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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by utopizen on February 1, 2003, at 0:13:24
So I'll start.
My dog, a collie, has separation anxiety disorder. He's 12, but acts like a puppy. He'll growl at you to tell you he's upset you left him, growl if you hug anyone other than him, and bark incessantly everytime you leave him as if you will abandon him for the rest of his life each time you need to go to the market.
My cat, she's got PTSD, complements to her crack-addict "owner".
My cat's rather recovered after several years of TLC treatment, although a benign sense of separation anxiety disorder appears to exist... my dog, though, you can just look at him to see how much he suffers everytime he barks in a frenzy when someone leaves.
There's clomicalm, the canine brand for clomipramine. But it's $30/month. Too much for my parents, who couldn't justify putting me on ritalin while I was a kid when they had premium health insurance.
But I'm sure good ol' doggie Phenobarbital should do the trick. I mean, is there anything a barbituate can't do? I'm sure it'll help this OCD condition of his. Plus, vets prescribe it all the time because it's so cheap, like 5 cents a pill or something. And unlike humans, pets don't seem to mind being tired all the time. Plus, it gives me a chance to see what it feels like to take a barbitutate (just for a day, relax). Honestly, I don't know why I didn't suggest this to them earlier, it just didn't cross my mind... the stuff's so cheap.
Posted by jodie on February 1, 2003, at 2:01:38
In reply to Pets with mental illnesses, posted by utopizen on February 1, 2003, at 0:13:24
One of my dogs has OCD, seperation anxiety, and I even think bulimia. We have brought this up to my vet. She, I guess doesn't believe in medicating animals with psychiatric drugs. If humans have mental disorders, and have meds that can help them, why can't animals?
I had asked about phenobarbital. My vet said " no I usually only prescribe that for seizures".
Its a long story about my dog and her anxiety/OCD, I will give more info on that tomorrow (well I guess today since its almost 3 am here now) after I get some sleep.
Hope you get some help for your pets. Aren't they just wonderful companions!!! I love cats, and dogs, and ferrets, and......ok every animal!!!! :-)
Good night
jodie
Posted by IsoM on February 1, 2003, at 3:20:58
In reply to Pets with mental illnesses, posted by utopizen on February 1, 2003, at 0:13:24
Why not try herbal treatments for your pets? You must be certain that what you're going to use is safe for the animals though. Dogs are able to tolerate more than a cat can because cats have rather sensitive livers. They can't metabolise meds or toxins like humans can.
One absolutely safe herb for both cats & dogs is catnip. Yep! The plant that puts your kitty in a silly mood is also wonderfully calming. When it's eaten, the effect is to calm & relax the animal. It's safe for both cats & dogs. It's also good for people! If you chop the herb into their food, you can slowly titrate the dose upwards. It's something I've added to the diet of my kitty (with renal failure) to help calm her for all the man-handling & force-feeding I need to give her.
Dried catnip can lose its potency, but it's easy to grow, & grows like a weed (if other cats don't find it & roll about, squishing it). Fresh is more potent & more attractive. Dogs may not like it much but will still eat it if mixed with tasty food.
A few other calming herbs safe for pets is:
- passion flower
- skull cap
- valerian root (used for helping people sleep)
Posted by jay on February 1, 2003, at 13:02:45
In reply to Pets with mental illnesses, posted by utopizen on February 1, 2003, at 0:13:24
Yep..it's true. In "Noonday Demon" the author describes a story of a circus Octopus who stabed itself with it's own beak after being neglected for a long period of time in it's tank.Jay
Posted by utopizen on February 1, 2003, at 16:22:19
In reply to Re: Pets with mental illnesses, posted by jodie on February 1, 2003, at 2:01:38
Um, your vet's weird, Jodie. That's really, really weird.
How do you know she doesn't think the same way about physical problems? There's vets who abuse animals all the time. I wouldn't trust her.
Posted by jodie on February 1, 2003, at 16:30:03
In reply to Re: Pets with mental illnesses, posted by utopizen on February 1, 2003, at 16:22:19
> Um, your vet's weird, Jodie. That's really, really weird.
>
> How do you know she doesn't think the same way about physical problems? There's vets who abuse animals all the time. I wouldn't trust her.Actually the vet we usually go to is out sick for a couple of months. There is this new vet taking his place. Yes we dislike her. Actually our vet should be returning soon!!!! I'll talk to him about it!!
Thanks,
Jodie
Posted by judy1 on February 2, 2003, at 17:09:45
In reply to Re: Pets with mental illnesses » utopizen, posted by IsoM on February 1, 2003, at 3:20:58
can you please suggest how much to start with to calm my persian cat before he's groomed? my vet actually puts him out because he gets so worked up (the cat) but I really think that's excessive for a grooming procedure. so a teaspoon or more? he's 10 pounds. thanks so much- judy
Posted by IsoM on February 2, 2003, at 20:08:00
In reply to catnip » IsoM, posted by judy1 on February 2, 2003, at 17:09:45
Judy, I can't say exactly how much would help your cat. There's a certain percentage of cats who very much dislike catnip & its smell. Maybe if your cat is one of those, he wouldn't be calmed by it.
Otherwise, I use fresh catnip. I pick a leaf from the plant & roll it tight, stuffing it into a gelatine capsule. One of my cats wouldn't need that as he wolfs catnip down straight in a few seconds flat. If you use gelatine capsules, be aware that the moisture from the leaf can cause the gelatine to swell so stuff it & cap immediately.
I'd give it an hour to take full effect. Why not experiment a little first to see if your kitty calms enough & how long it takes? He may first feel a little energised before the sleepiness hits. Dried catnip, probably a 1/4 tsp would be enough. A whole teaspoon is quite a bit for him to eat.
If the catnip doesn't work, you can use a 1/4 tab (equivalent to 12.5 mg) of a travel sickness (nausea) tablet - we have Gravol in Canada. It's bitter as hell though, so you need to get it down his throat or he'll froth because of the bitter taste. You could put it in a gelatine capsules again, if needed. Gravol calms a cat lots but will make him a little groggy - walking like a drunk.
Posted by lostsailor on February 6, 2003, at 10:18:46
In reply to Re: catnip » judy1, posted by IsoM on February 2, 2003, at 20:08:00
FYI>>> the older a cat gets the higher the likelihood that thsy do not come out "of being oput out" As a cat ages there is usually a trend to do the most without putting di under...even for "minor surgeries. For grooming....tell vet that this is a concerns and ask vet for a valium. she will probably require only a 2.5 mg dose and doc should not have a problem with it (they give it to cats often tohelp the when on flights). If she does not give it to her, tell you the vet office's insurence is resp for damages incurred during feline groooming, when it was obviously in the other animal's best interest to have her sedated a bit
gl ~Tony.
Posted by judy1 on February 7, 2003, at 13:17:59
In reply to Re: sorry last post should be grooming/valium, posted by lostsailor on February 6, 2003, at 10:18:46
This is the end of the thread.
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