Behavioral disorders are amongst the most frustrating problems to treat in veterinary medicine. Effective treatment often requires not only time, patience and commitment on the veterinarian and guardian parts, but often a combination of behavioral modification techniques and sometimes drug therapies. Behavioral problems can be caused by both training factors, as well as medical issues. It is important not to underplay the role medical issues play in behavioral disorders in dogs.
| Amongst the more common behavioral medical problems include various types of aggression, including dominance aggression, fear aggression, as well as various types of fear disorders, including separation anxiety and other various phobias. Canine hyperactivity is also seen, as well as obsessive/compulsive, ritualistic and neurological issues such as fly biting, tail chasing, etc. As with any potential medical issue, a full medical workup at your local veterinarian is recommended including complete blood CBC/chemistry and thyroid profiles, as well as urine analysis and stool tests for parasites. |  |
This is one growing specialty area of veterinary medicine that a referral to a veterinarian specializing in behavioral problems may be indicated early on, so that the proper diagnosis and treatment plan can be instituted. On the behavioral management component of these problems, there are many various techniques and behavior modification exercises that will vary depending upon the diagnosis by the veterinarian.
The same can be said with the medical part of managing pets with these disorders, where the expansion of human drugs into the veterinary field including drugs like the SSRI drugs such as Prozac or Zoloft, as well as tricyclic antidepressants like Amitryptylline or Clomiprimine have been used. I have found that depending upon the condition, training tools such as the Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness and Leash can help with hyper or aggressive dogs in certain cases. Supplements such as Be Serene, HomeoPet Anxiety drops, Composure Liquid, or Quiet Moments can occasionally help on a case by case basis, and are often worth trying as an adjunct to therapy, but not as primary modalities of treatment.
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8 Comments
Hi
Very nice and intrestingss story.
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my cocker spaniel goes into these spells at night and becomes a monster, aggressive, and acts like she’s in a trance. Sometimes she will just sit up straight all night. It’s making me and my husband sick, really!
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Your pet should have complete medical workup at local vet to make sure not neurologic i.e seizure, or other medical issue first before can make any recommendations on this one.
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I have a 3 yr old Aussie Shep. mix. I have had him since he was 8 weeks old and socialized him with people and other dogs from the get-go. We lived in a house for the first two years and then moved to an apartment. Since we have been here, Bear (my dog) has developed severe anxiety and has become SUPER aggressive to all people (especially children) and all the dogs. He lunges at them, growls and wont play well at all. He still gets along with my moms dogs (who he has always known) when we visit. We have spent tons of money on a therapist but it didnt work. I just dont know what to do to get Bear back to normal!
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
I would see your veterinarian to see if they may want to prescribe a medication like clomiprimine or prozac which can often help.
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My lab Lucy has a severe fear disorder of anyone not from our household (i.e., strangers, guests). She is not aggressive but uncontrollably scared, barking, shaking, and hiding. Same behavior if we go for a walk and she sees anyone remotely in the distance. I have tried desensitizing her gradually, but it’s been 5 years now and she has only improved mildly. Her stress-induced hair loss on her back has also stayed the same. I am looking for an anxiety medication at this point both for peace and quiet when we have visitors and to help continue with her desensitization training. I also would love to hear if you have any recommendation for her patchy hair loss. Thanks!
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
March 8th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Patchy hair loss should be checked by vet to see if hair follicle issue or hormonal problem. As for anxiety, I would see vet also about possible prescription for clomiprimine or prozac. Also consider trying Be serene from 1800petmeds and bach flower essences from health food store called Aspen, mimulus and rock rose.
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I have a english bulldog 8 months old.We have had her since she was 2 months old.Since we got her she is very aggrassive and mean.She has had blood work done a dozen of time but nothing shows,we used a trainer and a behaviorest but no help yet.She has been on prozac for over 2 months but still nothing.Could u tell me if there is some other meds that could help with help.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
You could ask your vet about a different prescription drug called clomiprimine that can be tried instead of prozac.
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I recently rescued a small dog who is a dream. Loving, affectionate, relates to all people and dogs. However, he goes beserk in the car. He trembles, and starts panting. I have tried putting him in a carrier. This exacerbates the problem I tried giving him 10 mgm benadryl ( he weighs 10 pounds) Didn’t do a thing. I am planning a road trip, and am desperate for help. I took him to the vet for check up and they found him to be in good health.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Try one half dramamine to see if it can help as well as try natural remedies like be serene from 1800petmeds. also can ask your vet for script for product like acepromazine which can also help
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We have adopted a Cairn Terrier. She is about 2 yrs old. She is sweet and lovable. But she does not like people other than ourselves. She is really nervous at the sight of anyone coming into our yard or home. She also is quite a watchdog. The only problem with that is the incessant barking. We are trying crate training. She doesn’t mind it she likes the crate. I covered it over with a blanket so that it wqould ;be dark and calming. We do not punish her by crating her. She goes in by herself. But I am looking for a remedy for the nervousness and barking. I am trying Quiet Moments. It doesn’t seem to do much for the barking though. She is a little more relaxed though. Is there anything that we can try to help the little girl be more placid and relaxed?
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
August 7th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Try the bach flower essence Be serene from 1800petmeds. If needed prescription meds may be needed such as clomiprimine or amitryptylline.
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I have a 2-yr-old Louellen Setter/Great Pyrenees mix who was raised on a farm until we moved to Old Louisville (near downtown) on a busy street and since we came a year-and-a-half ago, though nothing specifically traumatic has happened, he acts as though he is in a war zone. He’s a super good dog and indoors we have no behavior issues. Outdoors, he shakes, urinates on or near the porch as soon as we get out the door and usually won’t go anywhere else, pulls the leash (and after trying many types of harnesses and leashes, found that the Gentle Leader works best but he still pulls) to get home as fast as possible. We walk 2-3 miles, usually tortured, per day. He doesn’t act like a dog outside, doesn’t smell anything, isn’t curious and is in constant fear, looking over his shoulder even when nothing is behind us. If someone does walk behind us, he turns around and around until I let them pass. And if a biker or runner comes along, I can expect my shoulder to nearly get ripped out of socket. Everyone thinks he is a rescue dog because of his behavior but he’s not! As far as I know, he has never endured any abuse and I’ve had him and loved him dearly since he was a few months old. I have tried everything I know to do, including taking him to a training class, having him sit outside and pet him (he won’t even take treats outside). I have given him a natural supplement from the Whole Foods market called Calm that claims to be veterinarian recommended which has helped a little, but we’re still dealing with this every day. He eats Science Diet dry food according to his weight and age. At his last vet visit, everything was normal, except his fear. Is this part of the setter disposition? This can’t be healthy or normal! I fear for his health because his anxiety is so intense. What can I do?
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:41 pm
You have options of working with trainer one on one with you on behavior modification as well as consider prescription medications from your vet such as clomiprimine or amitrptylline. Another option would be to consider holistic medicne like classical homeopathy, which while it can take time and patience, often is very rewarding as it treats the whole patient. Learn more about this system of medicine by seeing http://www.beyondflatearth.com as well as my website http://www.canineworld.com/drdym Many homeopathic vets like myself offer phone consultations, but I would learn more first about this system of medicine, where diet change and nutritional supplements are also included.
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