How Time Flies !

Hard to believe that almost 2 months have elapsed since I last blogged ! But, O'Riley's behavior has been pretty consistent so nothing really new to report.

We had a very strong and unpredictable thunderstorm this afternoon........the temps have fallen 20 degrees in an hour ! Anyway, obviously no time to give meds...........O'R was nervous.....ears back, tail between legs, panting..........and he was glued to me.............I played dumb................"What thunder?" and calmly poured a glass of wine and went to the deck ( he chose not to join me) and read a magazine for 45 minutes while it thundered and lightened ........I neither saw nor heard O'Riley, but I think he was under the kitchen table...........so I think I need to work on "ME" ............rather than stressing out and canceling appointments I need to leave the house and believe that the whole house is his 'safe place' This is my next project..............." ME" :)

We are now going to try giving O'R the generic form of Clomicalm and see if that works as well.....sometimes it doesn't, but it is MUCH less expensive so my fingers are crossed that it will be successful...........Dr A told me that Target seems to have the best prices and she was right ! They are almost half the cost of Wegman's !!

Dr A's clinic has a wonderful kennel where dogs with medical needs are well cared for.........I was given a tour and was SO impressed with how clean and neat it is and the kennel manager was so
friendly and knowledgeable and obviously loves what he does ! I left O'R there for one night while we were on vacation (storms were predicted that night and I didn't want to have my neighbor who always 'sits' O'Riley to have to deal) and he was fine !!!!!!!!!!!!! It is such a relief to know I have that option when I need it !!

As much as I love summer, I am looking forward to fall and winter and no storms ! I am so pleased with the progress we have made, and I can't say enough about working with a Vet who understands canine behavior to the degree that Dr A does and so seamlessly combines drug therapy and behavior modification to improve my dog's (and my) quality of life to the degree that it has this summer !!!!!!!!!!

Verrrrrry Interesting ~

We had an unexpected line of storms that just passed by..........no chance to dose O'Riley.........when he approached me at the first clap I jumped up, went to the kitchen and did the 'happy talk' game (I NEVER was able to do that before because he was SO panicked he simply could not 'hear' me) ............." Want a treat, O'Riley?"............. " Let's have some peanut butter, okay?"...well, you get the drift.............he wouldn't take a treat .....BUT..........he was okay.........no pawing...........we went into the bedroom, turned the TV up and I hopped up on the bed and he followed, digging at the pillows and NOT me :) :) :) ............I covered him with a quilt and he buried his head in the pillows...........I praised and praised.............GOOD BOY !!!!!!!!!!! After a while and some nice cracks of thunder ( and LOTS of 'you are the BEST BOY pats') I got up and came out here to the computer..........he is still on the bed, the sun is out and all is well.............Oh, Happy Day :)

Truly, if someone had told me a few months ago that I would be writing the above I simply would not have believed them !!!!!!

We were tested today !

We had two rounds of heavy storms and high winds today. We got off to a shaky start as I was walking him on the canal when I realized the skies were turning black sooner than I had thought. ( I had given him 2 mg Clon at 1 PM before we left) We rushed home and I was racing around shutting windows etc. when we heard the first loud clap ........the winds came up and it poured buckets............all of that unnerved O'R and he was clawing and panicky.........I tried to redirect him........told him to sit, but he was too upset to listen.........I went out on the deck and he pawed for a bit and then settled down inside.

We had a respite for a few hours and then the next round came...........they predicted even stronger thunder/winds gusting to 60 mph !!!!!!!!!! So I gave him another 2 mg dose..........I sensed he needed more so an hour later I gave him 1 1/2 mg......................well, he settled right down and was literally unreactive for the rest of the evening...and the thunder was LOUD !!!!!!!....he's sleeping next to me ......as long as he is near me when he's sedated he seems fine..............

All I can think of is what it would have been like w/o his meds !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Storm? What Storm?

