Raven's cancer *Final recheck, pg 38 (post 568)*

[cassiesmom]

Fingers and paws crossed for May 25th visit... prayer said, candle lit (http://www.gratefulness.org under group: raven)

[chocolatepuppy]

Raven and Jessica, both in my thoughts and prayers tonight.

[K9soul]

Raven had another wonderful checkup today. It is really looking more and more thoroughly healed, Dr. Nielson was very happy with it. He wants to see her back in a month now (June 22), to ensure things are still going well. He said he wants to keep seeing her until it looks completely and totally normal. The sutures are mostly dissolved now, can't even really see them.

I spent some of the visit talking about a behavioral issue. She has always been a bit anxious being left but after her last surgery she got drastically worse. She now has severe separation anxiety, she will howl and cry and panic, drool all over herself and try to get out of her crate or the room if I block her in my room. She actually did manage to get out of my room last time I went to get groceries and I could hear her barking and crying when I pulled into the garage.

I explained to him that my comings and goings are low-key, I don't make a fuss when I leave, I don't make a fuss when I get back. I explained how this issue became severe since her last surgery. I had suspected it had a lot to do with my extreme anxiety during the time when her life hung in the balance. He said that week, I brought her in Monday for the consultation and had to leave her, and then Friday brought her in for the surgery and had to leave her. Both times my emotions were very extreme, understandably so, since it was a life and death situation, but she picked up on that, and sensing that and then having me leave traumatized her. I told him since March when I found this I had been in a heightened state of anxiety and I know that she probably picked up on that as well. He seemed very understanding and said that I am probably only just beginning to 'relax' about all of this. After all, he said, he has seen more not make it from malignant oral cancers than ones who do, and he said even his nerves were on edge about it.

I got a month's supply of Clomipramine, a tricyclic anti-anxiety medication for dogs. He says it has been shown to help a lot along with the desensitizing techniques that I am already working on. It's not a permanent thing, just as an aid while I am working on desensitizing. It is not a tranquilizer, must be given every day like a human antidepressant. I'm hoping that will help her. It makes it very difficult for me to get out and do much when I know she is at home panicking and freaking out. She has never been destructive but I will get home and her chest will be covered in drool, she's huffing and her heart racing. Hopefully, we can get her through this and she will be able to relax and enjoy a chew toy or bully stick while I'm away.



Thank you all so much again for all your thoughts and prayers. We love you!

[pitc9]

Oh Raven... you are so beautiful!
I'm so happy you've had another great check up!
I hope the pills help you calm down. Your fears/anxiety are understandable after what you and your mom have gone through. You are a brave fighter little girl! (...LES) We're all proud of you and love you like you are our own!

{{hugs}} to you sweetie, the T's and mom as well!

[lizbud]

Great news again on Raven's checkup. She looks radiant in her picture.
I can understand her maybe picking up on your nervousness & anxiety.
Hope the new pills can help calm Raven when she's home alone.Where do
Tommy & Tasha stay when you're gone? Does being around them help her
at all? With time, hopefully this can be overcome.

[cassiesmom]

Sweet Raven, I'm so glad you had a good post-surgical report. You look radiant in your photo. I hope the clomipramine works for your anxiety. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you to be separated from mom. She loves you so much and we all do too. HUG for you and for the T's and mom too. I hope that you will all be able to spend some time together the next few days.

[dukedogsmom]

Another stunning pic! She's just glowing with happiness. I'm so glad everything is progressing nicely.

And, I feel I'm sort of an expert on separation anxiety now after all I've been through with Dasher. Pm me and I'll tell you how I handle it. He's not been on any meds in months and he's totally changed now. He used to get between my legs while I was putting on my shoes. Now, he just lays on my bed. Things will get better. Your anxiety was a perfectly normal reaction to all of this.

[Kfamr]

That smile of her just brightens anyone's day, doesn't it?

A lot of shelter dogs have S.A.... usually with time it goes away. Atleast it did with Simba and Nala. They couldn't care less if they are left at home.

[Kalei]

Raven is looking so great! I am so glad that her check ups are going so well, prayers truely do work.

[K9soul]

Where do Tommy & Tasha stay when you're gone? Does being around them help her at all? With time, hopefully this can be overcome.

They can have run of the house but I have generally been gating them in the room with her in hopes it would help, however it doesn't seem to make any difference. Her fear/anxiety seems to involve me. Now she is not a clingy pup, if I'm home and she is running the house she is often off in another room or area of the house and I'm chasing her down to make sure she's not getting into something . But being closed off somewhere with me out of sight seems to trigger her fear of being left. Hopefully the meds will help along with working with her. I've been feeding her gated in my room away from me and the T's. She eats fine and has been relaxed with that so I'm doing that every day to give her a good experience with being confined with me out of sight.

I had read about a D.A.P. diffuser and collars too, and may try that as well. http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/beha...haviorprob.htm

[chocolatepuppy]

It's so good to hear Ravens checkup went well! I hope the pills and time will help with her anxiety.