Any tips anyone has are welcome... I have a mutt, around 8 years old, 50 lbs. We have had her since she was 1 and she has always gotten what look like panic/anxiety attacks, where she shakes and wants to be right next to us. They used to be intermittent, and associated with thunder or new situations. For the past several months, maybe up to a year or so, it has gotten progressively worse she is just anxious almost all the time. She lurks around with her head hanging low and wants to be right next to us - she is literally underfoot and it feels dangerous in the kitchen or when we're carrying our LOs. I want my happy dog back! She has gotten progressively worse and over the past few weeks she doesn't sleep in our room anymore because she gets worked up and jumps on the bed, which she is not allowed to do and has always been really good about.

She doesn't have any destructive behavior. My husband is home with her all day every day so this isn't a separation issue. We do have two kids but no specific change has seemed to coincide with bringing them home, and she does really well with them. I admit that we don't get her out for walks or to the dog park as often as I'd like but even after being at the doggie day care where we lodge them when we're out of town for a couple of days, she has the exact same behavior so I don't think exercise is the answer. She takes Composure, a vitamin supplement, which seemed to help her a lot when we first started giving it to her but now I'm not sure what it does. Our vet offered sedatives, I'm not opposed to medicating my dog but it seems like anti-depressants might be more what she needs. (I was not at the visit where they talked about it.) If you have read this far, thank you so much, I would appreciate any advice. I want my dog to be happy and enjoy things again, right now having a dog really just feels like a chore.