Alprazolam (Xanax) for dogs - Panic attack?

[Diana Erhart]

Does anyone have experience using Alprazolam (Xanax) for their dog's anxiety or panic attacks?  When we moved at the end of January the vet prescribed some for Charlie for the ride from Texas to PA.  I didn't use any of it at the time because he did just fine in the car.  But since we have gotten here his anxiety has become worse.  He seems to be getting some separation anxiety at times.  He always has been an anxious dog usually with loud noises, storms and the like.  But lately he has been howling sometimes when I would leave him (not always though).  This morning we had a house full of people and I left with my parents to take them to a doctor appointment.  Next my husband left and Charlie was sleeping in my daughter's room with her and her dog so DH shut the door to her room.  My daughter said when Charlie woke up and realized the door was shut he started screaming and howling and wouldn't stop even after she let him out of the room and went downstairs with him.  He wouldn't sit with her or let her hold him.  It was like he was having a panic attack.  After about an hour and a half of this she took both dogs outside and he calmed down then stopped howling when they came back inside.  I called the vet in Texas who prescribed the meds and decided to give him a dose for the next day or two and see how he does.  But I am worried about him and having him on this medicine.  

If you have any experience with this, do you have to give it to them for ever to keep them calm or will it be able to just help him over this "difficult" time he is having?  I am going out Monday to visit vets here in our new area to try to find one to check him out.  For this weekend I am trying to just get by with talking to our old vet over the phone.

Also, I had him checked out with some of the blood tests and basic thyroid tests before we left Texas because there is a history of Addison's disease in his lineage.  Could this added stress make him more prone to getting this?

We do belong to the anxiety group but none of my searches either in that group or here on the main forum seemed to address this.  Thanks for any help/guidance/advice anyone can give.  

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We tried the pheromone collar with our anxious dog, but it didn't help or if it did, it didn't help enough to be noticeable.

[Cindy Ludwig, M.A., KPA-CTP]

I am a registered nurse as well as a professional dog trainer! Xanax is safe and effective when used as directed. However, medication alone is not the recommended way to manage anxiety in dogs. Medication must be combined with behavior modification, which involves processes such as desensitization and counter-conditioning under the direction of a qualified professional trainer or certified animal behaviorist with knowledge and experience in this area.

You can read about desensitization and counter-conditioning here: http://www.aspcabehavior.org/articles/14/Desensitization-and-Counte...

It's like human psychiatry. While medication may be indicated, "talk therapy" or counseling with a qualified professional is part of the overall treatment plan. Sometimes counseling alone is sufficient and sometimes medication is necessary to achieve proper chemical balance in the brain in order for counseling to be effective.

The first step in addressing any behavior issue is to have a complete medical evaluation by a licensed veterinarian to rule out medical causes for the behavior problem(s). Then, once a diagnosis has been made - or at least ruled out - an individualized behavior modification program should be developed by a qualified veterinarian, trainer or certified behaviorist.

If your veterinarian is not comfortable making a behavioral diagnosis and developing a treatment plan  and many aren't - you can consult a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who will work with your local veterinarian. Your local veterinarian can also call and consult directly with a veterinary behaviorist.

Here is the link to see if there is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area: http://www.dacvb.org/resources/find/

Here is the link to see if there is a certified applied animal behaviorist in your area: http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSAppliedBehavior/caab-directory

In terms of a qualified trainer, look for a reward-based trainer, preferably a certified clicker trainer. You can find some useful links on my website about how to find a good trainer: http://www.dubuquedogtraining.com/links.html

One adjunct that I really like and have had great results with is the Anxiety Wrap. The (original) patented Anxiety Wrap is a pressure wrap that helps reduce anxiety in dogs and cats. It was invented by Susan Sharpe, certified professional dog trainer and T-touch practitioner in 2001. A recent study at Tufts University by veterinarian Dr. Nicholas Dodman found the Anxiety Wrap to be effective in 89% of the thunderstorm-phobic dogs in the study.

