An interesting development

One of the hardest times for me is late evening or middle of the night storms........to be so rudely awakened by a panting,clawing dog is impossibly hard to handle for me (and probably most people)

Last week I was able to 'hide' in the middle of my queen sized bed........O'Riley can't jump up on the bed w/o the assistance of two large firm cushions that sit next to the bed and which I removed when I realized a storm might develop in the middle of the night. As soon as he realized I was inaccessible I heard him scratching around in my closet and then I heard him climbing into the bathtub where he remained the rest of the night !!!!!!!! He has NEVER done this and I'm beginning to see that as soon as he realizes there is no help or attention from me he decides to calm himself.....AND, this is w/o the help of any anti-anxiety meds !

Last night we had storms due to arrive around 10 pm...........I dosed him at nine and settled in bed with my book..............I made no eye contact at all and hid behind my book.............again he went into the closet, panting furiously, and soon I heard him climbing into the tub again (in which I had placed one of his soft mats).......and that was that.......he stayed all night, long after the storms had passed.......I am hoping this is an ongoing situation and that MAYBE this means I can leave him here alone if I have an appointment or am meeting someone for dinner etc. Up until now I have not dared leave him alone for fear that he might hurt himself and also because I can't bear to leave him when I know how terrified he is..............but,(fingers crossed) maybe we have reached a better place and O'R is learning that he can handle his fears in a different and less stressful way !

Here's Hoping !

Hanging out in the laundry room

Yesterday I gave O'Riley 2 clonazepam about 20 minutes before storm............this time I went o the basement laundry room and he followed me down(which he usually won't do) I had laundry tub filling while I folded laundry from the drier and talked happy talk as the storm passed through........I could certainly hear the thunder as could O'R but he handled it well......no clawing at me, thank god ! The only thing I didn't like was the after effects of the drug.......he was a little stumbly in the rear and that is where his spinal arthritis affects him

Approaching the 2010 storm season

I decided to blog again as it helps to review the past days/weeks to see what doses are helping best and what best works for O'R and me as to our behaviors during a storm

During a storm a few weeks ago I gave him 2 1/2 mg cloz..............I had absolutely NO eye contact with him and, though I didn't try to sit down, I emptied dishwasher, did some laundry, picked up............I paid no attention to him at all and it was good..........he was nervous and followed me, but no scratching or efforts to get outside. I'm thinking that when I use the word calm it seems to trigger a fearful response .......as though he connects my saying that with storm...........calm=storm.........smart doggy !!

July 2008 Update

We have had another month of unsettled weather............but we have coped well. Last night we were up from 1:15 AM-4:00AM....................very heavy storm activity. O'R spent much of his time burrowing in different places in the bedroom while I spent time at the computer...............he was not dosed untill 3ish and he did well..........a heavy band was predicted for 3 AM so he was given 2 Clonazepam..........he did some scratching at the window etc but finally got up on my bed and place his arse next to my head :) The improvement in him is a marvel..........we have both retrained ourselves, I think to handle these storms much more wisely..........I must say, I will not be sad when summer is done with.........never thought I would say that !!

Good Boy Mr O :)

Summer Update ~

Things are going well............I realize that O'R needs some retraining as he has not remembered every thing we worked on last year........understandable, for sure ( neither have I !!) Redirecting is SO important...........i.e. tonight he was standing near me and panting and I quietly repeated " You go lie down.........you go lie down" .................and he did and fell asleep, sweet boy...........he just needed some guidence as he was......um.......shall we say................under the influence? :)

We've had a number of pop up storms this season ( very typical when one lives to the east of a major great lake !!)

Weather Underground is the best website I have found for accurate info and great radar maps that show storm direction and severity...........I have no problem giving him three 1 mg Clonazepam when a strong storm is approaching and I will administer 2 more after 2-3 hours if he is very anxious or if the radar tells me there are alot more storms coming..............I have never had to give him more than that in any 24 hour period...................and if the radar shows me a small passing storm I will not medicate him.............rather walk him, brush him and happy talk him through it

I want to reach a point where I can leave the house during a storm.............that is my goal.

Another little victory !

Last night a neighbor set off a round of firecrackers...............O'R 's ears went into action and that was it......head never left the bed and I praised him mightily !

At around 3 am he jumped off the bed and went to the window.............lightening in the distance along with a rumble of faraway thunder.............I went to the computer and checked radar............it was a small cell so I did not dose him...........after a few minutes of coaxing he got back on the bed and I praised and offered a treat (which he declined) but he was quiet and so was the storm

Unrelated to storm phobia, and realizing he'll be 11 on October 31st, I am sensing a few small changes that I want to record...............his muzzle is whitening.........he often won't jump into the back seat of the car from the garage...........I think the space is confining and it is uncomfortable, perhaps? So I back the car out onto the driveway......stop and get out and he bounds towards me from the garage and hops right in :) He is not guzzling his food as he normally did..........I frost the top of his kibble with Alpo prime cuts to cover his 2 daily pills but lately I think he's leaving some (not hungry?) (hoping I'll come back and coat some more?) when I do he happily finishes :)

Sometimes, in the morning, he stays on the bed when I get up.........for maybe 10 0r more minutes.................a new behavior............no worries.........just observations.......I think :(

A correction

I mistakenly said I had given O'Riley Clomicalm (Clomipramine) at the onset of a storm...........I meant to say I gave him Clonazepam.........it can be confusing as they both start with Clo :)

I also wanted to mention that once the storm season was over last fall I cut back by 50 % his daily dosage of Clomipramine ( Clomicalm)