Comments on: Sometimes I just want to put on my bunny suit and scream http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/20100520/sometimes-i-just-want-to-put-on-my-bunny-suit-and-scream/ An Ode To A Small Lump of Green Putty I Found In My Armpit One Midsummer Morning Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:10:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tracy http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/20100520/sometimes-i-just-want-to-put-on-my-bunny-suit-and-scream/comment-page-1/#comment-83034 Tracy Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:02:08 +0000 http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/?p=5432#comment-83034 I stumbled upon this blog after searching for "dog afraid of everything +colomicalm". First, you are ridiculously fucking hilarious ! I haven't laughed out loud this much in a long time. Seriously, please write a book. Or do standup. Seriously. Second - how did the meds wind up working ? I'm getting at my wits end with my anxiety riden dog. Third - if you have a Facebook, I need to know. Because I want to see your posts ! I stumbled upon this blog after searching for “dog afraid of everything +colomicalm”. First, you are ridiculously fucking hilarious ! I haven’t laughed out loud this much in a long time. Seriously, please write a book. Or do standup. Seriously. Second – how did the meds wind up working ? I’m getting at my wits end with my anxiety riden dog. Third – if you have a Facebook, I need to know. Because I want to see your posts !

]]> By: marmot http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/20100520/sometimes-i-just-want-to-put-on-my-bunny-suit-and-scream/comment-page-1/#comment-67884 marmot Fri, 21 May 2010 19:14:23 +0000 http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/?p=5432#comment-67884 You are full of awesome for the work you've put in with Justice. I remember what she was like when you first got her - she has made huge progress (perhaps helped by no longer living with a vicious and vindictive furry demon). And she's not an easy dog, the vet was right that you've probably saved her life by being willing to do a TON of work on her. I have a pretty strong anti irresponsible medication bias, and it's not because I think people and animals shouldn't be on medication for anxiety, depression etc - it's because I see too many people take them as this magical cure-all without doing any further work on how to deal with issues, and without awareness of the pros and cons of meds. But that's certainly not the approach you're taking with Justice. I've seen how you work with her all the time on her reactivity, the safe and loving home you've given her, the training, the rally stuff - all this is being proactive in making her a happier, less anxious dog. Medication is one more tool, and it's one you're not taking lightly, and you're using it responsibly. Go you! From my perspective, this is the opposite of drug fail. You are full of awesome for the work you’ve put in with Justice. I remember what she was like when you first got her – she has made huge progress (perhaps helped by no longer living with a vicious and vindictive furry demon). And she’s not an easy dog, the vet was right that you’ve probably saved her life by being willing to do a TON of work on her.

I have a pretty strong anti irresponsible medication bias, and it’s not because I think people and animals shouldn’t be on medication for anxiety, depression etc – it’s because I see too many people take them as this magical cure-all without doing any further work on how to deal with issues, and without awareness of the pros and cons of meds. But that’s certainly not the approach you’re taking with Justice. I’ve seen how you work with her all the time on her reactivity, the safe and loving home you’ve given her, the training, the rally stuff – all this is being proactive in making her a happier, less anxious dog. Medication is one more tool, and it’s one you’re not taking lightly, and you’re using it responsibly. Go you! From my perspective, this is the opposite of drug fail.

]]> By: dearheart http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/20100520/sometimes-i-just-want-to-put-on-my-bunny-suit-and-scream/comment-page-1/#comment-67717 dearheart Fri, 21 May 2010 00:57:00 +0000 http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/?p=5432#comment-67717 *HUGS* You are a great puppy mommy! :-D You're trying everything you know how to try, asking for help when you need it, and loving the dickens out of Justice. Don't be so hard on yourself. :-) *HUGS* You are a great puppy mommy! :-D You’re trying everything you know how to try, asking for help when you need it, and loving the dickens out of Justice. Don’t be so hard on yourself. :-)

