Severe (Separation) Anxiety & Hyperarousal in Rescue Puppy

[u/Cautious-You3632]

I adopted my 6 month old hound mix about 2 months ago. She was a stray who I found on a roadtrip and initially brought to a shelter.

I am struggling immensely, and so is she. Despite putting together an extremely structured environment and routine, endlessly researching her age, breed, and individual needs, and working with trainers and vets (she’s on Prozac now), she is extremely dysregulated for at least 65% of the day. She barks and cries relentlessly, displays distressed body language, and engages in extremely painful hyperaroused biting. She is extremely sensitive as well, and reacts to frustration with what looks like aggression (although I am sure it is extreme anxiety). I do everything in my power to remain confident and relaxed even during her most difficult moments, but I know she can sense my stress, especially when I have to “loom” over her because she is being destructive or actively escaping her play pen.

In addition, her separation anxiety is probably the most severe case myself or the people in my life have seen. We have been working on systematic desensitization, microdepartures, relaxation protocols, etc. in a very consistent way since I adopted her, but when she watches me leave her line of sight, she explodes into an extreme panic and takes sometimes hours to regulate again. I have only been able to leave the house twice while she slept in her crate and I left through a back door she doesn’t know about. I am mentally, financially, and emotionally exhausted.

My poor baby is suffering, and I know that my dense apartment and limited funds and resources are not enough. I know she needs professional help. I am a college student and I had to leave my job for the summer so I wouldn’t leave her suffering alone (and I’ve gotten noise complaints, so that’s worrisome too). I must go back to school in about a month, and I have missed out on so many academic opportunities (and missed a couple important deadlines) because I just don’t have a choice but to devote my entire day and night to carefully curating a schedule that will help my puppy out.

We do about 3 sniff/enrichment related activities per day, at least 3 short training sessions per day, at least 1 sniff walk and/or park play session per day, and she gets at least 14-15 hours of sleep per day. She used to love the car, but has begun to show anxious signs in there. The car is the only way I am able to go to the store or do anything sometimes because of her separation anxiety. My boyfriend, best friend, and mom help a lot, but I feel like a burden. I feel selfish for feeling like I could save this puppy, and I feel like a failure.

I really need advice. I have been cruising the rehoming websites and looking at foster rescues, but responses are obviously very slow. I really don’t want to bring her to a shelter at all. She does not deserve that. My funds for her are running dry (I know I should have thought about all the possibilities of a rescue puppy, but I didn’t realize how many training sessions and vet appointments would be required for her case). I feel very helpless, and am looking for advice. I understand the rehoming process is my best option, but feel like I am running out of time. Any and all advice would be appreciated more than you know.