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605458 tn?1539228808

Giving clomipramine prn vs routinely for panic/anxiety

I live in an apartment and my smoke detector starting making series of little high pitch beeps at random and my Min Pin is absolutely petrified of it. Usually confident and brave, she hides in closets, under the bed, cowers in corners, or in my lap. I reported it in order  for it to be fixed. In the meantime, her behavior has changed even when it isn't making the noise, even when we aren't in the apartment. She follows me around the tiny apartment, at my heels every step, even trying to climb in the shower. She sometimes acts afraid to go in the apartment. I mentioned it again to my apartment manager, explaining why it must be fixed - it is designed so that tenants cannot mess with the battery themselves. Penny, the Min Pin, had to go to the vet for her distemper and I mentioned the problem. The vet said that if the sound is shrill enough it could be hitting a frequency that is uncomfortable for her. Anyway, she prescribed clomipramine as needed to get her through this but I read that it needs to be taken regularly for awhile to help. Which is it?
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is an anti-depressant drug and you are right it is to be given in daily doses not as needed.  you are seeing the results of a fear reaction with anxiety of the fearful stimulus happening again.  

1) it will be hard to give meds all the time, but that is what you would have to do because you never know when the alarm will chirp again.  I would insist on them getting to this immediately because the way fear stimulus works is it will simply compound the reaction the more it happens.  

2) I would try another med, such as an anti-anxiety drug like valium.

3) but even with this med, the fear and anxiety sounds deeply set and you will need to do some training  /  behavioral therapies to help.  

This would include obedience which builds confidence.  Then some actual confidence building exercises that a good trainer can help you with.  Further a behavior specialists can tell you about counter-conditioning this dog in this environment with food, jolly routine, other direct rewards from you when she displays confidence and does NOT display the fear behavior.

So solution may lie in A) different med B) training and C) behavior counter conditioning.  all of which will need to come from skilled professionals that will take the time to work with you on this.  

you do want to eventually get off all meds!!

and finally a change in her environment (moving) could be an excellent way for her to let go of this fear and anxiety - but that is a drastic step.  I sure hope they will get the dang thing fixed immediately.  
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
"How many apartment managers does it take to change a battery?"  (lol) keep us posted.
Helpful - 0
605458 tn?1539228808
Thank you. We haven't lived here long. They changed the battery, so we'll see. Penny has other issues (fear/protective/aggressive? on leash toward people & cars). I had planned on taking her through obedience training so we can both learn. I live in the middle of nowhere and don't know if there is an animal behaviorist in the area. I will make sure the beeping thing stops and if she continues to show issues with fear even after it is gone, I will see about consulting an animal behaviorist. She seems a little more relaxed today.
Helpful - 0

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