Well, now I'm really a believer..........Yesterday afternoon and evening we had one hum dinger of a storm.........lightening, high winds, thunder, heavy rain, tornado watches in surrounding counties................and O'R sailed right through..........I gave him 2 Clon's at 5 pm and that held him till it was all over around 8:30.........he focuses intensely on his rawhide bones..........and he isn't trembling and shaking all over like he used to.......and he leaves me alone !!!!!!!!

Ahhhh, no more walking in the pouring rain.........no more driving the streets with O'R's wet head sticking out the window ..............Ahhhhhhhhh, Bliss :)

Learning Fom Every Rumble !

For the past 2 hours we have had a moderately hefty storm.......no lightening flashes but constant rolling/rumbling thunder and some pretty gusty winds and rain.......I was on the couch reading and O'R heard the first rumble ( I didn't) He started to cry and paw/claw at me.........I jumped off the couch and yelled NO !! ( I do this because my skin is so thin from all the years of Prednisone that it tears easily, so I tend to panic in an effort to get away) My yelling NO ! simply raises him to the next level of anxiousness :( This time I grabbed 2 Clon and cheese and went outside on the deck...........he started to claw at the door but stopped and just whined........I opened the door and gave him the pills without looking at him, closed the door and went back to the deck, ignoring him completely........... he sat at the door and whined, but not loudly and soon he was lying down on the floor by the door...........this all happened before the Clon could possibly have taken effect..............he remained calm throughout the 2 hours...........I came in a few times and rewarded him with treats.....Good Boy !! I'm not really sure he needed the Clon, but am not going to push my luck just yet !

I feel that this change is a combination of the daily Clomicalm, ignoring his attention seeking behavior AND removing myself from him........when I do this I am not stressed and, therefore, neither is he !

I can hardly believe this and I feel like jumping in my car and racing over to give Dr A a big hug :)

8 days of near Bliss !

All in all, we've been doing great ! But, of course, we've had .24" of rain the whole month of May, so not much thunder !

A few days ago, late morning, I was at the computer.............high pressure; not a cloud in the sky.......O'R suddenly snapped his head up and, before I could even react he was at my side and clawed me, breaking the skin.............he was NOT to be calmed, so after I bandaged my arm, I came outside, leaving him in and ignored his clawing and crying at the door ...........he stopped after a short while and lay down by the door to the deck where I was and it was over.

The last two nights 'chance' of thunderstorms have been predicted.............I am so against medicating him unless absolutely necessary that I have become expert at reading satellite/radar maps and have about 4 websites that I visit to predict storms.............both nights I have decided that the storm threat is too minimal to medicate him and I have been right so far......YAY !!!!!!!!!

O'R got his summer puppy cut yesterday.......he looks SO cute ! When he lies on his side he looks like a little fawn with his white underbelly..........when I brought him in the groomer's he was all happy and tail waggy..........the moment the groomer started to lead him to the back he played 'dead'......went limp, slithered to the floor and rolled over...........and, I was told he barked excitedly at everyone one who entered the groomer's shop.........:(

My sweet anxious boy....

Storms predicted throughout the weekend...........hoping we'll do great and that I can start leaving him in the upstairs bedroom when I need a break or have to leave.

O'R, you are a mystery !

Thursday, May 24, 2007


Dear O'Riley,
Oh, how I wish we could 'talk' :( Today was very hot and humid (we set a record of 90' today) yet there was nary a cloud in the sky or a storm in 100 miles in any direction........and yet you were troubled..............your ears were back, you were listening so carefully, you were panting, whiny and you were anxious..........after awhile you started to paw at me.........I finally gave you 2 mg Clon............I HAD to leave ( I left you outside) and knew you would be okay as there were no storms in sight. When I arrived home you were fine.
Later we went on a Golden Retriever Rescue home visit.........you were SO good and everyone loved you yet you were still panty/anxious ( hard to tell if it was the strange house and people or a continuation of your earlier anxiety)
I wish you could tell me why you feel anxious.........my gut tells me it is weather related......that the heat and humidity and barometric pressure affect you.........whatever it is you are calm now and lying next to me with the fan gently ruffling your fur..........a week from today you will get you puppy-cut and will look even cuter than you already are :)
You are a very good Boy !
posted by Tigerbi @ 4:34 PM 0 comments

New 'Upstairs' Safe Room Plan

In order to truly acclimate O'Riley to feeling safe in an enclosed area I have decided the basement is just not feasible............he needs a minimum of 15 visits per day as training and I just am NOT going to be able to manage climbing stairs that often...........

