Hi there,
You may remember me posting a month or so ago....
I have a Collie x Lab who is 9 yrs old nx mth who suffers quite badly with separation anxiety. He came bk from vets in Feb and been like this since? 
I have tried most Homeopathic Remedys (ignatia, Rescue Remedy, Valerian) and DAP diffuser without much success. He has relapsed every few weeks and my neighbour has been complaining about this.
I have been to the vets to ask for some advice, he told me about Clomicalm along with a good behaviourist should help. So I have started him on a course, altho I have not read much of a success rate on this. I know its an anti depressant for dogs, but most forums i have read up on say they only keep their dog on it for a month and then they come off it cos the tables are expensive and not working. But I have read some posts that their dogs stay on them for a few months and have changed with the behaviour training.
I am expecting my behaviourist round on Saturday. and we are goin to be talking about some changes that need to be made that may help?
But what about a change of diet? Will this help at all? Currently he is being fed Pro Plan Adult complete. i think it has 26% protein? Is this too high?
I have bought a few packs of prizeChoice for him to try, these are 15% protein. I also read that complex carbs an hour after his main meals raise the 'happy chemicals' in his brain? so am trying that too.
I have read many posts on here claiming lower protein = calmer dog???
Any advice will be appreciated, we dont want our dog to be on drugs?! But with working full time its a bit hard to keep him quiet? and we dont want to be upsetting our neighbour?
Karlai

Colmicalm

I wouldn't be feeding an older dog such a high protein level

As you use homoeopathic remedies have you seen a homoeopath or just used the remedies ? It can make a difference having someone produce a remedy specific for your dog

I would also use T Touch massage to release the dogs own endorphins & help your dog relax & chill out.

MoonMaiden

Thanks for your quick reply.
I have not seena  Homeopath but have been trying remedys recommended by ppl who have had similar problems with their dogs?
What protein % should me collie X be on? I am hoping this will calm him down a bit?

I must admit I have found diet to have a big effect on behaviour.I now feed BARF and have found all my dogs are more relaxed.
Archer

Archer
Do you not feed any biscuits in their diets then?
I am waiting to tlk to my behaviourist on saturday to find out what is recommended.
What breed are your dogs?
Lucky is 9 nx mth and a Collie X, still quite active in himself?

I only feed biccuits to one of mine ...long story ...won't bore you!!!
I own 3 norwegian elkhounds(aged 18 months,3 and 4) and 2 Shiba inus(aged 10 months and 2 years!)
Archer

I would think no more than 20% that's a maintenance level.

My older collies & GSD were/are fed on raw food which is lower in protein than complete foods so didn't need to be changed, but my cavaliers don't do raw food so the oldest is on a senior complete organic food

Hi, I know just how it feels.  I have 2 wheaten terriers, 1 who howls as soon as I leave the house.  Neighbour also complained!  He didn't howl until we moved house when he was 4 months old, got another dog, didn't help.  Saw a behaviourist who watched the video of him while we were out.  Tried loads of things.  Basically, he howled for an hour when he was on Eukanuba puppy.  Then when he went onto adult eukanuba the howling went from 1 hour to the whole time we were out - a problem when I work full time, although he does get a 2 hour walk midday.  We were told the eukanuba adult was too high in protein for him so took him off it and put him onto nature diet.  He loved it and howling reduced to 1 hour within 4 days.  Behaviourist said she didn't think it was SA because of body language and all he did was howl, he would eat while we were out, didn't destroy anything etc.  She suggested lots of things, including rescue remedy, dap diffuser, pasta with his meal to release happy chemicals.  Pasta made him far worse, but not sure if that was a wheat allergy.  He seemed good on nature diet and with a dap, this reduced it in July to 3 single howls in the first hour all day, great.  Until I broke up for the 6 weeks hols (teacher).  I noticed both dogs were looking very thin on nature diet and we were feeding them the recommended daily allowance.  So I tried Burns instead which I had heard good things about.  He also loves that, 1st few days back at work he howled full on for an hour, since then he seems abit calmer and is howling probably for half hour now.  Behaviourist also said cut out all treats as you don't know if they affect him.  I think they do.  I definately know anything linked to chicken or with chicken derivatives in makes him worse.  So overall, I would say, diet definately affects them.  What exactly does your dog do when youre out?  I'd be interested to see what your behavourist says, might get some tips!  Good luck, it's a nightmare!  Vanessa.

