Canine Behaviour Foundation Course
Module 3 - Section - 7 - Medication and Behaviour
Module 3 - Section - 7 - Medication and Behaviour
- Alternative Options
- Vet Medication
It has been found that a number of psychotropic (relating to or denoting drugs that affect a person's mental state.) drugs that are used for treating people suffering from various emotional and behavioural disorders, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive, can help to treat dogs suffering from similar conditions.
What we do find interesting is that if these drugs are helping dogs, then surely their emotions and the ways they think must be much more similar to humans than we thought??
We have come across many clients who have been recommended by their vet to try psychotropic, especially for conditions for separation anxiety and storm phobia. Unfortunately there has not always been a significant enough improvement. We believe that this stems from the fact that unless the dog is shown another manner to cope during a situation it finds stressful, that the drugs do just not have the same results. The best results are achieved when medication is used in conjunction with behaviour modification which we believe is the same with humans as well.
We am not against the use of medication in behaviour at all, in fact we think of it as a valuable tool in our behaviour tool kit. However, we will not use medication unless the behaviour is excessive -and if the behaviour is excessive, we would not use a product such as Rescue – that would be like having an Aspirin for a migraine!
On the other hand, we would never suggest that a dog is put on medication for destructive behaviour and similar conditions which as you know mostly stems from boredom, frustration and dogs needs not being fully met.
The use of drugs in behaviour is not new – it has been happening for years. Sedatives, anti convulsions, antidepressant have been used for a long period. Medications such as Antihistamines are often used when the dog is exhibiting excessive licking or compulsive scratching.
Here is a link to Dog Behaviour: Brain Chemistry and the Use of Medications and Behaviour Modification which talks about the dogs brains and gives a basic understanding of the role of neurotransmitters and the chemical changes which can take place. Although it is not necessary in this Foundation course to know this, it is something you will need to investigate further especially if you decide to take your study further and work with dogs with serious aggression, OCD, stereotypical behaviour, and even just for your own knowledge.
http://alexadry.hubpages.com/hub/Dog-BehaviorThe-Role-of-Brain-Chemistry
Where behaviour is not excessive, I do prefer to use a milder form of assistance such as the Avalon Pure Sprays for Dogs, especially for behaviour specific conditions as well as bring in TTouch. Other alternative tools I would consider are the Pheromone Collar or Rescue. Here is a little about these and other alternatives are products such as CalmEze.
Avalon Pure Dog Sprays – these are 100% natural and organic. They have multiple components and are based on herbal tinctures. They tend to target fear, stress and anxiety at a very deep emotional level and in some way assist to overall reduce the dogs fear and stress. They can do no harm whatsoever are not addictive and are cumulative. Together with behaviour modification the dog learns to cope with the perceived fear and gradually the fear seems to diminish completely.
Rescue Remedy
One of the brilliant Bach Remedies and this contains a mix of 5 different remedies and can help a dog to cope better.
Pheromone Collar
The ingredients in this mimic the pheromones female releases at birth which help to calm and create a bond. A dog/ cat will recognize these throughout their life. It can either be purchased as a collar or a diffuser which plugs into a plug socket much like a mosquito repellent.
Melatonin - this is another natural medication that may be a bit more effective in some dogs than Rescue Remedy and is popular for Storm and Firework fears.
CalmEze
This is a natural dietary supplement which contains amino-acids, vitamins and minerals and helps to soother nervous dogs and cats.
TTouch
A definite addition in our opinion. As TTouch works at a cellular level it helps to lower stress and anxiety and as it is also cumulative, the effects just keep on working.
- Alternative
Where behaviour is not excessive, I do prefer to use a milder form of assistance such as the Avalon Pure Sprays for Dogs, especially for behaviour specific conditions as well as bring in TTouch. Other alternative tools I would consider are the Pheromone Collar or Rescue. Here is a little about these and other alternatives are products such as CalmEze.
Avalon Pure Dog Sprays – these are 100% natural and organic. They have multiple components and are based on herbal tinctures. They tend to target fear, stress and anxiety at a very deep emotional level and in some way assist to overall reduce the dogs fear and stress. They can do no harm whatsoever are not addictive and are cumulative. Together with behaviour modification the dog learns to cope with the perceived fear and gradually the fear seems to diminish completely.
Rescue Remedy
One of the brilliant Bach Remedies and this contains a mix of 5 different remedies and can help a dog to cope better.
Pheromone Collar
The ingredients in this mimic the pheromones female releases at birth which help to calm and create a bond. A dog/ cat will recognize these throughout their life. It can either be purchased as a collar or a diffuser which plugs into a plug socket much like a mosquito repellent.
Melatonin - this is another natural medication that may be a bit more effective in some dogs than Rescue Remedy and is popular for Storm and Firework fears.
CalmEze
This is a natural dietary supplement which contains amino-acids, vitamins and minerals and helps to soother nervous dogs and cats.
TTouch
A definite addition in our opinion. As TTouch works at a cellular level it helps to lower stress and anxiety and as it is also cumulative, the effects just keep on working.
b. Vet Medication
What is important is that the behaviourist has a working knowledge of the drugs available (and keeps up to date with progress in this area), and which conditions they are indicated for, the side effects that can occur and how the drug chosen will specifically alter the behaviour it is being treated for. Having a good relationship with the vets in your area is a necessity.
