Mostly Mutts

  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #41

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
I am not going Craigslist. No way.

When the vet calls me back, I will ask her. I'm also going to talk to our vet as well.
 

Kat0121

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Messages
15,030
Purraise
20,342
Location
Sunny Florida
 
I am not going Craigslist. No way.

When the vet calls me back, I will ask her. I'm also going to talk to our vet as well.
Yeah that's not the way to go at all. 

It's worth a shot. There could be someone out there with a similar problem who might consider going the companion route who would be willing to take her. You need another dog like a hole in the head. 
 

artiemom

Artie, my Angel; a part of my heart
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 22, 2014
Messages
11,098
Purraise
22,972
Location
near Boston
Pam, a lot of the Vet Techs volunteer at Humane Societies or have contact with them....perhaps they can help also....and sometimes they take animals in themselves....it is worth a shot...

The Vet office I go to, the techs also have a side business for Pet Sitting and Reiki, and training of pets...or know of someone who can help with it...they are very resourceful...

I think the Vet's office may be the place to help out.. the staff have a lot of contacts.. 

My office also has a book of pets for adoption... and lost pets...so who knows...

I know you would never, ever think of Craigslist... that is where my humane society picks up a lot of cats.. we rescue them, put them in foster homes, list on PetFinder, and home until it their time for a new home...
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #44

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
Thanks guys.  We're not giving up on this yet. 
 

Primula

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
6,838
Purraise
533
Location
Connecticut, USA
There's no shame in medicating her for anxiety. It's no different than giving her insulin or antibiotics. She's not happy if she's anxious
Definitely worth trying. It's so hard when our pets can't verbalize what is upsetting them.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #46

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
Jackie has her own vet that she's had since she came to live with us. I've been wanting to transfer her down to our vet, but Rick has been against it. 

OK, Jackie's vet called us back. They don't medicate for something like separation anxiety because "it's really not necessary" and they don't consider separation anxiety to be "medicatable"....is that a word? Also, it would take about 4 weeks for the meds to take effect and, if we're going to try to rehome her anyway, chances are she'll be in another home before the meds take effect.

So. I immediately called our vet, who is going to call us back. But I talked to a vet tech, who said that they do use Prozac as medication for separation anxiety, but won't do it without a complete exam and I understand that. Although since we just took Jackie to her vet back in June for her exam, they might try to get her most recent records from her current vet. They would still want to see her. But at least they do Prozac. She also said that they are seeing this in more and more beagles of both sexes and it's not just separation anxiety; some beagles just do it when they're playing, when they're on a walk, just out of the clear blue sky. Vets tend to blame it on the prolific puppy mills in PA and in-breeding (our Amish and Mennonites run a ton of puppy mills for all dog breeds). She knew exactly what I was talking about and she says she knows it's horrid to have to listen to her. So we'll see what happens once the vet calls us back....it may be tonight, but more likely sometime tomorrow.

She also recommended Benedryl, one gram per pound, so Jackie would get 1-1/2 tabs twice a day. The thing is, if I give it to her in the morning before I leave for work, chances are it will have worn off til we get home late afternoon. But it might help when we're gone for a couple of hours, like when we go for groceries or spend an afternoon shopping or go out to dinner. Right now, we almost feel like prisoners because we don't often go out together anymore.And that's not good for us as a couple; at least I don't think it is.

This vet tech knows us and she knows our cats, so I think that helped. Just being able to talk to somebody who not only knows us, but is also familiar with the screaming. And she knows. She said she can't believe we've been dealing with for almost a year! She said we should be granted sainthood just for that alone! 


It doesn't help with the gate issue and the cats at all. It doesn't help with her eating the cat poop. But at least we feel we're getting somewhere. I'll let you know what our vet says. And thank you.
 
Last edited:

Primula

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
6,838
Purraise
533
Location
Connecticut, USA
I financially support Main Line Rescue in PA, which rescues puppy mill dogs.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

miagi's_mommy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 19, 2004
Messages
8,151
Purraise
1,146
If you do end up re-homing her maybe it's possible if she ends up in a home with a dog that is not anxious and confident that may help a lot.
 

Columbine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 27, 2015
Messages
12,921
Purraise
6,224
Location
The kitty playground
Just a thought for the gate/poop eating issue - is it possible/would it help to put some small kitty steps either side of the gate so that the older cats could still get over it safely? It would need to be carefully thought out so as to be sure Jackie couldn't navigate them, but it might prove to be a solution of sorts for that particular issue...IF you can't rehome her, that is.

