QUESTION

Our Dalmation has suffered from fits for many years. After his last fit he doesn't like to be left. He always used to be go at night time but now he continually howls throughout the night if no-one is with him. We have even taken to sleeping downstairs with him. Can you advise if there is any medication that could be prescribed to stop the howling.

Miss Wardle

ANSWER

Dear Miss Wardle,
There are several reason as to why the dog will be starting to behave like this. Overall he has become insecure and it is trying to increase his self confidence and security that is required. By never leaving him alone you are inadvertantly making the problem far worse than it would be otherwise. What you have to start doing is now to work on building his confidence. There are many things that can be done to help.

First start trying to leave him alone for short periods or time. When you do go out you should just leave and when you come back just come in. Do not give the dog much attention at either time. There are several medications that are out there that are anxiolytics that can help but try without them to start with. At 12 years of age you are likely to find senility as being part of the problem as well. I would advise you look into the use of B/d diet from Hills, or Vivitonin or Aktivaite to see if they will help the dogs general awareness of his surroundings and decrease his anxiety. If the fits are becoming more frequent then you need to look into increasing the dose of the epiphen or look at investigating other medications. Often dogs do suddenly seem to change after a single fit but this is usually an association with something else that has happened at the time that they make an association in their mind with the fit thus increasing the anxiety.

Lindy Metherington