I'm going to the doctor today because I still have a sore throat. My cold pretty much ended by last weekend, but I just can't get rid of this throat issue. I looked up "sore throat remedies" on Google, and the home remedies are pretty scary. Instructions like: take cayenne every 15 minutes until your sore throat is gone (can take up to 2 days) - what? people don't sleep? How does that work? And there were so many warnings: put Vaseline on your lips first and wipe off your lips and don't take too much because this is what happened to me.... etc. I think I'll just go to my doctor and get some antibiotics (and hope it don't hear "all bugs don't need drugs").
I've been busy trying to finish some last minute Christmas presents, I want to get every thing in the mail by the end of the week.
But the biggest thing I've spent my time on, relates to my 11 year old dog, Jazz. I was warned that the noise phobia issues would increase with age and they have. The list of things that scare her increase each year to include things like: loud motorcycles, air hammers and the wood pecker. But now she's started to bark at 5am (an hour before I get up) and continues a low growl until I get up to shut her up. She doesn't have to go to the bathroom but she does run around as if there's a cat or something outside. Maybe there is? Maybe a neighbour lets out their cat before 5am and the cat comes here every morning and Jazz can here it. Maybe she's crazy and imagines it.
The problem is that her issues become the whole house's issues and do get between JP and I. And I don't know how to stop them. The behaviour books cover common problems like dogs on furniture and peeing in the house, but they don't cover these types of issues. And so far the drugs the vet has given me don't help plus they cost a lot just to experiment with. Valium without a medical plan is an expensive little pill. And then I get into the issue of getting my dog too doped up. I don't want her to be stoned. The list of things I've tried is long and includes acupuncture and Tellington T-Touch and even aromatherapy. So far I have not found any animal behaviourists who can help me either -mainly because they are so far away - what's the point if the specialist can't see the dog? You'd think Vancouver would be big enough to have one, but I've asked several people and they tell me the closest person is in Victoria or in Washington State. So because of her age, the one option that continues to be presented to me is euthanasia. I have a really difficult time choosing this option when 80% of the time, she is a sweet and wonderful dog. which is why part of my time has been consumed with searching to find a solution/option/alternate.
Also on my mind - it's been 10 years since my father passed away.
2 comments:
My dog has exactly the same problem, we have moved him into our bedroom so that we can show him that nothing is the matter. Does anything make her sleep more deeply? We also bought Twinks a new bed and he seems to relax more in that. I have a friend that has had sucess with a igloo bed.
Don't gie up there will be a solution out there!!
Thanks Brie - I used to have her in our bedroom but she would leave and go the the laundry room where she is now. Besides, due to normal doggie smells I don't think my husband will let them back in the bedroom! She does lover her bed and when she'd scared she goes into her travel kennel which I sometime use to keep her safe, but I don't want to lock her in there all the time!
Thanks Brie - I will keep looking for a solution.
Making her sleep deeply? That's a good question, I will look into that. Thanks.
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