It sounds like your vet may be the best way to find Jackie an appropriate home. :cross: that things fall into place soon for you all :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #50

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
We can't. Jackie can use kitty steps! We have them by our bed and she used them the very first night she was here. 
 She's already tried to actually jump over the gate in the hallway. 
 

hbunny

Cat herder - Pooper Scooper
Super Cat
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
1,190
Purraise
210
Location
West Tennessee
@Winchester, I know you probably already are, but be careful with the gates being up.  We used baby gates to confine my old doggie before he passed away for his safety (he was going blind) and dummy me fell over them twice.  Luckily I didn't break anything or dislocated anything, but it was two nasty falls that really hurt.  And I KNEW they were there!  Just in a hurry, turned around and whop! I was on the floor.

I really miss Fuzz and Max, but I don't miss having baby gates up through the house at all. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #52

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
OK!!!! Our vet is calling a prescription down to our store for Prozac for Jackie! He said that while he has not seen Jackie, he HAS seen our animals and he knows us well (we've been going there for over 40 years) and he knows we're doing the best we can. He is giving me a prescription for 40 pills, one twice a day and he says we'll see improvement rapidly. Now, he stresses that it can't be a lifelong thing, although at 11 years of age, it may well be at this point. We want to see how it goes and how she acts once we start her on it. And then take it from there. 

I told him that I'm willing to take Jackie down for an appt; he said it is not necessary at this time. But I will tell Rick's mom that, like it or not, we will be changing Jackie to our vet. It's fair; her vet didn't want to deal with this at all and I was not amused. The vet tech I talked to from our vet last night knew exactly what we were going through and started at least talking to us right away. Our vet called this morning and said he'd call the prescription down. Target has already called me to say the prescription is there and we can pick it up tonight. We will start her on Sunday night when she comes back from the kennel.

Please, wish us luck that this works! And thank you for being here!

Oh, I can't tell you how many times I've tripped over those gates! That little bar across the floor gets me often, esp when I'm vacuuming or otherwise not paying attention. My hips are black and blue from smacking into the corners of the gate doors.
 
Last edited:

hbunny

Cat herder - Pooper Scooper
Super Cat
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
1,190
Purraise
210
Location
West Tennessee
I am so glad to hear this!  Hey, anything is worth a try at this point!!  I don't know about that other vet.  I swear I know a lady with a Pomeranian that is on Prozac and it's one chilled out puppy dog.  It used to be obnoxious.  I would definitely be changing vets!

Those gates are evil.  I always had bruises too, but that one fall--I thought I was going to have to call for help to get up.  It hurt me bad and hubs was in another state working.  I just laid there until I got my senses back.  Be careful!

It's gonna work, it's gonna work (positive thinking exercise LOL)
 

Kat0121

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Messages
15,030
Purraise
20,342
Location
Sunny Florida
 
Oh, I can't tell you how many times I've tripped over those gates! That little bar across the floor gets me often, esp when I'm vacuuming or otherwise not paying attention. My hips are black and blue from smacking into the corners of the gate doors.

OK!!!! Our vet is calling a prescription down to our store for Prozac for Jackie! He said that while he has not seen Jackie, he HAS seen our animals and he knows us well (we've been going there for over 40 years) and he knows we're doing the best we can. He is giving me a prescription for 40 pills, one twice a day and he says we'll see improvement rapidly. Now, he stresses that it can't be a lifelong thing, although at 11 years of age, it may well be at this point. We want to see how it goes and how she acts once we start her on it. And then take it from there. 

I told him that I'm willing to take Jackie down for an appt; he said it is not necessary at this time. But I will tell Rick's mom that, like it or not, we will be changing Jackie to our vet. It's fair; her vet didn't want to deal with this at all and I was not amused. The vet tech I talked to from our vet last night knew exactly what we were going through and started at least talking to us right away. Our vet called this morning and said he'd call the prescription down. Target has already called me to say the prescription is there and we can pick it up tonight. We will start her on Sunday night when she comes back from the kennel.

