Heartbreak as Terrier Evicted from ‘Pet-Friendly’ Retirement Home. Now Needs Anxiety Medicine for Dogs

Astor is an absolutely adorable little West Highland Terrier x Cairn Terrier mix looking for a forever home that will understand him fully. Astor was adopted years ago by a lovely older lady, and Astor adored her. Eventually, Astor and his mom moved to a retirement community, and that’s where things went wrong. Despite being a “pet-friendly” community, management told Astor’s mom that he was no longer welcome to live there because he became defensive of her when staff would enter her unit. Poor Astor was just trying to keep his mom safe, but she was forced to relinquish him to the same shelter she had adopted him from originally. 

Now, back with Yolo County SPCA in Davis, California, and in a foster home, Astor hopes to find a family that will give him the space he needs and understand his nervousness. Astor takes anti-anxiety medication that helps him feel less fearful, but he still needs slow introductions and prefers to be social on his schedule. 

Heartbreak as Terrier Evicted from ‘Pet-Friendly’ Retirement Home. Now Needs Anxiety Medicine for Dogs
Credit: Yolo County SPCA

The right family for Astor will understand how dogs with anxiety need additional patience, and how important medications can be for helping dogs like Astor to live happy, full lives. 

All About Astor the Adoptable Dog

Astor
Credit: Yolo County SPCA – Credit: Yolo County SPCA

Astor is 7 years old and weighs in at about 9.5 pounds. A West Highland White Terrier/Cairn Terrier mix, Astor has fuzzy white and tan fur and the cutest little pointy ears. Astor is housetrained, playful (he likes toys!), and a pretty quiet house guest who rarely barks unless someone is at the door or gate. A generally well-behaved dog, Astor does have some specific needs socially. 

“Astor tends to be fearful, perhaps due to negative early life experiences. This causes him to be sensitive about being touched when he isn’t ready to be social. He likes to be petted but can get overstimulated and will communicate when he has had enough,” says the Yolo County SPCA on Astor’s adoption page. “He still can be sensitive to handling now and then but is comfortable with his foster mom rubbing his tummy, picking him up, and cuddling him on her lap for a while. Astor needs a peaceful new home that can go slow with him and win his trust so that isn’t afraid and anxious.

Astor
Credit: Yolo County SPCA – Credit: Yolo County SPCA

Astor prefers women and can be slow to warm up to men. Astor also prefers a home without other pets and would like to be the only dog in his new home. Similarly, Yolo County SPCA doesn’t recommend a home with cats for Astor. Because he’s a nervous boy who prefers a calm environment, he would also prefer an adult-only home

If you think your home could be perfect for this pup you can apply to adopt Astor online or reach out to Yolo County SPCA for more information by emailing [email protected].

Tips For Managing Your Dog’s Anxiety

Dogs (and cats) can have anxiety just like humans and sometimes need help to manage stressful situations or generalized anxiety. Some dogs experience situational anxiety, meaning the dog’s anxiety is dependent on their surroundings. Examples of situational anxiety include noise phobias (like a fear of thunderstorms or fireworks) or anxiety during car rides. For situational anxiety, most veterinarians will recommend short-term solutions to calm your dog until the situation causing them anxiety is finished. 

Other dogs may be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and require more long term solutions like anti anxiety medicine for dogs or over the counter (OTC) anxiety medicine for dogs. Increased reactivity—like Astor becoming reactive to caregivers entering his owner’s apartment—is the most common sign of anxiety in dogs, but you’ll need to have your dog evaluated by a veterinarian to receive a formal diagnosis. Remember that many behavior problems are actually rooted in fear or nervousness, so it’s important to be patient with cats and dogs that “act out.” 

Over The Counter Anxiety Medicine For Dogs

Dog owners with dogs that experience situational anxiety may choose to give their pups over the counter and natural medicine for anxiety in dogs. These types of medicines for dogs anxiety can be purchased without a prescription, but you should always talk to your vet before giving your dog a new medication. It’s also worth seeking out non-medicinal methods of calming your dog’s anxiety before turning to medical intervention. 

CBD Oil

CBD—cannabidiol—is an active ingredient found in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD does not have psychoactive effects, and does not create the “high” most commonly associated with cannabis. CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system creating calming effects that help to relax and reduce anxiety. In dogs, CBD oil is most useful for short-term use, for example to soothe your dog during a car ride or to alleviate separation anxiety. 

According to a 2023 study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science says that as little as “a single dose of 4 mg/kg CBD 2 hours prior to exposure to [stressful] events attenuates some indicators of acute canine stress, which is likely to improve canine emotional wellbeing.” 

Homeopathic Anxiety Medicine for Dogs

Bach Rescue Remedy is a top-selling natural medicine for dog anxiety and includes ingredients like rock rose, clematis, impatiens, and other plant-derived ingredients known to have a calming effect. If you’re looking for a natural dog medicine for separation anxiety and other situational anxiety issues, a product like Rescue Remedy might be perfect for your dog’s needs.

“You can use Rescue Remedy in terror, panic phobias, extreme fear for example during driving in a car, during examination in practice, during thunder, lightning and storms, when animals are afraid of firecrackers, after accidents or fights,” says veterinarian Heidi Kübler. Be aware that homeopathic medications like Rescue Remedy are not FDA approved. 

Source: Amazon

Buy Rescue Remedy| $14.09

Prescription Anti-Anxiety Medicine for Dogs

If your vet determines that your dog has generalized anxiety disorder, they may recommend a prescription medication. There is no one-size-fits-all best anti-anxiety medicine for dogs, but your vet will be able to recommend the best medicine for anxiety in dogs for your dog’s particular needs. 

If you’ve been researching the most common anti-anxiety medicine for dogs, you’ll find that vets most frequently recommend anti-anxiety medications like sedatives (e.g. alprazolam, dexmedetomidine, lorazepam), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline, clomipramine), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline), and anxiolytic drugs (e.g buspirone, diazepam).

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