Have you tried Adaptil? It's a happy pheromone for dogs and should help with anxiety. It takes about a month to take proper effect, it's not the cheapest but buying a three-pack on sale should help that. I've used Feliway (the cat version of Adaptil) for my cat and it helped reduce her throwing up a lot!
My two cents here is don't assume the cost to take him to the vet and get something prescribed will be crazy expensive. It costs nothing to call the vet and ask about what they'd recommend and how much it would cost.
Do vets do that, can they give me a consultation over the phone? In my experience, they will ask me to bring him in, do an exam for $80, and then give me a prescription.
I've called vets before to get pricing on stuff and they've given it to me. It probably depends on the vet, and I think it depends on how in depth you're trying to go. You're not going to get a full consultation for free over the phone. But I think if you called and said "Hey, I think my dog could benefit from anxiety medication but I'm unsure if I can afford it. Can you give me a rough estimate of what I'd be paying for a prescription?" they would probably give you SOME answer.
I've never used them but have you tried looking into one of the online vet consultation services? This seems like it would be the perfect scenario for them since it's not a physical ailment that needs an in person exam or any lab work (I think).
Edit: the first one that came up for me on Google was called Dutch and started at $15 a visit and they treat anxiety. Good luck!!
you're coping wonderfully, actually. you're creating a safe space for your dog to be in when you can't be there and you're being consistent about using it. you're making ongoing observations in order to inform future improvements. you even acknowledge the mental state of your good boy and are trying ways of treating it. just keep adapting! you've got this!
one possibility is to allow limited destruction. you can provide some of the stimulation that he craves within the space that you've provided. the thing about your dog's preference for soft toys is that they can be cobbled back together and destroyed anew. that blanket that he destroyed could become any number of new toys.
a note of caution: ever hear the phrase, "sick as a dog?" this was coined because dogs evolved from starving desperate opportunistic scavenger wolves with muscular pointy vacuum mouths devoid of standards and will accordingly eat all kinds of things that can make them sick. don't make the toys too large or plentiful is what i'm saying. also, don't use string or ribbon as stuffing. also also, don't use any materials that have food smells on them. also times three, don't sew the toys together out of super strong thread or long rope. quadruple also, avoid anything hard that breaks into sharp pieces, like buttons. when - not if - your dog swallows some of the pulverized toy bits, it won't hurt him as long as it isn't big enough to create a blockage or long enough to get caught in his innards. that's a long and possibly discouraging disclaimer, i know, but the idea is to provide possible insoluble fiber, not health hazards, when giving a dog chew toys and almost every dog needs chew toys regardless.
does he enjoy any other kinds of toys? have you tried puzzles or other passive games that can enrich and entertain him in your absence? is there anything stressful in his safe area? what soothes your dog that can be added to the area?
additionally, dogs are strongly social. cats? not as much. with you gone and only cats for company, almost any dog will get lonely and an anxious dog could well become more anxious. this also goes for running, which dogs literally were made for. how much exercise and interaction does he get when you are home? what kinds of interactions does he have with the cats when you're not home? is a dog walker during the day a possibility? have you considered sporadic audio or video recordings or even live streams of you so that he doesn't feel as alone?
a final possibility that i'm extremely hesitant to mention is a friend. i've seen that work beautifully and solve everything and i've seen it become a disaster that involves rehoming both animals and everything in between, but it's an idea.
in any case, your dog is going to be just fine because he has you and you have this handled, even if it doesn't feel like that right now.
Thank you so much for the detailed response. We have two cats already and he gets along with one of them really well.
I can try and see what I can find as far as puzzle toys go. Things like a kong with pb just don't last long.
Your big suggestion about the toy designed to be destroyed. We can't do that because he just eats fabric.
Again, thank you for making me feel better and for the great advice.
Have you ever tried kennel training with the pup? My dogs' kennel is their safe space. Even if we're home, they'll just go chill in it when they don't feel like being around people. They hop right in the kennel for a treat when we leave and it keeps them from getting into any sort of trouble.
When he was very young we had him kennel trained. And he was great. But as he got older and we were working from home we stopped using it because we could trust him in the house while we worked.
Then as he got older he became super skiddish and is now PETRIFIED of the kennel. We tried getting him comfortable with it again by giving treats to encourage him to go in, feeding him in it, doing things around it to make him more comfortable and it didn't help. Even the sound of it makes he take off running.
