Drugs for car anxiety

[LilF]

It has been about six months since I have been working with Blossom and her car anxiety. When I was giving her some supplements they did seem to take the edge off some. The lavendar seemed to have helped in conjunction with that, but not enough. One made her throw up bile (a supplement touted by a dog webinar presenter --not a HA! webinar)She still is eating in the car which I do so she doesn't go over threshold. Today she seemed frenetic. Today, after days of not having anything she was off the wall. When we came home after15 minutes in the car she fell right to sleep. One: anyone who has a judgment of me personally I will not tolerate it and not read your post. My self worth is just fine---matter of fact --my self worth is so fine that I am not tolerating this kind of sacrifice anymore. I was supposed to go to my holistic Dr. in another state and was going to take her but have been unable to go. When I adopted her I planned to take her to my appointment scheduled the following month. I need medical attention. Second: My self worth also is way too high to put myself at risk for a car accident that would change my life. Change my face, affect my life quality or my finances. It isn't going to happen. Choices: I will contact the vet for a drug regimen tomorrow to practice with so we can GET to the spay appointment in May an hour away. I will not pussy foot around anymore, feeding her in the car, distracting me will not be tolerated. I have done my best, sacrificed MY life and my health as I have done with all my dogs. Some call this a self worth problem--- I call it empathy....but I digress......It is time to stop all that. If the drugs do not work she is going to have to go. I had a dog once who died because he would not ride in the car....home vet care was abysmal and he suffered terribly. The rescue already said they were going to pick her up to spay her a few months ago. If she acted out in the car and I was far away, I would have to let her out-- She has some psychological problem and I need to get medical care for myself, long overdue. Again, if you have a nasty comment keep it to yourself already. As Bernie Siegel says to those making nasty comments: "I am sorry your parents did not love you" He also says "you do not know what a person is dealing with" So I am willing to try things that work but so far Pheromones, Flower essences, Rescue Remedy, having another person in the car, lavendar, music, food do not work enough for me to ride with her longer than 15 minutes. I am not going to go from this to the "nursing home" when all is said and done.

 

[GinnyW]

Don't take it out on her, whatever else happens. She can't help it; she's just a product of her environment and experiences. Love and calm to you both....

 

[HA! Support]

Hi Lil.

How frustrating for you! I understand that. I had a Border Collie who tried to herd other cars and it was like driving in a blender, even with her in a seatbelt! My Doodle gets car sick. I dread medical visits. The BC had to get into a crate to stop her spinning and I have to use tarps for the Doodle because a crate means vomit gets all over her.

Blossom knows she found a great mom, and she's probably afraid she'll lose you when she has to get in the car. Who knows what trauma she may have experienced - perhaps she was dumped from a car by a former owner? But like that saying "you can't pour from an empty cup," you have to be safe and able to take great care of yourself in order to take great care of her.

In any event, this is a safe space and we do our best to keep it that way. Unconstructive feedback will be removed.

We would love for you and Blossom to be able to stay together; perhaps keeping her in a safe and loving home outweighs the occasional use of a pharmaceutical if all other approaches have proven to be ineffective for her. I'm not a vet but I know what it's like to hit that wall of frustration when I can't easily find the solution and my fur babies can't tell me what they need. @Dr. Jeff @Dr. Christina @Dr. Jean Hofve, what do you think?

You've got this, Lil!

Best,
Kim from Support

 

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

Holistic, aka Integrative medicine, uses *all* the tools in the toolbox! If it takes drugs, so be it.

However, two alternatives come to mind: EFT/Tapping and Tellington TTouch (I'll attach a cheat sheet, but there are lots of videos and instructions in books and online too).

 

[Dr. Christina]

You have tried: Pheromones, Flower essences, Rescue Remedy, having another person in the car, lavendar, music, food. Drugs when needed are, as Dr. Jean said, certainly a part of integrative health care and it is wonderful that you recognize the need to take care of yourself.

Since this will be a life time issue, keep trying to resolve the issue, while using drugs until that happens.

Possibly begin homeopathic constitutional prescribing, knowing that it may take time to fully resolve.

And we do keep getting speakers giving us new methods to try, like last night's speaker on HTA.

Maybe the Assissi Canine Calmer or other pemfs, acupressure, Tellington T touch, clicker training, CBD, intuitive.


Dr. Christina