In the case of vet meds to be used, the dog must have a full examination by the vet and if possible, we accompany the client, or else we will send a summary of my observations and the modifications to be undertaken before the client sees the vet.
The medication that we will discuss with the vet for the majority of behaviour problems that requires medication is Clopmiprmine (Clomicalm). This is a schedule 5 drug and the dog needs to be on the medication several months and then weaned off it. It tends to kick in after a few days, is much better used long term, does not sedate a dog and the conditions it can be used for are anxiety, separation anxiety, phobias etc.
Another drug that is widely used for fears, phobias and anxiety is one of the Benzodiazepines. Diazepam, but we have found that this seems to sedate a dog more than Clomicalm and dogs with extreme fear and aggression that the dog, on occasions seems to be slightly worse in that it does not always seem to have as much control. The conditions where this is suggested are for fears and phobias.
As mentioned in a previous section, please avoid the use completely of ACP (Aceylpromazine) – whether in pill form or as a paste. This was the drug of old for phobias and is very much a sedative – unfortunately all this does was to drug the dog, but did not relieve the fear and the dog was very much aware of what was going on around it – just unable to move!
Here is a link to a list of the meds used in dog behaviour as prescriber by the ASPCA which also lists the side effects. There medications may only be prescribed by a veterinarian or boards certified veterinary behaviourist. Unfortunately the NSPCA does not have a similar list and I would rather give you this information from the ASPCA’s point of view than from the inserts on a box of medication.
Have a word with your own vet and tell them you are studying behaviour and ask him/her to let you know what they prefer, and the options available and get in-depth information on the medications they use, as well as the side effects and how behaviour, in general could be affected.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/behavioral-medications-dogs
What we have found to be of great benefit by having a good relationship with the vets, is that we will ask if any new meds have found their way onto the marketplace, how they are being used, information on the ingredients, how they work etc. Unfortunately, unless one is a veterinary behaviourist, this information is not made known to us behaviourists in general, more the pity.
Here are some links to good articles to read through to increase your knowledge:
Research Clomicalm, Prozac and Diazepam and put together a summary listing the following for each:
What is important is that the behaviourist has a working knowledge of the drugs available (and keeps up to date with progress in this area), and which conditions they are indicated for, the side effects that can occur and how the drug chosen will specifically alter the behaviour it is being treated for. Having a good relationship with the vets in your area is a necessity.
In the case of vet meds to be used, the dog must have a full examination by the vet and if possible, we accompany the client, or else we will send a summary of my observations and the modifications to be undertaken before the client sees the vet.
The medication that we will discuss with the vet for the majority of behaviour problems that requires medication is Clopmiprmine (Clomicalm). This is a schedule 5 drug and the dog needs to be on the medication several months and then weaned off it. It tends to kick in after a few days, is much better used long term, does not sedate a dog and the conditions it can be used for are anxiety, separation anxiety, phobias etc.
Another drug that is widely used for fears, phobias and anxiety is one of the Benzodiazepines. Diazepam, but we have found that this seems to sedate a dog more than Clomicalm and dogs with extreme fear and aggression that the dog, on occasions seems to be slightly worse in that it does not always seem to have as much control. The conditions where this is suggested are for fears and phobias.
As mentioned in a previous section, please avoid the use completely of ACP (Aceylpromazine) – whether in pill form or as a paste. This was the drug of old for phobias and is very much a sedative – unfortunately all this does was to drug the dog, but did not relieve the fear and the dog was very much aware of what was going on around it – just unable to move!
Here is a link to a list of the meds used in dog behaviour as prescriber by the ASPCA which also lists the side effects. There medications may only be prescribed by a veterinarian or boards certified veterinary behaviourist. Unfortunately the NSPCA does not have a similar list and I would rather give you this information from the ASPCA’s point of view than from the inserts on a box of medication.
Have a word with your own vet and tell them you are studying behaviour and ask him/her to let you know what they prefer, and the options available and get in-depth information on the medications they use, as well as the side effects and how behaviour, in general could be affected.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/behavioral-medications-dogs
What we have found to be of great benefit by having a good relationship with the vets, is that we will ask if any new meds have found their way onto the marketplace, how they are being used, information on the ingredients, how they work etc. Unfortunately, unless one is a veterinary behaviourist, this information is not made known to us behaviourists in general, more the pity.
Here are some links to good articles to read through to increase your knowledge:
- ANXITANE - tablets reduce fear of human beings in a
- Anxiety Medication for dogs - http://www.dogaware.com/articles/wdjanxiety.html
- Does you puppy need porzac? http://oceansideanimal.vetport.com/vet_printremotelibrary.html?libtype=Internal&recno=183&cmdPdf=
Research Clomicalm, Prozac and Diazepam and put together a summary listing the following for each:
- What behaviour would it be used for
- Average dosage
- Standard time period on medications
- Contra Indications
- Side Effects
- Are there times the medicine should not be used
