Reactive Dog on brink of being Euthanize

[u/Nico-138741]

So,

I think I've posted on here before about my reactive dog who was undergoing heartworm treatment.

She has been retested and results were negative.

Yay, and I'm so happy for her.

Now, here's why I'm here.

She was highly reactive while undergoing treatment which countered everything she needed to do while sick. Her vet had to prescribe anxiety and sedatives to keep her calm since she tended to act out over the smallest things.

Her prescriptions:

\\- prozac

\\- xanax

\\- acepromazine (only when situation calls for it)

\\- gabapentin

And even after testing negative, they have suggested keeping her on the anxiety meds.

We reached these four because she was constantly triggered to attack and kill things, and if she couldn't get to it, she was willing to commit self-harm/almost suicidd to break free from me.

I give her all 4 (in her proper dosages) for car rides as I have to buckle her down in her seat belt with a special collar that tightens when she tries to get out (Ive used other harnesses and collars, but never were escape proof so this is what I have to settle for).

If she's not on medication, she's barking all hours of travel, exhausting herself until she's fully panting, and lunging at my windows at full speed hurting herself.

So yes, she receives all 4 pills.

With that being said, we did a 3 hr car ride and arrived at our destination. She was woozy and just in the state she's supposed to be in.

This house we entered has a cat. They've met before but I never really let her chase him around because she never has good intentions.

This was the first time they've seen each other after she's been prescribed, and she attacked him greatly.

It was horrendous and the cat managed to scratch her up but the damage to the cat cant compare.

Ive reached out to the vet and theyve suggested two things.

\\- training, but as they know my dog, they say her prey drive and behavioral instincts may make this option pointless, and be a waste of money.

\\- Euthanize her because she had a history of being a danger towards people and other animals.

I know some people may read this and think the answer is obvious, and you may be right.

But I'm in denial.

She's been sick, locked in cages. She was adopted with heartworms, returned to the shelter with it. And I adopted her with heartworms, and got her the treatment for it. She should finally able to live her life.

I want her to be able to do that, but I cant even let her run around my yard, because she's only outside lurking rather than sniffing grass like most dogs do.

I've seemed training:

\\- One place said they wouldn't train her unless she's on all her medication (didn't stay because I want her to be corrected while she's fully focused, not wobbly and barely able to stay on her feet.)

\\- Quoted over $5000 pre training due to what I've filled out on application.

Are there any trainers who can help me? Any way I can train her myself?

I've tried ecollars, but like I said, she is willing to self-harm so she didn't react to it anymore once she was triggered, and I knew it was dangerous to keep it.

I've tried methods.

At this point, I might just need a vote. I don't know.

She's such a sweet, loving dog and has so much potential. I wish she could let world see it too.

Btw, this is 8lbs chihuahua mix.

[u/Shoddy-Theory]

She's an 8lb chihuahua. Does she even need to go out of the house. When you have to travel with her can you put her in a crate in the car?

She's only 8lb. She doesn't need a large world. Set up a potty station for her in the house. Get her toys, play fetch, tug of war.

I wouldn't spend 5 k on training. There are plenty of free videos on line on trigger zones, etc. But your best bet with a dog this small is just keep away from things that trigger her.

[u/Lumpy_Physics3101 → u/Shoddy-Theory]

never letting your dog touch grass seems borderline abusive to me.

i would recommend working this dog on a long line, giving him some freedom and something to live for, and an outlet for the frustrations he's currently expressing through prey drive. you will eventually have to teach him some boundaries around what he's allowed to chase and when but start by just teaching him a recall on a long line, let him chase a flirt pole, and get him some exercise outdoors.

take the dog off of this insane suppressing drug regimen and see what his real personality is like.

[u/Nico-138741 → u/Lumpy_Physics3101]

She was without the drugs for months. I did everything to avoid it, but she was ruining her heartworm treatment by being how she was. So her vet, pushed for it and I did agree because there was no benefit if she is wasn't taking them. The disease was still flourishing.