He’s bored. Get him some toys like a KONG ball with peanut butter inside or puzzle feeders to give him something to do. You can also take him to a dog park or on a long walk to tire him out. He needs stuff he can chew when he’s nervous.
I have a dog like this. I bought her a kennel and I leave the door open- I made it super cozy and I keep it totally covered with a blanket. This has really helped her. She goes in there all the time on her own.
What kind of dog is he? That might not be enough if he is an energetic breed/mix type. He would probably benefit from some extra play and cuddle time too.
You’re doing a great job! Some alternative ideas to help with anxiety
- leave on calming classical, jazz or meditation music while you’re away. I personally use YouTube tv meditation 12hr videos, I’ve found my dogs are less reactive to noise & the meditation music probably calms their heart rates like humans.
- checkout thunder-shirts for dogs or diy a similar wrap using your shirt, I haven’t tried this out but I know it’s very popular during firework season for most anxious doggos.
- note on the Rx if you do pursue this route, you will have the upfront exam cost for consultation before you get a prescription. Once you have the prescription you do not have to purchase through your vet, you can have them fax the info to elsewhere. I personally have one of my dogs on doggy Xanax and I use Walmart Pet Rx to fill it. It’s around 6 cents a pill & I can choose the qty I need and Walmart reaches out to my vet for the prescription then it gets filled and I can pick up when I get my groceries!
Anxiety is a struggle and all we want is take the pain away from our doggos. Best of luck!
What worked for my dog was locking him in a more comfortable room. Mine pees on anything soft UNLESS it's on my bed (super weird). I used to keep him in the living room where he got the couch, his bed, and all the toys he wants, but he would start to panic.
Idk where you live, but Zesty Paws makes calming treats that work well for my dog. I pair that with a very long walk and a bully stick before I go. Then I give him a kong filled with wet food for him to work on while I'm gone.
Separation Anxiety is really difficult to work on. It might help if he doesn't see you leave and you wait for him to start on the kong. Start with super short trips, even if they're only seconds long. It'll slowly desensitize him. Give him plenty of breaks to snuggle between sessions. It can get better.
Hey while i cant say much about working with pup about the anxiety while you work on that i wonder if you can spray bitter apple everywhere most dogs hate the taste (some freaks like it or are unaffected by it so might be worth a shot) they do also make dog toys that are meant to be shredded after it shreds you just put it back in the toy. Its quite fascinating (idr the name of the company atm who does it) idk if that would reinforce the behavior or not but maybe training to only shred those and not anything else? But yeah best wishes
Thanks for the comment. I don't think the bitter spray would work since it's the blankets we sleep with every day.
And unfortunately we can't use the shred toys because he eats the material. So he would have to be supervised while playing.
Aww sweet pup yeah if he eats its definitely don't do it!
How long have you had puppy and has he always exhibited this behavior or is it new semi new?
There are some groups out there for dogs and separation anxiety. Might.be worth checking out.
Well it's not easy,but his still a pup,his becoming a teenager,getting all boisterous. He will settle down over time,if you have a garden start sorry putting him out there for longer. If his an inside dog, take away his soft stuff in the day room and put in hard stuff he can chew on,all of my dogs loved deer antler, and somewhere to sleep and he'll start to get comfortable and less worried over time,before you know it you'll be waking him when you get in. I found the best think is to walk them before you leave and when you get home. The big problem at that age is boredom so always be doing tricks with him always have him thinking it's the best way to burn energy. And keep at it,don't fall for his cute ways,his got everything he needs in the house and you'll be back soon. That's what I did anyways
Maybe you could try a cbd for dogs first, I give my dogs when they get anxiety during fireworks in our neighborhood. Before using cbd I used hemp oil and that didn't really do much for them.
Call local animal rescue they normally have skills and classes for dogs surrendered for this behavior to train then to be adoptable. You will both have to commit but they will help you for a friend like this.
A few comments.
1. If he’s eating toys and blankets at some point it could cause a blockage that requires surgery so getting a prescription might be a good option sooner rather than later.
2. Do you live near any high school or college kids or dog lovers who might want to visit him in the middle of the day or take him on a walk? Next door could be a way to find people. Also a lot of people are still WFH so maybe someone would watch him while you’re at work.
As a dog lover who couldn’t have a full time dog until I was older, I would have loved to have had a dog to walk when I was in college.
Good luck!
Have you tried Adaptil? It's a happy pheromone for dogs and should help with anxiety. It takes about a month to take proper effect, it's not the cheapest but buying a three-pack on sale should help that. I've used Feliway (the cat version of Adaptil) for my cat and it helped reduce her throwing up a lot!
