very stressed dog

[tango]

I'm looking for advice on my dog - over the last 6 months she has become very stressed and anxious and does not want to be left alone. She has always been really good to leave in the house alone if I have to nip out, to sleep downstairs at night etc but recently it has caused her to get really unsettled and scratch the doors trying to get out of the room or to whimper and cry. It started when we had some thunder and lightening (which she has always been nervous of), however since then it has just got worse and worse - to the point where I have not had a good night sleep for months! The whimpering and crying is now full on stress and panic - she is getting really upset and ripping chunks out of the doors. I've tried letting her sleep in different rooms of the house, put her in a cage at night and covered the cage so it would be dark and help her feel secure. Ive also tried DAP plug ins and spay to try and calm her but nothing works. Any advice?

[09rebel99]

My vet sell over the counter calmers that we have given for fireworks ect. It may be a way to start and then wean her off them. Is she getting enough excersise? Has she had normal seasons or been spayed (possible hormone issue?) Leaving a radio or tv on?

[BSH]

Mine too I use vet spec calmer from top spec and it works brilliantly he's much more confident - he's a working gun dog that got caught up in electric fencing and has become gunshy by association as a result, he can be very withdrawn but I find that helps massively. Good luck x

[tango]

She gets plenty of exercise being at the stables all day she exercises herself running around with the other dogs and then gets two good walks a day as well. I've tried the radio and TV thing but it doesn't seem to help - if anything it makes her more stressed. She is getting worried about being left at night before its even happened and starting to pace the house etc. She just wants the reassurance of being with me all the time. I've not thought about using a calmer - will give the vets a ring this afternoon and find out about it. Thanks x

[wilbs]

My friend has a jack russell who hates fireworks and gets stressed when friend's husband goes out. She has got one of these for it and has found it invaluable, she said the dog just curled up in her bed and slept when it was bonfire night. A first for that dog.
www.ideas-4-pets.co.uk/grey-thundershirt-antianxiety-dog-coat-p-5077.html?gclid=CLnuhoOq5roCFQ7LtAodWF8Ahw&utm_campaign=export_feed&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase

[idalia]

If as the previous poster suggested you decide to try a Thundershirt it might be an idea to get one from QVC. I noticed whilst channel hopping the other day that they now sell them, everything is on a 30 day money back trial during which time you can use it, so if you find it doesn't work or even just doesn't fit you can send it back for the cost of postage.
My firework phobic dog became very clingy a couple of years ago after a particularly noisy firework night. He became panicky as soon as it started to get dark, we eventually had to allow him upstairs (something we've never done), at bedtime he would stand by the door and shake uncontrollably and was so distressed it was unfair to expect him to stay downstairs.
The good news is we did eventually manage to get him to stay downstairs again