Because he has responded so well to the meds that Dr A has prescribed I feel he can be placed in a guest room with a gate at the doorway.......I will empty out a walk in closet so that he has a nice 'den' atmosphere with bedding and yummy kongs to keep him busy.........Dr A had been concerned about my having to go up and down the stairs that often but I just didn't feel I had a choice ( that was PRE new meds !!)

So that is our mission this week..........lots of fun in Ye Olde Gueste Roome :)

A Good Night ! :)

Well, we had some pretty severe weather last night and O'R got through it like a champ ! His Clon worked like a charm and even though he would raise his head at the sight of lightening peeking through the shades and loud claps he responded to my hand on his side and my words of 'calm.........calm...........good boy........calm' ( It's a good thing he behaved because 'American Idol' was on and I would have been very unhappy had I been interrupted !!) :)

If it stormed after 10 last night we didn't hear it as we were fast asleep :)

We have a nice, week long reprieve of lovely weather to look forward to now !!!!!!!!!!!

Big Boomers predicted for tonight ~

Very unsettled weather today.........some storms early and I medicated O'R with two Clom ........more predicted this afternoon and for after nine tonight so he will recieve the maximum dosage of 6 (12 mg) by 9 tonight............am hoping that being on the bed next to me with my verbal calming cues plus the meds will get him through w/o too much trouble..

Thoughts on O'Riley's General Behavior

I have noticed that since my daughter and grand daughter arrived last Tuesday, O'Riley has been anxious at times...........our schedule is completely different from the norm ......I am not home as much, his exersize has decreased, and there is much more activity around my house on a daily basis ..............his response has been primarily increased 'licking' episodes...........today I noticed he has licked his back leg raw :( ( When I first adopted him his paws were bleeding......I assumed he was allergic, but turned out it was stress licking )

It is hard for him to adjust to changes from our normal routine. I had hoped that the daily dose of Clomicalm would help but it seems not to at all.........

He is incredibly patient and gentle with 3 year old Lucy who steps on him unintentiaonally and loves to 'hug' him...............I have never heard O'R growl, but I still am on 'red alert' and I let Lucy know she must be careful and gentle with him ! ( Though I'm sure her constant motion unnerves him) !!

We have a few storms predicted in the next few days.......looking forward to good results !!!!!!!!

( Fingers and Paws crossed !!)

Quick update

O'Riley got through the morning storms without touching me.........he chewed so hard on the bully bone that I noticed a bit of blood on the white bone so I had to take it away.............by then the storms had stopped. I am truly elated !! Now we'll have to see how he is with the strong boomers with lightening !

Thankfully, no storms for the weekend so I don't need to worry about Judy having to take him tomorrow night.........

My goal for the next week is to be more diligent about training him to stay alone in his 'safe' place downstairs.........right now I am very happy :)

Thursday, May 10th

This morning at 8 I gave O'Riley 2 Clonazepam as storms were predicted. It is now 10:30 and we have had rumbling thunder off and on and O'R is calm. I have to say I am in rather a state of shock !!!!!! He has not approached me at all...............I gave him a bully stick and he is chewing on that almost constantly. He is also very thirsty. So far so good !!

Two weeks of Peace?

Today there are strong storms in Northern Pa. O'Riley has been crying softly off and on.........he is sensing something that is happening a hundred miles away? I find this amazing !

My neighbor Jim made my Dutch door today............so now I can start leaving O'Riley down there with a delicious stuffed kong and a comfy bed and music AND a fan for white noise......Somehow I feel that a Dutch door will be

10 times better than a closed door............just my hunch. Anyway, as Dr A suggested, short stints and let him out when he is calm, not fussing.