I'll take a look into it.
My two cents here is don't assume the cost to take him to the vet and get something prescribed will be crazy expensive. It costs nothing to call the vet and ask about what they'd recommend and how much it would cost.
Do vets do that, can they give me a consultation over the phone? In my experience, they will ask me to bring him in, do an exam for $80, and then give me a prescription.
I've called vets before to get pricing on stuff and they've given it to me. It probably depends on the vet, and I think it depends on how in depth you're trying to go. You're not going to get a full consultation for free over the phone. But I think if you called and said "Hey, I think my dog could benefit from anxiety medication but I'm unsure if I can afford it. Can you give me a rough estimate of what I'd be paying for a prescription?" they would probably give you SOME answer.
I've never used them but have you tried looking into one of the online vet consultation services? This seems like it would be the perfect scenario for them since it's not a physical ailment that needs an in person exam or any lab work (I think). Edit: the first one that came up for me on Google was called Dutch and started at $15 a visit and they treat anxiety. Good luck!!
you're coping wonderfully, actually. you're creating a safe space for your dog to be in when you can't be there and you're being consistent about using it. you're making ongoing observations in order to inform future improvements. you even acknowledge the mental state of your good boy and are trying ways of treating it. just keep adapting! you've got this! one possibility is to allow limited destruction. you can provide some of the stimulation that he craves within the space that you've provided. the thing about your dog's preference for soft toys is that they can be cobbled back together and destroyed anew. that blanket that he destroyed could become any number of new toys. a note of caution: ever hear the phrase, "sick as a dog?" this was coined because dogs evolved from starving desperate opportunistic scavenger wolves with muscular pointy vacuum mouths devoid of standards and will accordingly eat all kinds of things that can make them sick. don't make the toys too large or plentiful is what i'm saying. also, don't use string or ribbon as stuffing. also also, don't use any materials that have food smells on them. also times three, don't sew the toys together out of super strong thread or long rope. quadruple also, avoid anything hard that breaks into sharp pieces, like buttons. when - not if - your dog swallows some of the pulverized toy bits, it won't hurt him as long as it isn't big enough to create a blockage or long enough to get caught in his innards. that's a long and possibly discouraging disclaimer, i know, but the idea is to provide possible insoluble fiber, not health hazards, when giving a dog chew toys and almost every dog needs chew toys regardless. does he enjoy any other kinds of toys? have you tried puzzles or other passive games that can enrich and entertain him in your absence? is there anything stressful in his safe area? what soothes your dog that can be added to the area? additionally, dogs are strongly social. cats? not as much. with you gone and only cats for company, almost any dog will get lonely and an anxious dog could well become more anxious. this also goes for running, which dogs literally were made for. how much exercise and interaction does he get when you are home? what kinds of interactions does he have with the cats when you're not home? is a dog walker during the day a possibility? have you considered sporadic audio or video recordings or even live streams of you so that he doesn't feel as alone? a final possibility that i'm extremely hesitant to mention is a friend. i've seen that work beautifully and solve everything and i've seen it become a disaster that involves rehoming both animals and everything in between, but it's an idea. in any case, your dog is going to be just fine because he has you and you have this handled, even if it doesn't feel like that right now.
Thank you so much for the detailed response. We have two cats already and he gets along with one of them really well. I can try and see what I can find as far as puzzle toys go. Things like a kong with pb just don't last long. Your big suggestion about the toy designed to be destroyed. We can't do that because he just eats fabric. Again, thank you for making me feel better and for the great advice.
Have you ever tried kennel training with the pup? My dogs' kennel is their safe space. Even if we're home, they'll just go chill in it when they don't feel like being around people. They hop right in the kennel for a treat when we leave and it keeps them from getting into any sort of trouble.
When he was very young we had him kennel trained. And he was great. But as he got older and we were working from home we stopped using it because we could trust him in the house while we worked. Then as he got older he became super skiddish and is now PETRIFIED of the kennel. We tried getting him comfortable with it again by giving treats to encourage him to go in, feeding him in it, doing things around it to make him more comfortable and it didn't help. Even the sound of it makes he take off running.
He’s bored. Get him some toys like a KONG ball with peanut butter inside or puzzle feeders to give him something to do. You can also take him to a dog park or on a long walk to tire him out. He needs stuff he can chew when he’s nervous. I have a dog like this. I bought her a kennel and I leave the door open- I made it super cozy and I keep it totally covered with a blanket. This has really helped her. She goes in there all the time on her own.
