Pharmacotherapy Canine Aggression

Question 1

describe psychoactive medications

Answer 1

most use of psychoactive meds in vet med is extra-label

exceptions:
1. fluoxetine (prozac), clomipramine: C separation anxiety
2. selegeline: C cognitive dysfunction
3. dexmedetomadine: C noise aversion
4. pregabalin: feline travel and vet exams
5. imepitoin: C noise phobia

Question 2

describe maintenance drugs (5)

Answer 2

1. treatment of chronic conditions:
   -relief of mild to moderate anxiety
2. slow onset of action:
   4-8 weeks to see max effects
3. daily long term dosing advantages:
   -steady state plasma levels
   -cellular changes in receptors
   -not as concerned about timing of when you give!
4. rare to see tolerance
5. most are anti-depressants: anti-anxiety and impulse control
   -better able to regulate behavior/behavior modification

Question 3

describe the neurophysiology of predatory behavior

Answer 3

1. non-affective aggression with a low degree of sympathetic regulation
2. controlled by different neuronal pathway than affected aggression
3. should not have emotion changes or vocalization

Question 4

describe predatory behavior and misdirected play

Answer 4

1. body language:
   -lowered body posture
   -pointing at prey
   -absence of vocalization
2. directed toward nonhuman species

Question 5

describe predatory behavior management

Answer 5

1. environmental management
2. behavior modification unlikely to eliminate risk
   -+/- pharmacotherapy and behavior products
3. misdirected play:
   -supervise play with children
   -avoid rough play
   -end play sessions to prevent out-arousal
   -redirect to toys
4. specific desensitization exercises