mini schnauzer

Question
QUESTION: Our 11 year old mini schnauzer has always been cage trained and slept in her
"bed" at night without any problems until about a month ago. She started
"digging" in her cage at odd hours 10:00- midnight and just last night 2:00
a.m. At first we thought it was because there were firecrackers being set off,
but now there are no noises that we can hear. The vet has prescribed  
buplureum during the day and melatonin and valium at night. We have used
various combinations and amounts of the above. We thought it was better,
but the last two nights she has been "digging" in her bed again- so much so
that I had to move her into the front room so we could get some sleep. Can't
tell if this is a behavior thing or is she just testing us all of a sudden(?) Very
frustrating. Have you any advice? Everything seems to work for a few nights
and then it doesn't work any more. She is our 7th schnauzer and we have
never run into this problem before.

ANSWER: I'm assuming you meant Bupleurum? This is a chinese herb used for various immunological support and liver function with possible sedating side effects; it is, I imagine, a holistic approach but a rather odd one.  Valium is a physically addictive drug (even for dogs) with serious withdrawal effects (even for dogs) and melatonin is a sleep aid.  While there are no contraindications to using these two together, this dog is being hit with a double whammy and it's most likely doing MORE HARM than good.  A dog in a state of sedation loses cognitive ability (as does a human) and is less able to problem solve, or think through, a fearful event.  This can aggravate fear.

I suggest a second veterinary opinion.  It's possible the dog is experiencing some cognitive loss (age related) and she should be evaluated for that.  If this is strictly behavioral, the original reason she began this behavior may have been as simple as a sound or scent caused by little "visitors" in your home; the dog can hear and certainly smell far better than we can; if she is digging for overlong periods (well over five minutes) despite any attempt at redirecting her (even yelling "stop"), this is cognitive and may be turning into an obsessive compulsive behavior.  I have no idea how long she digs or what you've tried to control it; removing the BED altogether (not the dog, which is socially isolating her and if this is cognitive or OCD related it will get worse) might work!  Dogs can sleep well on floors, even hardwood, and do all the time!


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for answering. Spoke with the vet again today and she is
recommending using the 5 mg valium each night for 30 days along with 600
mcg of melatonin with the bupeurum  1/2 x 2 per day. From what you have
said, I am suspecting this is a cognitive behavior. When she digs, it is for 10
minutes or more. Yet, if I move her kennel into the front room, I believe she
stops doing it. ( not sure as we can't hear her there) She has always been
cage trained and never any problems prior to this. Vet refers to the
bupleurum a Chinese Prozac (?) and is supposed to be calming. We are
inclined to follow the Rx with the valium for the 30 days - vet said it might
take that long to see lasting results . Kind of have to follow the vet's
guidelines if we are going to be using her. Have used her for over 4 yrs with
no problems and good recommendations. Our choices are limited here.

Answer
Of course you can follow the vet's advice.  Personally, I would remove the dog from the crate and allow her to sleep in the bedroom with you, rather than load her with drugs (especially at her age).  A cognitive problem may suggest age related cognition loss and there is a medication for that: Selegiline.  Bupleurum is apparently used in conjunction with other herbs or medications to treat OCD and depression.  Its effect on dogs is totally unknown and even its effects on humans has not been studied (by the FDA for what that's worth!)  So this agent can't apparently harm her (one guesses.)  Valium is, as I've said, addictive and sedating, and melatonin is sedating.  If you're interfering with her cognition and she has age related cognition loss, this isn't a good approach.  You asked my opinion, and this is it.  If it were my dog, I'd find a specialist in canine cognition and get another opinion.