Medication For Aggressive Behavior In Dogs
Medications such as benzodiazepines that cause your dog to be sedated should not be used to treat dog aggression.
Medication for aggressive behavior in dogs. Inter dog aggression occurs when a dog is overly aggressive towards dogs in the same household or unfamiliar dogs. Inter dog aggression occurs much more frequently in non neutered male dogs. The aggression medication for canines can include anti anxiety drugs or anti depression drugs such as prozac which will calm the dog and fix any chemical imbalances in the brain which can lead to aggressive behavior. This behavior is often considered normal but some dogs can become excessively aggressive due to learning and genetic factors.
The dogs that need medication for aggression need it in order for behavior modification to be effective. Dogs that need it are actually different and are often far too anxious to be able to learn properly. Aggressive behavior problems in dogs can be classified in different ways. A beneficial scheme for understanding why your dog is aggressive is based on the function or purpose of the aggression.
Medications commonly used to treat dog aggression and other behavior problems according to clinical behavioural medicine for small animals by dr. Medications may be prescribed by a veterinary behaviorist for treating dog aggression in conjunction with behavior modification. Interdog aggression in dogs. However administration for other behaviors such as anxiety based aggression is extra label.
Medications might help these aggressive dogs to think more normally be less reactive and can help them learn better. Certain medications can alter mood and affect your dog s. Geriatric dogs can suffer confusion and insecurity which may prompt aggressive behavior. A dog that is encouraged to demonstrate a certain behavior by one member of the family but then punished for that same behavior by another is likely over time to become confused frustrated stressed and may demonstrate these in the form of anxiety fear or aggression.
In my opinion medication should be considered as a first line treatment option for the vast majority of dogs with true behavior problems including aggression compulsive behavior issues and any type of pathological anxiety. While it s not a quick fix if your dog needs medication the sooner they can be prescribed the better for your dog chances of improvement. Two male dogs or two female dogs become aggressive when vying for the attention of a mate. Karen overall the following drugs may be prescribed for these behavior issues.
Fda approved drugs for use in dogs with specific behavior problems such as fluoxetine veterinary product no longer available and clomipramine for separation anxiety and selegiline for cognitive dysfunction syndrome. The dog will receive the treatment throughout several weeks and will be monitored.