There are some imitation products on the market, but I recommend the original, patented Anxiety Wrap. I have used this product on my own dog successfully and recommend it to my clients with fearful and aggressive dogs. You can read more about the difference between the Anxiety Wrap and the knock-off product, the Thundershirt here: http://dubuquedogtrainer.hubpages.com/hub/dog_anxiety_wrap

Another product I have used and recommend is Through A Dog's Ear music for canines: http://throughadogsear.com/.

There are many other adjuncts that I use and recommend as part of an overall behavior modification program, but these two products are the mainstays of all of the programs I develop.

Exercise is also an important consideration, as well as force-free dog training, preferably clicker training.

Anxiolytic medication - medication to reduce anxiety - is a short term treatment that is prescribed by a veterinarian. It does not "fix" anything, but can be useful, even necessary to reduce a dog's anxiety level enough that behavior modification, i.e. teaching your dog new ways of feeling about and responding to his environment can be effective.

I hope this helps!  Good luck with your dog!

Cindy Ludwig, M.A., KPA-CTP

Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Just one question on this one, how do you train a dog who is full of anxiety when they are not treat motivated?  Especially during an episode of anxiety?

[Cindy Ludwig, M.A., KPA-CTP]

Good question! Actually, the dog's ability to take treats is a good barometer, if you will, of its stress level. So, if the dog can't take treats due to anxiety, it's best to just hold off on training (or behavior modification) until a time when his anxiety level is reduced. That's where medication and some of these other treatment adjuncts come in handy - by reducing the dog's anxiety level, we can get him into a thinking versus a reacting mode and he can learn. Food intake also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which serves to relax an animal - that's part of the reason it is so effective in behavior modification.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Thank you :)

I often hear this as the cure- all tool, however I have been involved with a few dogs who, when stressed, no treat in the world was going to change their mind. 

Sometimes, the only thing that worked was exposure over a long period of time.  You know when it is working and they are in a relaxed environment, when even the dog who is not treat motivated will accept the offer.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I had one dog who took daily anti-anxiety medication along with a lot of training with great success.  I appreciate  your support on this topic.  Many are reluctant.  Too bad, because I feel, if done correctly, it is a great service to the dog who otherwise lives a miserable and frightened existence.

Now, I have a foster, who might be perfect in every way, except she PANICS in the car.  Not car sick, but panics--yelling, screaming, licking windows.  Of course, the treats are there when she settles, but she is not treat motivated.

I may just see if she will hold a stuffy in her mouth.   She does love toys.   She is very toy motivated. Until arriving in my home, I don't believe she ever had treats. Odd.

We are using a wrap

(Thundershirt ), that was used with my last anxiety-ridden girl, and that has helped greatly.

I also have to hold her tight in my arms.  My goal is to have her safely in a seat enjoying the ride.

We have made some great progress the last few days.  I think it can be done.

Again, thank you for your support and comments on these situations.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good job in progress, J.

[Cindy Ludwig, M.A., KPA-CTP]

Again, I prefer the Anxiety Wrap, but I have successfully desensitized a fearful cocker spaniel to the car using the basic systematic desensitization process. I recommend you consult a professional to assist you with this.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Calla who lives for food will not take a treat even when I groom her.

[Cindy Ludwig, M.A., KPA-CTP]

The exposure needs to be a sub-threshold, because if you repeatedly expose the dog to the feared stimulus at full intensity it will only make the dog more sensitive to it and anxious.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I absolutely concur.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It's nice to hear from someone who appreciates various modalities in human and veterinary treatment. I still prefer to give an antidepressant for ongoing problems at least until the anxiety lessens since not only is it difficult to predict situation which may be problematic, but antidepressants may prevent the anxiety attacks from occurring when given regularly, regardless of unexpected events. Of course, I don't treat dogs : )