Re: Snoring and labored breathing. - Macro tumor symptoms
Hi Patti,
We lived in a camper for a few years and a few years ago it got struck by lightening while Squirt was inside alone. Ever since she has become increasing afraid of storms - even high winds and heavy rain set her off. I bought a Thundershirt for her and it helped for a bit but it makes it very difficult for her to move. A friend told me about the TTouch Body Wrap as an alternative and it works much better for Squirt than the Shirt does - and it does not interfere with her ancient body movements. 
I use an ACE bandage that is about 3" wide and has a Velcro end. Here is how to put it on - http://www.crvetcenter.com/ttouch.php
One of the tricks to handling storm fear with either the wrap or the Shirt is to start using it when there is no need for it so the pup associates it with happy, calm times. Wrap them or put the Shirt on then go to the park, or for a walk, something they enjoy while wearing the wrap/Shirt. Once they are comfortable in the wrap/Shirt, you then make sure it is put on long before the storm actually begins - which means you have to watch the weather predictions like a hawk. If it is supposed to storm this afternoon, you wrap or put the shirt on in the morning - hours before the activity starts so they immediately associate the wearing of it with those good times they have experienced earlier while wearing it. I have a narrower ACE bandage that I use on Brick but Sophie will not tolerate either the Shirt nor the wrap. She basically attacks it until either she has ripped it off or I take it off. She has the mildest reaction to storms of the three so I let her be as the wrap/Shirt makes her more upset.
I also use the melatonin for Squirt as well as Brick and Sophie. In addition to the melatonin, I use the dried herbs Passionflower and Skullcap made into a tea. Squirt gets 2ml, Sophie gets 4ml, and Brick gets 1ml.
None of these things stops the fear completely but they do help a great deal. Brick will still come out of his box and pace a bit but he doesn't shake or whine like he used to and is able to sleep through all but the worst of them. Sophie rests until there is a boom then she charges at nothing and barks her head off. Squirt still trembles a bit and wants to be right next to me but she doesn't vibrate the bed, breath so hard she near hyperventilates, whine or cry, or try to run away from it. They are all much calmer.
All this requires me to be on my toes. I watch the weather very closely and anytime it looks like rain or they are predicting storms I put the wraps on, give melatonin, and make the tea so it can cool hours in advance so everything is ready. Tipper may need a safe place like the closet as well. I would make sure she has a place in there that she is comfortable with and might enjoy even when the weather is calm. Put things there that she loves and let something of yours be there that has your scent on it. I have a blanket on the bed that Squirt has slept on all her life and she wants on that blanket when the weather gets bad. That blanket is her safe place.
It is heart wrenching to see them so scared and we feel so helpless to do anything for them. I so hope you can find something that will help sweet Tipper.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
"May you know that absence is full of tender presence and that nothing is ever lost or forgotten." John O'Donahue, "Eternal Echoes"
Death is not a changing of worlds as most imagine, as much as the walls of this world infinitely expanding.
