Help!!!

Question
Help me please,
I am a somewhat new pet owner. I have owned a dog for two weeks she came
from the humane society. She is 6 or 7. She came in with fleas, unspayed,
worms, intestinal parasites and many other things. She is healthy now. She
has been been fine for two weeks. But recently she started having severe
Seperation anxiety. She whines and moans and starts trying to get of
whatever door she is near. I.E. scratching/clawing. I live in an apartment
complex. The nieghbors have complained about her whining. They thing
something is wrong. I am at my wits end. I don't know what to do anymore.
Help.
Adam

Answer
Talk to your vet. Have her checked for low thyroid and tickborne diseases (both can cause sudden anxieties) and ask your vet about good trainers or behaviorists in your area. You might want to see if your vet can consult with a vet behaviorist about anti-anxiety meds, and a training program. I would work on crate training her in small steps - don't just crate her and leave - teach her to go in, wait with the door open, and do short trials of her being in the crate. For some SA dogs it's a godsend. For others it can make things even worse. Give her a routine, and clear rules. Dogs who know what is expected have less general anxiety, so the specific anxieties don't hit as hard. I'm giving a link to a really good article that explains the specifics of separation anxiety, and what worked for one person.
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2002/sa.htm
You might also consider a dap dispenser (like a plug in air freshener except it is a calming pheramone that only the dogs smell, and leaving the TV or a radio on for her. But I'd definitely ask about the anxiety meds. Best luck. Sandy Case MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com