]]> By: Donna http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/20100520/sometimes-i-just-want-to-put-on-my-bunny-suit-and-scream/comment-page-1/#comment-67687 Donna Thu, 20 May 2010 21:48:43 +0000 http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/?p=5432#comment-67687 I think it helped a lot (and I admit, I teared up a little) when the vet said to me, "You know if it wasn't for you, she'd have been put down by now." And yeah, it's probably true. Most rescues, even a lot of the no-kill ones, would have labelled her unadoptable. The one she came from ISN'T no-kill, and she wouldn't have lasted more than a few months with them. So, yeah, I can feel guilty for not doing enough, or not having as much success as I want (and use it as motivation to not give up on her because I CAN DO BETTER), but I can also feel pretty damn good for giving her a super awesome home and loving her like crazysauce and putting a ton of work into helping her learn to cope. So that's cool. :D I think it helped a lot (and I admit, I teared up a little) when the vet said to me, “You know if it wasn’t for you, she’d have been put down by now.”

And yeah, it’s probably true. Most rescues, even a lot of the no-kill ones, would have labelled her unadoptable. The one she came from ISN’T no-kill, and she wouldn’t have lasted more than a few months with them.

So, yeah, I can feel guilty for not doing enough, or not having as much success as I want (and use it as motivation to not give up on her because I CAN DO BETTER), but I can also feel pretty damn good for giving her a super awesome home and loving her like crazysauce and putting a ton of work into helping her learn to cope. So that’s cool. :D

]]> By: erin http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/20100520/sometimes-i-just-want-to-put-on-my-bunny-suit-and-scream/comment-page-1/#comment-67682 erin Thu, 20 May 2010 21:39:50 +0000 http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/?p=5432#comment-67682 I <i>so</i> understand. And I will be very interested to know how the clomicalm works out. I so understand. And I will be very interested to know how the clomicalm works out.

]]> By: Donna http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/20100520/sometimes-i-just-want-to-put-on-my-bunny-suit-and-scream/comment-page-1/#comment-67679 Donna Thu, 20 May 2010 21:24:46 +0000 http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/?p=5432#comment-67679 Exactly. It seems so easy when you think about it logically and sensibly! Of COURSE the meds make sense! Why wouldn't I want to improve her quality of life? Still, bah. Meds! Thus far, she's ... hmm. Well, her eyes are TOTALLY dilated, and her tummy is making odd noises (but she refused breakfast this morning, so she might just be hungry -- she's got appetite issues at the best of times) and she keeps shaking her head funny, but that might be the eye infection. Further observation is required. Exactly. It seems so easy when you think about it logically and sensibly! Of COURSE the meds make sense! Why wouldn’t I want to improve her quality of life?

Still, bah. Meds!

Thus far, she’s … hmm. Well, her eyes are TOTALLY dilated, and her tummy is making odd noises (but she refused breakfast this morning, so she might just be hungry — she’s got appetite issues at the best of times) and she keeps shaking her head funny, but that might be the eye infection. Further observation is required.

]]> By: gillian http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/20100520/sometimes-i-just-want-to-put-on-my-bunny-suit-and-scream/comment-page-1/#comment-67647 gillian Thu, 20 May 2010 19:20:29 +0000 http://lifetheuniverseanddonna.ca/?p=5432#comment-67647 A friend's parents' cat is on prozac. Actual prozac, but in liquid form so they can put it in its food or something. Years ago they got this hairless cat (a rex of some kind) and it was psycho. Broke things, attacked them viciously, attacked visitors too. They were about to put it down but were feeling so bad about doing that so the vet asked if they wanted to try one last idea, which was the prozac. I've met the cat, it is cuddly and affectionate and curls up on your lap. I can't see how it would be better off without that medication, even if it were allowed to stay alive. So, yeah, I'm with you on the psych meds for animals. Their brains need help too. A friend’s parents’ cat is on prozac. Actual prozac, but in liquid form so they can put it in its food or something. Years ago they got this hairless cat (a rex of some kind) and it was psycho. Broke things, attacked them viciously, attacked visitors too. They were about to put it down but were feeling so bad about doing that so the vet asked if they wanted to try one last idea, which was the prozac. I’ve met the cat, it is cuddly and affectionate and curls up on your lap. I can’t see how it would be better off without that medication, even if it were allowed to stay alive.

So, yeah, I’m with you on the psych meds for animals. Their brains need help too.

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