My vet emailed me today suggesting that I try this veterinary behaviourist. I spoke to him and have a phone consult tomorrow at 7pm. I've also just emailed him a long history! So hoping he can help.

http://www.animalbehaviour.com/

The behaviourist should know what drugs can best help her behaviour. I sure hope that this is the key to making her more comfortable. Please let us know how it goes!

Thanks Lisa, I am really hoping he can help. He did say on the phone that there is not one easy fix, a combined approach is needed. A couple more hours to go!

I hope they can help Bianca!

Thanks Marie

Well I think I have a new best friend teehee! He is really nice and we had an hour and a half phone consultation. He will send me a report within a couple of weeks but will send my vet an email tomorrow.
Molly is to go back on Prozac 30mg (was on 20mg before). He said Xanax usually is the drug of choice for storms up to a maximum of 4mg. Because 3mg doesn't make a dent in her, we are going to try a beta blocker (not sure which), start off on a low dose. If that doesn't help then try Clomidine (sp).

He thinks it could be partly due to early impoverished begginings (she was the runt and it was touch and go, hand reared etc) and that at maturity between 12-18 months was the magic time that it all started to go pear shaped. The maturity of genetic propensities. That was when her reactivity went through the roof and barrier frustration, on lead aggression etc. He said it is like a learning phenonem where her drive is anxiety and the barrier is frustration.

He said it's possible it could be nuerological and he consults with a neuro but to pay $2700 for an MRI of her brain, he thinks it is not likely to prove anything.

We are going to try multiple interventions, a DAP diffuser (I have tried the DAP spray. He said thundershirts can be hit and miss and hers makes no difference so to try an old cut up pair of pantyhose - she is going to look like a fat sausage Instead of trying to make her den in her crate (which is huge) use a cardboard box which is sealed up with just enough room for her to get in (small opening cut into it for a door) and put an unwashed item of my clothing in there. Even use the DAP spray in there and while there are no storms teach her to go in their = food treats. And that seems to make so much sense because on the weekend she was digging to try and get in my box of pepsi (never going to fit)

Start to feed her using the Kongs as licking (aural) is a calming sensation and keeps her busy and eventually feed all her food this way. Also apparently around 90% of the serotonin is in the guts and the remainder in the brain.

When there is a storm use deep tissue massage but only for like 10 seconds at a time, particularly around the ear canals, shoulders and thighs.

I really like him, he is a vet first and foremost and has worked with the NZ police dogs (I fostered one once) so he gets brownie points for that!

I am going to get a thunderstorm CD and try and desensitise her.

I told him I have ordered some tracking books to keep her thinking and he thought that was great (although it looks as if the second posting from Dogwise has gone awol too).

He is going to call me on Monday to see if I have thought of any other questions etc and we will give it around 2 months to see how this new programme works. He said he is always a phone call away.

I've probably missed a lot but I was trying to take notes while listening etc and please excuse my spelling mistakes!

I so hope my Molly Moo can feel better But I did tell him I will do whatever it takes.

Even though this is incomplete I hope maybe some of it may help others ~ Lisa thinking of Jazz here - the pantyhose idea is worth a shot and he said you can even use multiple layers.

And if you have made it this far, thank you for reading

Sounds like a very productive consult and that there are lots of options to try. I found this part where it is is possibly due to "early impoverished beginnings (she was the runt and it was touch and go, hand reared etc) and that at maturity between 12-18 months was the magic time" very interesting and I did not know this about Molly.

Wow...that's a very comprehensive discussion you got to have with him and he gets brownie points from me on taking the time to go through everything so thoroughly. I hope this new program brings results and good to know he is only a phone call away and offers up full support.

It sounds very positive and you have a plan....and we all like good plans as then you feel you are doing something useful and constructive.

Very hopeful that this guy will be able to help - sounds very promising! Will be interesting to see the full report. I can hear the relief in your voice

Thank you ladies I am feeling so much better having a plan now!

Yes Alison, she was a sickly pup and in fact was the only 1 of the 9 in the litter to be named by the breeder. (she was Tessa).

I have ordered the DAP plug in and will pick up the prescriptions from my vet tomorrow. As you will see from the the pics, I need to get a bigger box (well I'm going to get 2 as I know Coop will want his own!) Getting her 'kit' together!

OOh I also have learnt recently that one of her littermates and Dam suffer from mild storm phobia.