Senior dog dealing with severe anxiety

[3dognight]

I have been reading the entries above and although they were entered quite a long time ago, perhaps someone is still reading them. I have a 17 year old female chihuahua who seems to have been having night terrors. She will wake up during the night, and like the other entries have stated, starts barking. This is keeping our household up and no one is very happy. I have tried lavender oil, Rescue Remedy and other herbs, and finally turned to my vet for Prozac. It worked at first, but now she won't go to bed at night and then wakes up barking again. She has also become very disinterested in food unless I hand feed her. I know she is in the December of her life and New Years is coming, but I may have to "help her to the other side" if this continues. I have been sleeping on the floor with her which has helped, but I am exhausted. Any ideas from other dog owners? Many thanks

[IRescue452]

Being deficient of nutrients usually takes a long time to show up, especially if the dog is still getting a relatively normal diet for dogs. I doubt it happened by switching from canned to dry dog food. Believe it or not, most canned foods have less protein than dry foods.

Have you tried leaving a light on for him at night?

[wolfsoul]

Try a thunder shirt. You can order them online. They work wonders for dogs with anxiety issues and phobias.

[3dognight]

Thanks for the suggestions! I did put a night light in the room with her, and have also tried leaving room lights on, but she is still barking. She hates to wear any kind of apparel (she's quite the diva!) but I"ll try putting a sweater on her tonight and see if that comforts her.

[Freedom]

Have you had the Chi to the vet for a check up? Blood work can help eliminate a lot of things.

My friend's dog, Bob, has the same issues and they are trying different meds. The Prozac gave him a seizure, so that is out.

Doggie dementia can be controlled, if that is what it is.

[Freedom]

WELL!! Gave myself a good laugh this evening! I did a Google search: old dog anxiety. This thread came up as the third "hit." Read through and OMG my post! If doggie dementia can be controlled, I sure would like to know HOW! Ha ha haaa.

This is for my Marlin. He is on the Selegiline, I have a tight snug sweater on him (same idea as a thunder shirt). I am feeding him a second meal at 7 PM, using Melatonin and Bach's Rescue Remedy. I walk him for 45 minutes starting between 5 and 6 PM. I've added canned food to both his meals to increase his fluid intake. He is also getting Gingko Biloba. I am up for an hour and half every night between 1 and 3 AM, and we are both out in the back yard parading up and down as I TRY to get him tired again. Oh how I want to sleep through the night!

Tonight, I plan to give him half a Benedryl (for his weight, he can have up to 3/4 of one) as that usually makes my dogs sleepy.

Gosh I would love to know what the heck I was on about in that other post, lol. BTW my friend's dog, Bob, finally passed to RB 5 weeks ago.