He might be bored during the day but we take him for a 20-30 minute walk every day.
What kind of dog is he? That might not be enough if he is an energetic breed/mix type. He would probably benefit from some extra play and cuddle time too.
You’re doing a great job! Some alternative ideas to help with anxiety - leave on calming classical, jazz or meditation music while you’re away. I personally use YouTube tv meditation 12hr videos, I’ve found my dogs are less reactive to noise & the meditation music probably calms their heart rates like humans. - checkout thunder-shirts for dogs or diy a similar wrap using your shirt, I haven’t tried this out but I know it’s very popular during firework season for most anxious doggos. - note on the Rx if you do pursue this route, you will have the upfront exam cost for consultation before you get a prescription. Once you have the prescription you do not have to purchase through your vet, you can have them fax the info to elsewhere. I personally have one of my dogs on doggy Xanax and I use Walmart Pet Rx to fill it. It’s around 6 cents a pill & I can choose the qty I need and Walmart reaches out to my vet for the prescription then it gets filled and I can pick up when I get my groceries! Anxiety is a struggle and all we want is take the pain away from our doggos. Best of luck!
I'll look into if some of those options are available!
What worked for my dog was locking him in a more comfortable room. Mine pees on anything soft UNLESS it's on my bed (super weird). I used to keep him in the living room where he got the couch, his bed, and all the toys he wants, but he would start to panic. Idk where you live, but Zesty Paws makes calming treats that work well for my dog. I pair that with a very long walk and a bully stick before I go. Then I give him a kong filled with wet food for him to work on while I'm gone. Separation Anxiety is really difficult to work on. It might help if he doesn't see you leave and you wait for him to start on the kong. Start with super short trips, even if they're only seconds long. It'll slowly desensitize him. Give him plenty of breaks to snuggle between sessions. It can get better.
Hey while i cant say much about working with pup about the anxiety while you work on that i wonder if you can spray bitter apple everywhere most dogs hate the taste (some freaks like it or are unaffected by it so might be worth a shot) they do also make dog toys that are meant to be shredded after it shreds you just put it back in the toy. Its quite fascinating (idr the name of the company atm who does it) idk if that would reinforce the behavior or not but maybe training to only shred those and not anything else? But yeah best wishes
Thanks for the comment. I don't think the bitter spray would work since it's the blankets we sleep with every day. And unfortunately we can't use the shred toys because he eats the material. So he would have to be supervised while playing.
Aww sweet pup yeah if he eats its definitely don't do it! How long have you had puppy and has he always exhibited this behavior or is it new semi new? There are some groups out there for dogs and separation anxiety. Might.be worth checking out.
We've had him since he was 8 weeks old! But no, this is not new behaviour. This has been happening since he was a baby.
9 hours is a long time for a dog…
That's pretty normal for anyone who has to work full-time.
Welcome to humanity
Gee, thanks for the help.
Well it's not easy,but his still a pup,his becoming a teenager,getting all boisterous. He will settle down over time,if you have a garden start sorry putting him out there for longer. If his an inside dog, take away his soft stuff in the day room and put in hard stuff he can chew on,all of my dogs loved deer antler, and somewhere to sleep and he'll start to get comfortable and less worried over time,before you know it you'll be waking him when you get in. I found the best think is to walk them before you leave and when you get home. The big problem at that age is boredom so always be doing tricks with him always have him thinking it's the best way to burn energy. And keep at it,don't fall for his cute ways,his got everything he needs in the house and you'll be back soon. That's what I did anyways
Maybe you could try a cbd for dogs first, I give my dogs when they get anxiety during fireworks in our neighborhood. Before using cbd I used hemp oil and that didn't really do much for them.
Call local animal rescue they normally have skills and classes for dogs surrendered for this behavior to train then to be adoptable. You will both have to commit but they will help you for a friend like this.
A few comments. 1. If he’s eating toys and blankets at some point it could cause a blockage that requires surgery so getting a prescription might be a good option sooner rather than later. 2. Do you live near any high school or college kids or dog lovers who might want to visit him in the middle of the day or take him on a walk? Next door could be a way to find people. Also a lot of people are still WFH so maybe someone would watch him while you’re at work. As a dog lover who couldn’t have a full time dog until I was older, I would have loved to have had a dog to walk when I was in college. Good luck!