Behavioral Medication

I sometimes work with clients whose dogs are extremely fearful or anxious, or struggle with severe over-arousal, and recommend that they discuss anxiolytic meds with their vet. Here are two articles on the topic that already say exactly what I want to convey:

Behavior Medication: First-Line Therapy or Last Resort? by Jen Summerfield, DVM, CPDT-KA

Behavioral Medication In Training by Kate LaSala, CTC, CBCC-KA, PCBC-A, CSAT, FFCP-E

Here is an article (PDF) that describes a case study, and gives information on various medications, dosages, and potential side effects to watch out for. This was written by Dr. Ilana Reisner, and published in the journal Today’s Veterinary Practice.

 

You may find it beneficial to work with a veterinary behaviorist in conjunction with your primary vet. (This would be like you going to see a specialist because your GP can’t be an expert in every topic.) We are blessed to be so close to the UC Davis veterinary hospital, which has two certified behaviorists on staff. More information on working with them can be found here. The team at Davis would do a full assessment for you and your dog, draw up a training plan and, if needed, advise on medical tests to perform or prescribe medication. We would then work together to implement the training plan.

Here are a few other veterinary behaviorists who are in the Bay Area, or farther away but provide vet-to-vet consults:

Dr Jeannine Berger, in Winters

Dr. Sophie Liu, CDBC, in Oakland

Dr. Wailani Sung, in San Francisco or Walnut Creek (provides telemedicine consults with you and your vet)

Dr. Chris Pachel, in Portland, OR (provides direct vet-to-vet consults)

Dr. Jennifer Summerfield, in West Virginia (can do either a video call with you (with your vet’s permission), or direct vet-to vet consults)

Dr. Kenneth Martin, in Spicewood, TX (provides direct vet-to-vet consults)

Dr. Lore Haug, in Sugar Land, TX (provides direct vet-to-vet consults)

For those who would like to take advantage of the expertise of a veterinary behaviorist but the cost of a full appointment with them is too high, the UC Davis behavioral department also does shorter, cheaper consults that are just focused on prescribing appropriate medication IF the client is already working with an approved trainer. Dr Pattie Lawler at Douglas Vet in Roseville is not a certified veterinary behaviorist but has done extra studying and practice in behavior modification, and provides the same service. I am on the approved trainer list for both of them.

 
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