It’s been one year and six months since I brought Penny home, and she has yet to leave our room, but a chance conversation with a postal worker has changed all that. A couple weeks ago, I was at my local post office mailing packages and Tia, the postal worker on duty, and I were talking about our dogs. I told her about Penny and how constantly anxious and nervous she is and Tia told me about her dog, Aspen, who wasn’t feral, but was badly abused and extremely anxious. Aspen’s vet prescribed Prozac for her and it made all the difference in the world. I was so excited when I left the post office that day – I went right home and contacted the mobile I had been using for my senior dogs. And although she was no longer doing home well visits, she referred me to another mobile veterinarian in town. Because Penny has never left my room – never had on a harness and leash – I can’t take her to the vet like a normal dog. Thankfully mobile vets are becoming much more popular and hopefully every city and town will have that option soon.
I reached out to Dr. Megan Riveros at Healthy Paws Mobile Veterinary Services and Dr. Riveros called me back. We talked at length about Penny, her rescue story, and the challenges we have been facing. I told Dr. Riveros about friend using Prozac for her dog. We discussed the medication idea and Dr. Riveros suggested Xanax because it is fast-acting. I gave Penny her first dose in the early afternoon. She slept the first couple of hours – more peacefully than I’ve ever seen her sleep (see photo) and when she woke up, she was like a different dog.
After her Xanax nap, Penny was more calm and relaxed than I have ever seen her. She started exploring our room – sniffing everything – something she had never done before. She has never explored beyond the little living area I made for her, but that afternoon she was walking around the room checking everything out. Later, when I was on the phone, she came and sat down next to me and licked the back of my hand – something else she had never done before. And that evening we had a 45 minute love session. She was scratched, petted and brushed and was calm enough to enjoy it. She has let me pet her and brush her a bit, but she’s always nervous and jumpy, but not that evening.
After just one day on Xanax, I am more hopeful for Penny than I ever have been. I will be creating a schedule for Penny because timing and consistency helps anxious dogs. And the next step will be, getting Penny in her harness and leash so she can explore outside her bedroom and the house. I had no idea what I was getting into when I rescued Penny, but I wouldn’t trade her for the world and for the first time since I brought her home, I am extremely hopeful for her future.