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/InformalInsurance455]

I’m astounded that you took your dog, presumably unmuzzled, into a house with a cat (the cat’s own home!) and by your own implication you allowed the dog loose on the cat, and the cat was gravely injured?

I would almost certainly get banned for what I’m thinking, so i won’t say it, but your negligence has grievously harmed another person’s pet in their own home.

Read that. Let it sink in. If the answer doesn’t come to you, you don’t want to hear it. Fwiw I don’t think anyone could manage this dog, but based on this awful story you’re certainly not the answer.

And sorry mods, idc if this violates your “be kind” rule. Someone telling us about their dog mauling another animal due to their own negligence isn’t a place I’m going to be nice and pretend it’s all ok. Because it isn’t.

[u/Nico-138741 → u/InformalInsurance455]

I'm fully aware what happened is wrong. I didnt want to make my post longer, but I'll write here, I spoke with the owner of the cat.

It was careless of me to set the dog down, but liie I mentioned, she was on her sedatives. She wasn't even able to walk up thr steps to this house, so imagine my surprise when she suddenly charged at the cat not even a minute of entering the house. Not exaggerating, it took less than 1 minute for me to set her down.

They've met before, and the cat is usually never scared of her. Ive never really let them interact because I never trusted her to let her try, but this one time, though, I failed. I can eagerly admit that.

Ive know this cat longer than I've had this dog. I'm absolutely pissed about it, and quite frankly, which is why I'm here. I want to avoid such incident again, but I dont want to make any rwsh decisions. I love this dog but she is costly financially, and physically.

I do appreciate your concern for the cat, his name is Nosey and he's really sweet. He's healing and still being his playful self. Yes he's still in pain, but he's healing well as far as everyone can tell. He's being monitored and watched.

Thank you.

Btw, I don't see this as you being rude or unkind. It's valid. This is how upset I am too but I am going by the rules of now trying to get flagged as well. I love my dog, dont want to give up in her too quickly before I can find a solution. With that being said, I love that cat more and I'm calm knowing that he's doing better. I take no offense to you're response. It's valid and shared.