Recommended Sedation for Anxious Dogs

Dogs develop anxieties for a number of reasons; being left alone too long, little exposure to loud noises; difficulty adapting to urban lifestyles. They exhibit their anxieties by pacing, excessive licking, hyperactivity, poor appetite and avoidance of people or things that frighten them. While it is recommended that anxious dogs receive behavior therapy, medications can help. With medication, the dog can relax enough to absorb the training and overcome its fears or anxieties.

  1. Tricyclic Antidepressants

    • Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are used to treat noise and separation anxiety, general anxiety and compulsive behavior problems like continuous licking. They increase serotonin and norepinephrin, which are neurotransmitters that help control emotions. TCAs must be administered daily and it takes 2 to 3 weeks for them to take effect. A number of different TCAs exist for dogs, one of which is clomipramine (Chlomicalm®). Clomipramine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for dogs and it is especially effective for separation anxiety when augmented with behavior modification, according to the ASPCA. However, each dog has a unique physiology. Therefore, the veterinarian may need to try different TCAs before finding one that is effective for a particular dog. The side effects of TCAs are: constipation, dizziness, dry eyes, dry mouth, lethargy, loss of appetite and nausea. Also, dogs will need extra water to avoid urinary tract infections when taking TCAs, which make it difficult for dogs to hold their urine.

    Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

    • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to relieve problems such as separation anxiety, panic and fear of people or other animals. SSRIs also help reduce obsessive-compulsive behavior in dogs. They work by affecting the amount of serotonin in the brain. SSRIs should be given to the dog daily and the dog should feel its effects in about six weeks. Some common SSRIs are fluoxetine (Reconcile® or Prozac®), paroxetine (Paxil®), sertraline (Zoloft®) and fluvoxamine (Luvox®). With SSRIs, dogs can experience the following side effects: cold symptoms such as a sore throat or runny nose, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, lethargy, loss of appetite, weakness and weight loss, states Vet Info. Also, because SSRIs can be hard on the liver, your veterinarian should check your dog's liver and kidneys yearly.

    Benzodiazepines

    • Benzodiazepines (BZs) help dogs handle frightening occurrences, such as thunder or fireworks, by interfering with the brain's fear networks. The good news is BZs work quickly. The bad news is you have to give your dog the medication an hour before the event occurs. If that's not possible, give the medication before your dog gets worried, evidenced by stress panting or tucking its tail. At low doses, your dog will be less excitable; at moderate doses it will be less fearful and friendlier. However, at high doses, your dog may become disoriented, have problems moving, be sleepy or vomit.

      Many BZs are the same as those prescribed for people, such as diazepam (Valium®), alprazolam (Xanax®), chlordiazepoxide (Librium®), lorazepam (Ativan®) and clonazepam (Klonopin®). BZs can cause increased appetite and sleeplessness and they can become addictive if overused. They can also interfere with cognitive functioning. Inform your veterinarian if your dog has kidney or liver problems.

    Acepromazine

    • Acepromazine is a tranquilizer that helps dogs relax when frightening events like thunder occur. It calms the dog's central nervous system. The owner should give her dog a tablet when something frightening is about to occur. One of acepromazine's most obvious side effects is that it turns the dog's urine pink. More serious side effects occur when a dog overdoses. In this situation, the dog will be lethargic, have a slow pulse and have difficulty moving. It may also have seizures. This medication should not be used if a dog has liver or heart disease or seizures, according to Vet Info.