At times, reading an article that really touches you can be like reading an affirmation: you say to yourself “Yes! that is so right!”
Well for me it was more of a rant: Don’t Tell Me I’m Doing Too Much With My IVDD Dog!
It reminded me of all my mixed emotions regarding unsolicited advice when it comes to medicating dogs for anxiety.
I will not advise whether or not medication should be taken, nor can I suggest which one may work.
Personal experience has taught me not to judge others for choosing anxiety medication for their dogs.
My previous dog Carter suffered from severe anxiety that proved challenging to manage.
At first I hesitated before deciding to treat my dog’s anxiety with medication; we had tried behavioral modification techniques, desensitization techniques, thunder shirts, calming oils, soothing music & supplements before eventually resorting to medication as the only means. Nothing seemed to stop his panicked response during fireworks displays or “riding it out” techniques like distraction. None of these strategies managed to stop his sheer panic & hysteria at nightfall.
We tried every combination of treatments but nothing seemed to help. While thunderstorms did decrease fireworks noise levels significantly, fireworks continued to be an issue.
His anxiety during fireworks was beyond anything anyone could reasonably expect of any pet. Constant shaking, pacing, whining and scratching at doors to escape were hallmarks of extreme distress for him; we moved him into quieter rooms but his anxiety still followed him everywhere we went – it was heartbreaking to witness such a panicked response and feel helpless about making it stop!
That type of anxiety is absolutely devastating and certainly qualifies as something which causes pain & suffering.
Not All Dogs Need Medication
While not all dogs experience severe anxiety, like any condition it exists on a spectrum from mild to severe. But for those that do experience it medication may provide the most humane solution.
Making the decision to medicate an anxious dog is never an easy one; I certainly did not take my decision lightly. When your pup is suffering, you are faced with difficult choices which are solely your responsibility to make.
I never thought of anxiety medication as a quick fix or had the expectation that it would remove all his anxieties; its purpose for us was more about making his anxiety more manageable than eliminating it entirely.
Why I Don’t Judge Dog Owners Regarding Medication
After choosing medication to help treat my dog’s anxiety during fireworks displays, I encountered much criticism & unsolicited advice; most of it made matters even worse.
“Well I wouldn’t medicate my dog for that” seems to imply we failed, that our efforts haven’t been sufficient or that we have given up altogether and reached for medication because it is “easy.”
When I hear that your dog used to be scared of storms but now seems fine thanks to your discovery of amazing oil, I understand the motivation. Offering advice can often seem helpful; however, such advice often makes us feel like our problems are somehow less serious; after all if something can be fixed with oil then why am I having any difficulty at all?
“I am glad it worked for your dog, but that doesn’t guarantee it will work for mine.
Advice-giving can be a positive thing, but depending on the topic it can quickly become contentious. When we’re discussing treatments for our pets it can become especially personal, making advice that seems obvious very easily offending.
Unintentionally or otherwise, advice can make us feel like we haven’t given enough effort or made wise decisions; that something must have gone wrong somewhere along the way and that nothing seems right with life.
Advice can often be beneficial. I am simply suggesting that when providing medical or other sensitive advice to others, please be mindful of your phrasing and use phrases carefully to avoid offending someone or risking becoming offended yourself.