My internet weather man tells me we re going to have 2 weeks of high pressure...........this is great news as my Daughter Katy and Granddaughter Lucy are coming from Colorado this Tuesday for a 9 day visit ( I'm including a favorite photo of Lucy cuddling with gentle O'Riley)

Sunday night
Last night O'Riley woke me whining and clawing ......I knew that there was a slight chance of a passing thunderstorm but it was so slight that I did not medicate him........so, Murphy's Law being as it is we must have had a rumble...........I never heard it, but I got up and gave him two pills and put a tee shirt on him.........he settled very quickly..........too quickly for the Clonazepam to have taken effect, I'm sure and that was that. One thing I'm liking about the Clon is there don't seem to be any side effects after it's been in his system for awhile. The Xanax gave him terrible munchies and he acted like a very rude, crude drunk

The basement dutch door is still waiting to be done.........hopefully that will happen today!
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April 27, 2007 2:19 PM # Edit this entry
Today's report
Last night we had no storm although predicted..........but I gave him one Clon at bedtime.

Today was very odd........

I am on the couch reading this afternoon.........O'R is lying on the floor beside me...........there is a sudden clap of thunder.........he stays lying down but starts to shake all over...........I tell him to 'calm' and stroke his back..............5 minutes later a flash of lightening that we both saw out the picture window and a BOOM........same response...........a few minutes later the rain pounds against the window and another loud clap...........he continues lying down with head up,ears back, trembling, but MUCH calmer than normal.......and that was the end of the storm....Why this change in response?

1) Could the Clomicalm be helping even though he's only been on it 6 days ?

2) Was it the short bursts of noise and not the normal rumbling as a storm moves in?

Thankfully no storms in sight for awhile so I can start leaving him in the laundry room for short periods with delicious kongs to chew on.......I've had to nag my next door neighbor a bit to make the dutch door this weekend and I got the hardware we need today..........and onward we go !

O'Riley's Journey towards Noise Phobia freedom
My lovely, gentle 9 yr old Golden, O'Riley, who I adopted in November of 2003 is a perfect dog in every way.................unfortunately, he has severe noise phobia.......thunderstorms turn him into a crazed,clawing, terrorized wild animal.

He clings to me and tries to claw his way inside me...........it has been a difficult time but this blog is to hopefully celebrate his release and mine from the intensity of his fear.

Having been on a hit or miss mish mash of meds .......Valium.........Ace.........Xanax, I finally (at the suggestion of my vet) contacted a Vet Behaviorist. We had our first meeting on 4/20/07............I will call her Dr A............we talked for 2 1/2 hours as she also observed O'Riley. I felt an immediate connection with her and knew, with NO doubt that she was passionate and dedicated to making O'Riley's life a happier one. We discussed drug therapy and behavior modification.......it is clear that O'R and I have a lot of work to do..

This journal is sinply to keep track of meds given and when/why ..........and the result of the meds AND training.

Dr A has suggested we start O'Riley on 40 mg Clomicalm 2x/day for two weeks and in two weeks (May 11th) begin 60 mg 2x/day........this is an anti-anxiety drug that he will be on for the season............and,when needed , before a storm, I will give him 1-2 2mg tabs of clonazepam and can repeat 1 to 2 times/day, not exceeding 6 tabs/day

I need to work hard at re introducing him to MY being the very benevolent yet strong leader........I need to teach him how to 'calm' ...........I need to make a safe room in the basement and make it a happy place to go..........so that when I am not home he can be put there and not freak out.

Today we have had cloudy. rainy weather, but nothing at all severe, yet O'Riley has been anxious and whiny........because we live near Lake Ontario, it is very difficult to predict storms............tonight a thunderstorm or two have been predicted.........I gave O'R 4 mg of Clon at 6pm..............he is no longer whining but he is watching my every move...........We wil see how tonight goes.........I have a white noise machine in my bedroom and with the TV on and shades drawn I am hoping for a quiet night..........I have no problem re-dosing him if we have more storms tonight !