What can I give my dog for anxiety?
Original Question: Love your show. I have a question about anti-anxiety medications for dogs. I have an 8-year-old Miniature Wolfhound (25 lbs) rescue with a level-3 heart condition. She has been on Clomicalm 25 mg, 1 pill in the a.m. and 1/2 pill in the p.m. for separation anxiety for about a year. She has had some behavioural training. I am in the midst of a move and she is uber stressed. I've been trying Rescue Remedy however I don't think it is helping her much. My vet prescribed Alprazolam 1mg 1/2 pill repeat 8-12 hours as needed for her and I haven't used it yet. I've heard you mention Prozac on your show and so my question is whether Prozac is better than Alprazolam 1mg 1/2 pill repeat 8-12 hours if needed? What are your thoughts? Thank you in advance. - Marlene
Aug 23, 2017
Hi Marlene,
Thanks for your question.
It sounds like you have been trying hard at correcting this issue. It’s not that one drug always works better than another, it’s more about what works best for your dog.
So there are two things to consider, the right drug and the right dose. The Clomipramine may be a good drug but the dose is not accurate enough. I would first call your veterinarian and see if they are comfortable raising the dose or adapting a drug you are already using before switching or adding something else in. The idea is to increase the dose to the point that the anxiety issues are taken care of and at the same time, no negative side effects develop (such as significant lethargy or drowsiness).
If you can’t improve the situation with the dose, then you can consider a different drug or adding a product in concurrently. Fluoxetine is a good drug to consider. There are supplements that could work well for your particular dog. One that you can consider is a supplement that uses casein, a protein found in mammary milk of a dog. You could consider pheromones that are in diffuser, collar or spray form.
My first recommendation is to call your veterinarian and inquire about a dosage change on your current medications.
I hope this helps!
Dr. Clayton Greenway
Disclaimer: healthcareforpets.com and its team of veterinarians and clinicians do not endorse any products, services, or recommended advice. All advice presented by our veterinarians, clinicians, tools, resources, etc is not meant to replace a regular physical exam and consultation with your primary veterinarian or other clinicians. We always encourage you to seek medical advice from your regular veterinarian.