Please, wish us luck that this works! And thank you for being here!
Rick's mom no longer has any say in what vet Jackie sees, If she doesn't like it- oh well. Jackie- as she is now- is severely disrupting your household and something needs to be done before things get worse. You and Rick deserve to be able to go out when you want without worrying about how Jackie will handle it. You shouldn't have to deal with all that screaming. The cats don't need it, the neighbors don't need it and Jackie herself doesn't need it. It's bad for everyone involved. If Jackie's vet will not help, then the only thing you can do is take her to one who will. Would Jackie's regular vet prefer she be put down? Rick's mom is over the whole Jackie thing so I doubt you'll get much pushback from her about it but if she does, simply let her know that you are trying to make her last years as comfortable as possible for everyone. 
 

blueyedgirl5946

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Sep 10, 2005
Messages
14,593
Purraise
1,695
I get tired and depressed reading all this your are dealing with. I hope you and Rick can find a solution that works for all
 

Columbine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 27, 2015
Messages
12,921
Purraise
6,224
Location
The kitty playground
OK!!!! Our vet is calling a prescription down to our store for Prozac for Jackie! He said that while he has not seen Jackie, he HAS seen our animals and he knows us well (we've been going there for over 40 years) and he knows we're doing the best we can. He is giving me a prescription for 40 pills, one twice a day and he says we'll see improvement rapidly. Now, he stresses that it can't be a lifelong thing, although at 11 years of age, it may well be at this point. We want to see how it goes and how she acts once we start her on it. And then take it from there. 

I told him that I'm willing to take Jackie down for an appt; he said it is not necessary at this time. But I will tell Rick's mom that, like it or not, we will be changing Jackie to our vet. It's fair; her vet didn't want to deal with this at all and I was not amused. The vet tech I talked to from our vet last night knew exactly what we were going through and started at least talking to us right away. Our vet called this morning and said he'd call the prescription down. Target has already called me to say the prescription is there and we can pick it up tonight. We will start her on Sunday night when she comes back from the kennel.

Please, wish us luck that this works! And thank you for being here!

Oh, I can't tell you how many times I've tripped over those gates! That little bar across the floor gets me often, esp when I'm vacuuming or otherwise not paying attention. My hips are black and blue from smacking into the corners of the gate doors.
That's great news, Pam :D :cross: that the prozac works for Jackie, and quickly :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
I know it's not a total solution by any means, but just taking away the screaming should make life a whole lot better for all of you. Rick's mom really has no right to have a say in which vet you use for Jackie....especially after she told you to euthanasia her. SHE'S not the one providing the care or footing the bill after all!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #57

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,722
Purraise
27,991
Location
In the kitchen
The Prozac is starting to work; she's a lot more laid-back than she was. But she's still nuts when we're both gone and then come back home. She really worked herself into a lather last night when we came home from grocery shopping. We completely ignored her. Completely. Didn't yell at her, nothing. Just carried the groceries into the house, got it all into the kitchen, shut the door to the gate and kept her in the living room. It took her a good ten (really long) minutes or so to stop yelling, but she eventually stopped and went into her bed. Then after she stopped, I waited about 5 minutes or so, went over to her and told her she was a good girl (OK! I lied!) and stroked her face. It took her about two hours to stop panting from getting so worked up. All we did was leave her alone for about an hour to get groceries.

But Rick said this morning that she's calming down. He's going to check out Clicker stuff on You Tube tonight. I haven't heard anything from the Beagle rescue organizations that I've contacted. 

I talked to Rick's mom yesterday, told her I was changing The Beast to our vet. She wasn't happy. I explained about putting her on Prozac and that the other vet didn't even want to talk to us about it. She doesn't want Jackie drugged; evidently, it's OK to put her down? But not drug her? 
 I pretty much said that it doesn't matter, that we are paying Jackie's bills, we are the ones trying to deal with her, and we will do as we see fit. And that was that. 
 
Last edited:

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,822
Purraise
13,097
Location
Columbus OH
I am glad you are starting to see improvement, there should be more improvement.  Antidepressants don't really drug the way tranquilizers do.  They change brain chemistry but it isn't a drugging effect.
 

blueyedgirl5946

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Sep 10, 2005
Messages
14,593
Purraise
1,695
Congratulations on the small things. Yes, even the small things make a big difference. I hope this is a start to some peace for you and Rick regarding this dog. It would be hard to love an animal like that.
 

hbunny

Cat herder - Pooper Scooper
Super Cat
Joined
Feb 10, 2016
Messages
1,190
Purraise
210
Location
West Tennessee
 
I talked to Rick's mom yesterday, told her I was changing The Beast to our vet. She wasn't happy. I explained about putting her on Prozac and that the other vet didn't even want to talk to us about it. She doesn't want Jackie drugged; evidently, it's OK to put her down? But not drug her? 
 I pretty much said that it doesn't matter, that we are paying Jackie's bills, we are the ones trying to deal with her, and we will do as we see fit. And that was that. 
Good for you!  It's only right, you are having to care for her and do the behavior modification.  I'm just so glad to hear there are subtle changes.  That means more changes are coming once it really kicks in.

Hey, if drugs are what it takes, that's what it takes.  So be it.
 
Top