for the suggestions guys, but I've tried just about everything I can think of, including everything listed. Riese, what you're describing is the independence training we've been working on. Even with the training, as soon as I walk away he starts whining.

Wow, that has gotta suck, I'm so sorry you have to deal with that. Good luck! I hope the next thing you try works out.

[Angelnstuff]

Just by couriosity, is the pooing a common part of the Separation Anxiety, or did he just have to go? Cuz tanner is usually very good about holding it when hes in his kennel, Once in awhile when i get a migraine i wont be able to get up and let them out. Tanner can stay in his kennel nearly all day without going potty (not healthy i know but he does) but theres been 2 times we were gone all day and came home to a huge mess.. and at the time i wondered if it had more to do with how long i was gone than him actually having to go.

[Dragonrain]

Yeah - pooing is common with separation anxiety - they'll usually go to the bathroom around windows and doors, or in their crate if they're in there. Separation anxiety in wild dogs is a way to help dogs seperated from the pack reunite with them - so they will make alot of noise, go to the bathroom, and try to escape if confined.

Good luck with Creole! If I were you, I would try medication at this point, since the training itself doesn't sound like it's helping. He could have some hormone inbalance issues that training along can't improve. I don't know about clomi-calm, but there are some other drugs out there also used for seperation anxiety and I'm sure your vet could work with you to find the best one for Creole. Usually Vets recommend drugs along with continued training, with the goal of eventually weaning them off the drugs.

[Jade]

We will definitely be continuing the training.

[Leo]

Give the medication a try, you can always slowly wean him off from it... stopping the behavior sooner than later (even with the use of medication) will be better for him in the long run. I would worry about him hurting himself when trying to escape the crate. Plus it doesn't make for a happy dog/owner relationship when the owner is having to wash feces of the carpet, crate, walls and dog every time they come home.

This link has some book suggestions on separation anxiety, I'm not sure if you have read all of them or not, check your local library, you might be able to borrow them for free: Canine Separation Anxiety

Some other links (some with names of Veterinarians who have ongoing studies on separation anxiety):
ABC News: Vet Diagnoses Dogs With Compulsive Disorder

ABC News: 'Puppy Prozac' Promises to Ease Pet Separation Anxiety Reconcile.com - Home

ABC News: How to Cure Your Dog's Separation Anxiety

Better behaved pets through chemistry? - Creature Comforts - MSNBC.com

[Scarlette]

Scarlette had some separation anxiety issues but I had done what Nikko suggested and left the house for short periods of time and came back and increased my time away.

My cousin's dogs will tear the house apart if she goes away without leaving the tv on.

I was going to suggest what everyone else did but if you've already tried that.....I don't know what to say. Poor Creole and poor YOU!

[marmilla]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jade Marcia, he didn't get out of his kennel, he just pooped then tried to get out and in doing so, shoved the tray out, thereby spreading the mess even further.

Yikes! I hope the medicine works out for him. Louie used to bark until he lost his voice when we'd leave It got really frustrating and we could never resolve it. We had to get a doggy-sitter every time we left for more than a few hours for the day. At least he was too small to make too much trouble. Has anyone ever recorded their voice to play for their dog while gone from the house? I've never tried it, but I wonder if it would work. My parents dogs will respond to my voice over the phone . At any rate, the medicine sounds like the best bet.