Getting
Started With The Basics
The Goal
The reason
to use veterinary prescribed
behavior medication is
to intentionally alter
the animal’s brain chemistry.
In some cases, there is
a genetic or metabolic
reason to continue this
medication for life, but
this is the exception.
In most cases, the primary
goal is to SPEED UP the
animal’s learning by reducing
its anxiety, so if can
learn without this distraction.
Once the new habit patterns
are in place (as a result
of behavior modification
training), then the medication
is tapered and stopped.
Informed Consent
Most animal
behavior medications do
not have the size of potential
sales market for a drug
company to do full scale
testing. Therefore, if
this testing has not been
done, there is no label
on the drug bottle for
animal use, so the use
of the drug is called,
”Off-Label Use.” The
use and dose is based
on many veterinarians
using the drug, and sharing
their personal results
in articles and lectures.
In most cases, the pet
owner is asked to sign
an “informed consent”
to be able to use this
medication. If you have
questions or concerns,
contact the person who
arranged for you to obtain
the prescription.
Time of Day to Give
Medications
Unless otherwise
instructed, give behavior
medications in the morning.
If the instructions are
to give the med twice
a day, try for approximately
12 hours apart. If it
indicates 3x per day,
try for approximately
8 hours between doses.
If this is impossible,
just try to get as close
as possible to this goal.
Giving Meds with Food
In most cases it is best
to give the medication
in a small amount of special
food, before the regular
meal. If the med is mixed
into the regular food,
it is difficult to be
sure it was consumed.
Here is one suggested
technique:
1)
Prepare 3 pieces
of a tasty food to wrap
around the medication
(if given orally). This
might be a 1” piece of
hot dog, a piece of soft
cheese, or bread, or some
other moldable food that
the dog does NOT get any
other time.
2)
IF the pet is
“finicky” do this just
before the next meal,
and if possible do not
leave any food down, so
the pet is hunger motivated.
3)
Give the first
piece of food without
a pill. Some pets will
“check it out” carefully.
4)
Let the pet SEE
the 3rd, but
give the SECOND (which
contains the med)
5)
Immediately give
the 3rd so
the pet has to swallow
the 2nd
(with the med) rapidly.
Potential Side Effects
Anytime behavior medication
is prescribed, there is
the concern of side effects.
Minor temporary side effects
are relatively common.
In some cases, mild side
effects can actually provide
useful information about
the relative dose (slightly
too high) and simply reducing
the dose or just continuing
will resolve the problem.
In many situations, a
side effect (e.g. lethargy)
may wear off within 1-2
weeks, and in other situations,
it may indicate the need
to change medications.
If any of the following
potential side effects
are noted, skip one dose,
then resume at ½ the previous
dose until you can contact
either the veterinarian
or behaviorist who is
supervising the case.
If the symptom continues
for more than 3 days,
discontinue the med.
Potential Reversible,
Temporary, Side Effects
Aggression or threats
Anorexia (loss of appetite)
OR Increased appetite
Anxiety
Confusion
Decreased or altered greeting
behavior
Diarrhea or loose stool
OR constipation and straining
Diminished hearing
Disorientation/stupor
House soiling
Uncoordinated movements or dizziness
Increased thirst
Increased urinary frequency,
retention, or straining
Irritability
Lethargy or listlessness
(decrease physical activity)
Licking
Mood changes
Pale gums
Panting
Repetitive behavior like
spinning, circling, rocking
Restlessness or agitation
Salivation
Scratching
Seizures
Shivering or frequent
“wet dog shakes” of fur
Sleep/Wake cycle changes
Stiffness
Urinary Tract Infection
– (causing straining to
urinate)
Vomiting
Weakness
Weight loss
When to Expect Effects
This varies
with the medication.
If it is in the drug category
of either “SSRI” or “TCA”
(2 of the most common
medication families) then
it takes 1- 4 weeks of
medication in the body
before any results can
be expected. In these
categories of drugs, there
is minimal change in the
routine personality; just
a reduction in anxiety.
Therefore, the only change
you might see is a decrease
in the frequency of the
objectionable behavior.
DO NOT TEST
the animal by challenging
it to do the behavior
it used to do, just to
see if the medication
is working. Every time
the animal does an objectionable
behavior, the concern
is that “habit pattern”
is being developed. IF
systematic desensitization
and counter conditioning
are indicated, an experienced
trainer may put the animal
into provocative situations,
but if done by an inexperienced
person, the problem may
become worse.