I'm afraid my dog might die tonight.

[undeterred]

He's been having panic episodes. Tonight he went down into a corner of the basement and hid. He's 14 and he's been through a lot. Now he is panting and pacing, after 2 xanax. He seems miserable but not really in pain. The emergency vet costs money I don't have.

I don't know what to do.

[Writer]

1. Your dog's on xanax?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. Yeah, xanax and prozac are commonly used to treat anxiety or other

behavior problems, that behavior modification didn't help, in cats and dogs.

[Writer]

6. Oh that's so sad!

I think cradling and gently rubbing the poor poochie - with a quick reference call to the emergency vet - can help. So very sad. :(

[Mutley]

2. Can you call the vet, and at least get them

to tell you if it sounds serious?

A lot of the emergency vets will be understanding about stuff like that.

[barb162]

3. what happens when you sit there and hold him

try giving him so food. Throw a ball to him?

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. What breed of dog do you have?

Sometimes hypothyroidism can bring on what you described.

Can you get near him? Can you get him to go for a walk? Maybe that will calm him down?

Please keep us updated. Hope he calms down and is OK until you can get daytime priced help. :hug:

[undeterred]

7. He does have hypothyroidism and sometimes I forget his meds

He's been pacing for hours, I've been trying to get him to lie still. The xanax is finally kicking in, but I don't want to mask pain. He's a small leonberger- about 65 lbs, and the giant breeds usually don't make it past 10.

I know he's well beyond his lifespan but the thought of losing him breaks my heart. I cried all over him, he's such a sweetie.

[zonkers]

9. Meds are a weird thing. Sometimes they need to build up. When was

the last time he ate? Is he drinking water?

[undeterred]

10. He didn't eat his dinner, but thats not unusual

He's been panting hard and he keeps drinking a lot of water.

He had bloat last summer, but that was 15 months ago and no problems since then.

[zonkers]

12. Sounds a little like onset of cushings disease (like my guy has)

In any case, I'd take him to a vet as soon as possible you can but you knew that. Maybe he has a respiratory problem that a night of oxygen could fix. Has it been hot where you're at? Hate to mention it but if you ever do have to make that "final" decision, it does not to be in a vets office. Some services come to your house so your dog can pass in a calmer environment.

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. Sounds like may have been having an episode related to the hypothryoidism

Glad the Xanax is working. Hope you check in with the vet tomorrow :hug:


<snip>
Another interesting association which as been increasing in frequency is the link between thyroid dysfunction and aberrant behavior. Typical clinical signs include unprovoked aggression towards other animals and/or people, sudden onset of a seizure disorder in adulthood, disorientation, moodiness, erratic temperament, periods of hyperactivity, hypo-attentiveness, depression, fearfulness and phobias, anxiety, submissiveness, passivity, compulsiveness, and irritability. After the episodes, a majority of the animals were noted to behave as if they were coming out of a trance- like state and were unaware of their previous behavior.
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/behaviorandthyroid.htm

[undeterred]

13. he's still a sweet dog

but the episodes are weird

Last night he was acting strange at 4am so I gave him a xanax and then I held him down on the bed by his hind quarters as he kept trying to get up for over half an hour. Finally he went to sleep and he was normal in the morning.

[Floogeldy]

8. Don't be afraid.

Love and comfort your dog. And, yes, he is going to die, sooner or later.

[peacebuzzard]

14. I think it just might be the xanax.

I would withdraw that and just let him be. Do nothing except observe for a day. Sometimes tranquilizers for animals have unpredictable results. I have given meds on occasion to calm pets, and the opposite would happen. What some vets suggest, including my country vet, and Dr. Pitcairn (a vet author on Natural Remedies) is to just "let the dogs be" and let nature take its course. A dog may loose appetite for many days before anything terminal may develop. Dying is not an instant process unless an underlying huge organic failure is occurring, or a raging infection (do you have a thermometer and are willing to take the pet's temp?

http://www.drpitcairn.com/

This doctor's book, has an excellent emergency care section and "senior care and end stage recognition and care/treatment" section. It is an emphasis on natural elements of pet ailments and diet/ med approach. It takes an alternative route to the traditional and more costly approaches.

It is never easy to watch our best friends suffer and the personal frustration involved trying to ease pain/stress for our companions can become all consuming. I really suggest reading the Dr. Pitcairn book. Maybe your library carries a copy.

[undeterred]

16. thanks

My vet did warn me that the xanax can occasionally backfire- the dogs body works harder to overcome it and they get even more wound up. He kept drinking water and throwing it up so I had no idea what was staying down after a while. Seemed like his belly was taut.

I finally got him to lie on my bed, where he kept panting for hours and finally fell asleep. Now his body is totally relaxed.

I'm exhausted.

[Radio_Lady]

21. get some rest. I don't know when you wrote this, but I've been up

all night (Monday) with nausea. I think it was from some food I ate last night. I think I slept about four hours.

I have had unpredictable results from Xanax when mixed with food.

Also, I had a terrible attack when I took some dramamine or marazine for seasickness -- with xanax. I paced back and forth on the boat and finally had to get a nurse on board to help me calm down.

I still remember the episode on the ferry from Boston to Provincetown, MA.

[NewWaveChick1981]

25. I second this.

:hug: We gave one of our dogs Xanax at the vet's recommendation since she had major anxiety with thunderstorms. The Xanax made it worse. :( We never did that to her again. There was a tranquilizer that worked much better, and we gave her that instead.

[peacebuzzard]

15. I am sorry for your sadness right now, and I hope you and the pooch fare

well this evening. I wish both of you peace in this physically/mentally trying time.

[undeterred]

17. thank you

I am prepared to let him go but I don't want to...

[peacebuzzard]

23. I am sorry, maybe I didn't explain the expression. My bad.

The vet I have as well as Dr. Pitcairn are great believers in "Just letting the dog alone with their illness." In other words, if it is a serious terminal illness to just let nature take its course. I had an old basset, 15 to 16 years old that came down with everything in the book. You name it, cancer, glaucoma, heart disease and I just gave him some natural remedies suggested in the Dr. Pitcairn's book. The sweet old bassett lived almost a year and a half after the initial heart disease diagnosis. And, I did NOT go the expensive traditional meds way. (I have multiple dogs in my house so I am very frugal when it comes to treatments)
He was calm and peaceful (for the most part---2 days before dying he had a fever I controlled with aspirin)
He was a loving dog to his last breath.
The advantage for us (me and the dogs here) we got a chance to say our last goodbyes to him at home.

It was very sad to see an old friend leave us, we still miss him. But I am glad he went to the rainbow bridge straight from our little farm.

[Dangerously Amused]

18. Oh dear...

Best wishes to you. Please keep us updated. Could it be that his body is reacting against inconsistency in the medication schedule when you forget? Can you set a daily alarm for yourself to remember the meds? I have to give a kitty daily meds and I have to have a daily alarm to remind myself. I have one on my cell phone, it goes off the same time every day you I only have to set it once.


Anyway,

[undeterred]

19. thanks

After this awful night I'm sure I won't forget his meds again.

I finally fell asleep at 3am. Dreamed I was moving and in my moving boxes there were 16 live cats. I am allergic to cats so, in my dream, I set them all free.

[Radio_Lady]

20. Oh, what a lovely dream ---

http://www.windycreek.com/catgallery.html

[BarenakedLady]

22. I'm so sorry

I hope he is better today.

:hug:

[graywarrior]

24. Keep us posted.

I'm worrying about the 2 of you now.