-> -> 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.


->  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! :)
-> 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

I'm no expert and can only relate what I observe.

I have muscle spasms due to spinal injuries.
I have ruptured discs.

-> never had this trembling problem before the back injury. Something
-> about loud sounds (thunder, rain/hail and gale force wind) causes him
-> to tremble.

Only thing that shakes Spanky up is a rolled up newspaper slapped hard
against your other hand, original owner thing.

I do know when I'm tense my back muscles tighten and my 
muscle spasms increase causing a vicous circle of pain.

-> 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.

Tomorrow Spanky goes back on Dex about an hour before our morning walk.

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

Had I given the drug as prescribed Spanky'd be dead by now
but I researched it on the net.

->  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.

We both have muscle spasms pretty much all the time, mine get worse
when tense.
Spanky doesn't get tense, not even when the big Pit nailed him in the
throat and chest.

->  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.

Try an anti-inflamatory such as Rimadyl as an experiment if your
vet thinks it reasonable.
Caution here too, Rimadyl also can shorten a dog's life.

->  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?

Different things cause different critters to tense up.
When I'm tense my muscle spasms increase.

->  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.   

Dex is dirt cheap especially how I dole it out.
7 bucks for 40 pills then I split them and give one half 
12 hours apart one day on, two off.

->  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! :)

Long drive, but yes I'm happy with this vet after finding fault with
previous and more expensive vet.

It's very apparent the other vet was about money, these people are
about caring.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5