| Class | Examples | Indications | |-------|----------|--------------| | SSRIs | Fluoxetine, Sertraline | Chronic anxiety, aggression, compulsive disorders | | TCAs | Clomipramine | Separation anxiety, compulsive disorders | | Benzodiazepines | Alprazolam (short-term) | Panic, predictable fear events (storms) | | Trazodone/Gabapentin | – | Situational anxiety (vet visits), adjunctive |
: Modern practice emphasizes that behavioral changes are often the first sign of medical conditions like neurological disorders, endocrine issues, or pain.
Veterinary behaviorists use drugs to alter neurochemistry so that behavioral modification can work. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed not to sedate, but to raise the threshold for fear. A dog who previously bit at the sight of a stranger might, on medication, be able to look at the stranger and take a treat.
Boredom and confinement lead to stereotypies (pacing, bar-biting, over-grooming). Veterinary ethologists have proven that environmental enrichment lowers cortisol levels and boosts immune function. Rotating toys, puzzle feeders, and scent work are not luxuries; they are medical necessities.
They don't just train "bad dogs." They:
| Class | Examples | Indications | |-------|----------|--------------| | SSRIs | Fluoxetine, Sertraline | Chronic anxiety, aggression, compulsive disorders | | TCAs | Clomipramine | Separation anxiety, compulsive disorders | | Benzodiazepines | Alprazolam (short-term) | Panic, predictable fear events (storms) | | Trazodone/Gabapentin | – | Situational anxiety (vet visits), adjunctive |
: Modern practice emphasizes that behavioral changes are often the first sign of medical conditions like neurological disorders, endocrine issues, or pain.
Veterinary behaviorists use drugs to alter neurochemistry so that behavioral modification can work. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed not to sedate, but to raise the threshold for fear. A dog who previously bit at the sight of a stranger might, on medication, be able to look at the stranger and take a treat.
Boredom and confinement lead to stereotypies (pacing, bar-biting, over-grooming). Veterinary ethologists have proven that environmental enrichment lowers cortisol levels and boosts immune function. Rotating toys, puzzle feeders, and scent work are not luxuries; they are medical necessities.
They don't just train "bad dogs." They:
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