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Although many drugs are used to treat behavioural conditions in animals there are only three psychoactive drugs specifically licensed for use in companion animals to treat behavioural problems. These are:

Although many drugs are used to treat behavioural conditions in animals there are only three psychoactive drugs specifically licensed for use in companion animals to treat behavioural problems. These are:

*[[Clomipramine]] (licensed in the dog for treatment of separation anxiety)

*'''[[Clomipramine]]''' (licensed in the dog for treatment of separation anxiety)

*[[Selegiline]] (licensed in the dog for treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome)

*'''[[Selegiline]]''' (licensed in the dog for treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome)

*[[Fluoxetine]] (licensed in the dog in the USA for treatment of separation anxiety)

*'''[[Fluoxetine]]''' (licensed in the dog in the USA for treatment of separation anxiety)

Several other drugs are often used to treat behavioural conditions, such as propranolol, phenobarbitone, diazepam and various other common veterinary drugs, however these are not licensed for this purpose.

Several other drugs are often used to treat behavioural conditions, such as propranolol, phenobarbitone, diazepam and various other common veterinary drugs, however these are not licensed for this purpose.

In addition many other drugs are used in behavioural medicine but most are unlicensed for use in any animal species. Examples are listed in the table below, however most uses listed are unapproved, care should therefore be taken with their use:

In addition many other drugs are used in behavioural medicine but most are unlicensed for use in any animal species. Examples are listed in the table below, however most uses listed are unapproved, '''care should therefore be taken with their use''':

! Class of Drug !! Drugs !! Uses !! Side Effects

! Class of Drug !! Drugs !! Uses !! Side Effects

|-

|-

| Tranquilizers || Acepromazine || Sedation/restraint || Hypotension, CNS stimulation, contradictory responses. Caution in boxers and greyhounds

| '''Tranquilizers''' || Acepromazine || Sedation/restraint || Hypotension, CNS stimulation, contradictory responses. Caution in boxers and greyhounds

|-

|-

| Benzodiazepines || Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Oxazepam || Anxiety, noise phobias, canine submissive urination, feline urine marking || Sedation, ataxia, increased appetite, paradoxical excitation

| '''Benzodiazepines '''|| Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Oxazepam || [[Feline Fear and Stress|Anxiety, noise phobias]], canine submissive urination, [[Indoor Marking - Cat|feline urine marking]] || Sedation, ataxia, increased appetite, paradoxical excitation

|-

|-

| Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) || Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine || Anxiety, separation anxiety, canine and feline fear aggression, feline urine marking, feline compulsive grooming, stereotypy, some narcoleptic disorders || Sedation, gastrointestinal (GI) effects, dry mouth, increased thirst, urinary retention

| '''Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)''' || Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine || Anxiety, separation anxiety, canine and [[Feline Aggression|feline fear aggression]], [[Indoor Marking - Cat|feline urine marking]], [[Feline Grooming Disorders|feline compulsive grooming]], stereotypy, some narcoleptic disorders || Sedation, gastrointestinal (GI) effects, dry mouth, increased thirst, urinary retention

|-

|-

| Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) || Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline || Aggression, canine separation anxiety, compulsive disorders, feline urine marking || Lethargy, inappetence, anorexia, GI effects

| '''Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)''' || Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline || [[Feline Aggression|Aggression]], canine separation anxiety, [[Feline Compulsive Disorders|compulsive disorders]], [[Indoor Marking - Cat|feline urine marking]] || Lethargy, inappetence, anorexia, GI effects

|-

|-

| Beta Blockers || Propranolol || Canine fear aggression, noise phobia || Bradycardia, lethargy, hypotension, syncope

| '''Beta Blockers''' || Propranolol || Canine fear aggression, noise phobia || Bradycardia, lethargy, hypotension, syncope

|-

|-

| Azapirones || Busiprone || Phobia, anxiety, feline urine marking, interact aggression || Uncommon, not sedating

| '''Azapirones''' || Busiprone || Phobia, anxiety, feline urine marking, interact aggression || Uncommon, not sedating

|-

|-

| Triazolopyridines || Trazodone || ||

| '''Triazolopyridines''' || Trazodone || ||

|-

|-

| Anticonvulsants || Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide || Canine and feline compulsive tail chasing, unprovoked canine rage aggression || Lethargy, ataxia, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia

| '''Anticonvulsants''' || Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide || Canine and feline compulsive tail chasing, unprovoked canine rage aggression || Lethargy, ataxia, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia

|-

|-

| Hormones || Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Megestrol acetate || Last resort for aggression and feline urine marking || Polyphagia, polydipsia, sedation, diabete mellitus, pyometra, mammary hyperplasia, endometrial hyperplasia, carcinoma  

| '''Hormones''' || Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Megestrol acetate || Last resort for aggression and feline urine marking || Polyphagia, polydipsia, sedation, diabete mellitus, pyometra, mammary hyperplasia, endometrial hyperplasia, carcinoma  

|-

|-

| Glial Modulators || Propentofylline || ||

| '''Glial Modulators''' || Propentofylline || ||

|-

|-

| Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAO-Is) || Selegiline || Canine and feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome, fear related problems, spraying, hyperactivity, compulsive/stereoptypical disorders, specific phobias || GI effects, restlessness or lethargy, anorexia

| '''Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAO-Is)''' || Selegiline || Canine and feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome, fear related problems, spraying, hyperactivity, compulsive/stereoptypical disorders, specific phobias || GI effects, restlessness or lethargy, anorexia

|}

|}

Benzodiazepines are the only class of drug that consistently succeed in all models, but this may be why they have a dangerous disinhibitory effect on aggression. These drugs eliminate avoidant responses to many kinds of aversive events, increasing confidence in a number of exploratory tests. This is why benzodiazepines can cause dangerous levels of disinhibition in aggressive dogs. Benzodiazepines also inhibit memory formation by affecting NMDA (glutamate) receptors in the hippocampus, which limits their usefulness in behavioural therapy where any kind of learning is required, which is in most situations. They are useful for memory blocking if given at sub-sedative doses prior to or during a predicted traumatic event such as a thunderstorm.

'''Benzodiazepines''' are the only class of drug that consistently succeed in all models, but this may be why they have a dangerous '''disinhibitory effect on aggression'''. These drugs eliminate avoidant responses to many kinds of aversive events, increasing confidence in a number of exploratory tests. This is why benzodiazepines can cause dangerous levels of disinhibition in aggressive dogs. Benzodiazepines also inhibit memory formation by affecting NMDA (glutamate) receptors in the hippocampus, which limits their usefulness in behavioural therapy where any kind of learning is required, which is in most situations. They are useful for memory blocking if given at sub-sedative doses prior to or during a predicted traumatic event such as a thunderstorm.

 

 

Drugs such as Acepromazine (ACP) and synthetic hormone analogues like megestrol acetate (Ovarid) have little or no rational use in behavioural therapy for reasons of non-specificity, and adverse effects which make their use unjustifiable.

Drugs such as Acepromazine (ACP) and synthetic hormone analogues like megestrol acetate (Ovarid) have little or no rational use in behavioural therapy for reasons of non-specificity, and adverse effects which make their use unjustifiable.