Should I Give my Dog Medication to Modify their Behavior?
In my experience it depends on the dog. I know many dogs who have made huge strides in their training with the assistance of medication.
However, there are also many instances of dogs I know who were inappropriately put on medication, given the wrong medication, or the humans were told incorrect information about how the medication works. The following is basic info I think a client needs to know when considering using medication for behavioral modification.
Diagnosing
A decision to put you dog on medication for behavioral issues should be between you, your vet, and your trainer. In certain instances, it should be the trainer who confirms that medication is needed, not the vet since a vet does not have the education accurately diagnose what the dogs behavioral issue actually is. For example instances of separation anxiety, obsessive compulsive behavior, reactivity, fearful behavior, anxiety, trauma may need medical intervention. However, separation anxiety can look a lot like a low frustration tolerance to an untrained eye. So can anxiety or OCD and a suppressed prey drive. These are differences a reputable trainer would know how to identify, not a veterinarian.
Is it a natural behavior or is pharmaceutical intervention needed?
Most commonly I see dogs put on medication when the actual issue is that their natural drives are never allowed to be expressed. I would argue it is more ethical to play biologically appropriate games with their dog to meet their natural needs instead of putting them on medication.
This is inherently a diagnostic issue where a vet or inexperienced trainer recommends medication without understanding how a lack of biological fulfillment impacts behavior and brain chemistry.
Developmental Stages
The other most common time I see dogs inappropriately given medication is when they are going through developmental phases between 4 months and 2 years old. For many dogs, separation anxiety, reactivity, and fearful behavior are natural parts of their development that can easily be addressed with training and time. Putting the dog on medication while they are cognitively developing can actually impede the natural process they need to go through in order to grow up into a well balanced dog.
Different Kinds of Medication
The other issue I commonly see is dogs not being given the right kind of medication for the issue they are having. There is a very basic rundown of the three types of medication that are used for behavioral modification.
Gabapentin - Typically used for treating pain, it can be a good medication to start off with in certain instances to rule out pain. If your dog improves on Gabapentin they are probably in pain and there needs to be a more thorough investigation into the cause of the pain and how to navigate the behavior changes that come with pain.
Trazodone - This is a sedative that is typically used for short term issues like fireworks, thunderstorms, vet trips, keeping your dog calm when recovering from surgery. It is not a long term behavior solution. It actually impedes neural plasticity in the brain making it harder for the dog to learn and make long term changes in their behavior. For some dogs it makes them more aggressive. I always recommend trying it for the first time on a day where you can hangout with your dog and monitor them so you know what their reaction will be instead of using it on the day you need it.
SSRI/TCA (prozac, fluoxetine, clomipramine) - A controversial series of drugs and technically two groups of drugs I'm lumping together because they are used similarly for behavioral modification. There isn’t a clear consensus on how they work and there is new research coming out about them all the time. In some cases they cause an increase in aggression, dissociative behavior, anxiety and/or trigger anorexia. But for some dogs they can be a huge help. Much of the research indicates that they increase neural plasticity, making learning and long term behavior change easier. In my experience for some dogs they assist in speeding up the training process and make emotional regulation skills easier to learn. Most dogs only need them for the first 3-6 months of training and then can be tapered off of them. However, some dogs benefit from long term usage and struggle without the support of these medications.
Can I use medication without a training plan?
No. There isn’t any medication that is going to magically fix your dog's behavior in the long term. In human psychology it is well established that medication on its own cannot facilitate meaningful behavior change if the patient also has weak emotional regulation skills, little structure in their life, and poor communication skills with peers. It is the same for dogs. They need a training plan that complements the changes that medication is bringing to their life. Specifically SSRI/TCA drugs should only be given to a patient after they have met with a reputable trainer who is educated on how to work with dogs on medication and the trainer has recommended pharmaceutical intervention.
What should I do if my vet insists my dog needs to be on medication for behavioral modification?
Find a trainer who understands how these drugs work and ask them to evaluate your dog for a second opinion.
If your vet is insisting on medication due to your dog's behavior at the vet, remember that the vet is a very scary place for dogs. Your dog will not be the best version of themselves there. Your vet cannot accurately or ethically diagnose your dog with anything based on that brief interaction in a scary environment. In those instances working with a trainer who can assist you in building cooperative care and handling skills for your dog may be more helpful than medication.
Final thoughts
It took me a long time to come around to the idea of using meditation to assist in training dogs. I personally had a bad experience with medication and that clouded my judgement for some time. However, I am always willing to put my preconceived notions aside to do what is best for the dog. I’m always looking for new ways to better my practice and support my clients. A few years ago I decided to dive deep into the research around these drugs and I am glad I did. They have become a really important part of my program for some of my toughest clients. I still stay up to date with the newest research and I can recommend specific vets in the Boston area who are able to responsibly give a second opinion and prescribe these medications if needed.