Hiya! thank god someone has the same problem as me? it just helps to share knowledge and tips LOL
I have taken Lucky straight off the Pro Plan Adult 26% protein, he is 9 yrs old so i am gonna try the nature diet and find a low protein seionr food.
The behaviourist is coming round on SAturday. I really hope she can help.
When we leave, i put out a Kong for Lucky and that keeps him busy for about 15-20 mins, i ahve two for him now. and i freeze pate in there so it lasts longer.
Lucky came bk from vets like this in Feb, and since then we ahve good times and bad. he went about two weeks on homepathic Ignatia and DAP and was fine with that til he got a scared by a thunderstorm?
I have been goin out of my mind not knowing what else I can do. He just howls and barks all day? he used to tear things up and poo in the kitchen but now i let him have the run of the house (as i have a new puppy in the kitchen at the mo).
He has been given some Clomicalm from the vets. And is taking that at the mo but looking at research not many dogs reacted in the first month?
It very stressfull for me, i dont know how much more the neighbour will take, he does go on all day with the barking and howling. We stay in at night so we dont keep neighbours kids up.
Quite distressing, i watch the tape bk every day. He seems a lot better in the afternoon than in the morning.
Behaviourist did say that dogs do relapse? esp when you have had time off work and not doin ur normal routine.
I will def let you know what the behaviourist says, i just hope we can do something for him.
Lucky isnt on his own either during the day, he has my St bernard Chloe? But nothing seems to comfort him?

Hi,
Wrote you a long email late the other night in response to yours last Monday.  Tried to send it and deleted it by accident!  Couldn't be bothered to do it again - also deleted yours so I can't remember much that was in it!  Sorry!  What are you going to change the food to?  I also leave the radio on - apparently radio 2 is best as it has lots of talking!  I used to leave the TV on but as he was wondering round the house looking for us I was told to limit his space so now he is just in the kitchen.  Also, he was watching out of every window he could looking for anything to move - so being in just one room made it easier to desensitise him - apparently they like to be close to the centre of the house too, so that is where his bed is when we go out.  Putting a blind on the kitchen window really helped as he couldn't see out, he can only hear things (muffled by the radio anyway) so he has stopped jumping up at the window -- cuts down on nose smears too!  Let me know how it's going.  Where did you get your ignatia from?
Vanessa

Hello

Wondered what happened to you LOL!
We had our behaviourist round last Saturday, cost us a bit, she told us what we already knew but also a few tips that we have taken steps to.
We built Lucky a little cardboard den, apparently cardboard is better for soundproofing. Lucky is very noise sensitive and barks at ANY noise? so we have two radios on, both on LBC 97.3.
We started off the desensitising, leaving for a few mins at a time and it was upsetting him cos he could se everything we were doing and he would only last 20 mins or so before he got upset. So we moved him upstairs into the bedroom at the back of the house, much better as he cant look out any windows or hear the cars driving past anymore. He has two radios on and spends most of his time in his den. and a dog gate to stop him from wondering around the house. and also a DAP diffuser.
He was in the living room before and was able to wonder around the hosue which didnt help really.
We dont feed him meals in his bowls now, behaviourist says he needs mental stimulation?  We fill up toilet tube rolls, yoghurt pots and Kongs with his meals? and freeze them all the night before so they last a bit longer.
He is on Naturediet and James WellBeloved. Altho he does not like either of them particularly? I have been giving him Butchers tins - he loves the smelly Tripe flavour one? and it keeps him busy.
I am goin to try another food which is talked about on here a lot called Autarky? its a natural food so no harm in trying it.
The vets prescribed Clomicalm, hopefully this will help him.
He has only been on it for 11 days and I dont expect to see any results for a month or so? With Lucky he keeps relapsing cos he gets scared. ie thunderstorms and he is terrified of fireworks. Behaviourist had suggested that we try and keep him on these tablets until the firework season is over? and i have found somewhere I can but them cheaper than from the vets. We will see how it goes, the neighbour has complained about him to us, and its always on the bk of my mind that he may take it further. Quite stressful really. :(
I bought the Ignatia from www.yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk took a week to get into him but def worked. but when we weaned him off them he got bad again and then the thunderstorm topped it for him?
We not long got bk from shopping, we were only out 40 mins but he was really good!!!! no barking at all? :)
He has good days and bad days but me and my other half have 3 weeks off work to try and get as much training as we can and sort this out once and for all!
Keep in touch.