Home |
Case of the Month |
Behavior Tip of The
Month |
What's New? |
Site Index |
| San Carlos Veterinary Hospital |
We've had a lot of inquiries at the Hospital of late about a new drug that has been released to treat separation anxiety in dogs. Apparently many of our clients saw segments on this topic on the Today show and ABC News or read about it in the Union-Tribune.
Canine separation anxiety is a condition in which dogs "panic" when left alone. Symptoms can include barking, salivating, and hyperventilation. As the condition progresses, the dog may turn to more destructive behaviors - urinating or defecating in the home, chewing up furniture, and digging to get out of the yard. Many veterinarians report that separation anxiety is among the most common behavior problems in dogs. It is one of the leading reasons for having dogs euthanized.
Dogs are naturally pack animals. Wild dogs display many of these same frantic activities when they become separated from the pack. When we bring a dog into our home, we become its pack. If we leave the dog at home alone, as we do increasingly in two-income families, it may try to rejoin the pack. Dogs quickly learn that barking will cause humans to come. The dog may dig to get out of the yard to look for the "pack" (i.e., its owners).
Until recently, veterinarians had few tools to treat separation anxiety. Behavior modification (both the dog's and the owner's) might work, but often not fast enough for a dog that has become particularly destructive. Sedatives reduced the negative behaviors, but the dog was often lethargic and sedatives were inappropriate for long-term use.
In April, 1998 the pharmaceutical company Novartis won approval from the European Commission to market a drug named Clomicalm to treat separation anxiety in dogs. The US FDA gave similar approval for Clomicalm in December, 1998. The same drug, known by the brand name Anafranil (generic name clomipramine hydrochloride), has been used for years to treat depression in humans. Novartis conducted studies in late 1997 and early 1998 involving various combinations and of clomipramine and behavior modification. Dr. Patrick Melese conducted one of the studies at the Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital here in San Diego. One of our canine customers, an 11 year-old English Springer Spaniel named Molloy, took part in that study.
By all accounts, Clomicalm merely "takes the edge off" so the dog can relax. Molloy's owners report that she has no symptoms of being drugged or sedated when given clomipramine. She is more alert, more playful, and her appetite has returned. In fact, her general health has improved because she is no longer wearing herself out every day from stress.
Both Novartis and veterinarians stress that Clomicalm is not a magic bullet. It will not make the symptoms go away; it merely helps to control them so the owner can work on behaviors that reassure the dog. Dogs are both observant and intelligent. They quickly learn the cues that their owners are about to leave: locking up the house, putting on your shoes, getting out your car keys, etc. Part of the behavior modification is for the owner to break these patterns by, for example, locking up the house but not leaving right away. Other behavior modifications involve leaving the house for longer and longer periods of time so the dog has time to learn that they will return.
If your dog is exhibiting signs of separation anxiety, talk with your veterinarian. He or she can help you decide on the best course of treatment. In the meantime, here are some other sites that will help you to learn more about Clomicalm.
Updated: 27 Aug 1999