0n (25 Apr 05) WAYNE CHIRNSIDE wrote to CINDY HAGLUND...

-> Anyone know anything about this  ? "Storm anxiety" ? By the way he
-> never had any fear of storms before his back injury.

 WC> Spanky has no storm anxiety but he trembles regularly due to spinal
 WC> injury.
 WC> Vet put him on Dexamethasone which is a steroid and can actually
 WC> cause your dog's death but I give minimal doses and have periods off
 WC> the drug.

 I put storm anxiety in quotes becasue the VET thinks it's a behavior
thing rather than having anything to do with his ruptured disc. SO
hubby believes the vet of course. I don't. Gee it's rocket science? He
never had this trembling problem before the back injury. Something
about loud sounds (thunder, rain/hail and gale force wind) causes him
to tremble.

Would this drug work to stop the trembling while its in progress? Or
do you have to try to as we did with one tranq , anticipate the event
(watching the weather) and give it to him an hour ahead.


 WC> Spanky's on 1/2 prescribed dose in the morning and evening then 36
 WC> hours off, repeat.

 WC> Can't keep a dog on this stuff as their adrenal glands shut down.

 hmm. Was his trembling all the time or only during storms or such.

 WC> This could explain why he doesn't shake when he's riding in the
 WC> car as well because he gets excited, his adrenal gland kicks in
 WC> and he doesn't show symptoms.

 That's interesting. Cos LOVES to go out in the car. (Actually he
hates being left alone since his buddy is gone. Going to be remedying
that soon.) So adrenalin activity might curb the trembling? But once
he starts in on it there's just nothing to do about it till the noise
goes away, so it seems.

 WC> When Spanky's problem  2 1/2 years ago first occurred I was certain
 WC> I'd have to have him put to sleep because he couldn't walk or stand
 WC> without screaming.
 WC> Got him outside by cutting some soft sided luggage down the side.
 ................

 WC> On seeing one of his favorite people he got up and seemed
 WC> better.
 WC> Traveling to the vet, Spanky loves riding in cars, he also did well.

 WC> I related all this to the vet and he's been on Dex ever since though
 WC> I observe him VERY closely and space the doses out
 WC> as above.

 WC> Recently after two years on the stuff I now put him on 1/2 dose
 WC> for one day and upped it to a full two days off.

 WC> First sign he's in pain his tail drops between his legs, later he'd
 WC> start to shake lying down just from the pain, after that is too bad to
 WC> contemplate.

 Could it be when Cos trembles he's actually in pain? That the sound
does something to make him be in pain?

 WC> There's nothing I can say to tell you this might be applicable in your
 WC> situation.

 I don't know. The vet doesn't either. Unless ya wanna fork over $$$$$
for neurological studies. I already told you about the trip to the
place canine medical center about his pupil atrophy? Our usual vet's
associate had us get Cosmo's eyes checked out to see if that had
anything to do with the "storm anxiety". Nope and nothing you do about
pupil atrophy (the pupils don't dilate/constricts fast as they should
when exposed to light). (we joked about getting Cosmo sunglasses.)

 WC> My alternative was Rimadyl which is fairly expensive.

  Dog drugs are getting as pricy as poeple drugs and a lot people drugs
are in fact used for dogs.

 WC> Oh yeah, the vet diagnoised Spanky's problem right off after
 WC> I described the behavior he was displaying and the fact stimulus
 WC> got him up and about.

  I should take Cos to your vet! :)

 Cindy

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