In the United States, around 800,000 people seek medical attention for dog bites every year. Canine aggression is the most common behavioral problem observed by behaviorists and one of the main reasons for surrenders to shelters. Dogs develop patterns of aggression as a behavioral response but they are valuable members of our family and need our help!
It’s important to find the underlying cause of your dog’s aggression. Consulting with a Veterinarian is an important part of the process as some forms of aggression may be caused by an unknown medical condition or genetics. Beyond that, behaviorists and trainers are most experienced in the nuances of this issue to provide the best guidance. There is a big emphasis on the importance of attempting to solve psychologically based issues first with a behaviorist or trainer who hopefully, will work together with a veterinarian to determine the cause and a plan to address it. This teamwork is recommended since woofs act differently in different environments or situations outside the exam room, which a behaviorist or trainer can closely observe.
Different Approaches to Fixing Canine Aggression
If a dog has owner-directed dominance aggression or aggression between dogs, the doctors may suggest behavior modification therapy; a type of behavior-focused therapy. Most cases of aggression can be resolved through behavior modification therapy without medication. Severe cases that don’t respond to reconditioning may require pharmacological support.
A long-term commitment to medication is best utilized after other methods have been ruled out as unlikely to be effective for one reason or another. The alternative priority given to medication compared to non drug related behavior modification is due to increased complexity in proper administration of medication and potential associated health risks. It is important to consider more common training methods first before beginning a medication regimen because in isolation, behavioral therapies have resulted in higher success rates when compared to psychotropic medications.
Common Drugs to Battle Aggression in Canines
The drug with the longest history of use in aggressive dogs is Fluoxetine, a SSRI. Its common name is Prozac. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) manipulate levels of serotonin concentrations. Serotonin, also known as the happy hormone, is a neurotransmitter. Low levels of this hormone are associated with depression and aggression. A SSRI reduces serotonin blood level concentrations while increasing concentrations in the brain improving overall mood.
Studies show that aggressive dogs have low levels of serotonin in their brains. The increase of serotonin levels is the mechanism by which SSRIs treat symptoms of aggression.
Serotonin is involved in the regulation of physiological processes, cognitive functions, emotional states and behaviors. Variation of serotonin affects an individual’s behavior and emotional state in different ways. The neurotransmitters are responsible for carrying signals between the brain’s nerve cells. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) block the reabsorption of serotonin into neurons making serotonin more available to impact messages between neurons. In the image provided the SSRI is inhibiting the removal of serotonin from the synaptic cleft, this causes levels of serotonin in the synaptic cleft to rise. The synaptic cleft appears to be an empty space, but it plays an important role in message translation. It is a tiny opening between neurons that helps relay messages between them.
Owners notice significant behavioral changes after one month of Fluoxetine treatment. Prolonged administration to produce therapeutic changes must be administered for six to eight weeks to induce changes at serotonergic receptor levels. The dosage is reduced after six months to ensure therapeutic benefit with the lowest possible dose. This helps to reduce potential side effects.
Potential Side Effects
- decrease or increase daytime activity
- decrease or increase in nocturnal activity
- reclusion
- increased water intake
- anxiety and related behaviors
- shaking
- increased barking
Starting medication is often a long-term commitment that requires owners to be consistent and diligent. Inconsistencies in medication routines can have negative side effects and reduce the efficacy of the drug. Never stop the administration of an antidepressant without consulting a Veterinarian. SSRIs require tapering to prevent serious health risks. Owners should always follow up about their dogs’ progress and potential side effects.
Fluoxetine reduces measurable signs of aggression and considered an empirically valid, safe and effective form of treatment. Psychopharmacological treatments in veterinary medicine are believed to be most effective when used in conjunction with behavior modification. Results suggest the usage of this medication was useful in the management of aggression between dogs, but owner-directed aggression was most influenced by behavior modification. There is a great need for more research and understanding of psychotropic drugs in veterinary medicine. Three main roadblocks make treatment more complicated for dogs compared to humans. The inability for dogs to communicate different ways the medication affects them that we may not notice, the lack of precision to identify a certain mental illness in dogs, and differences in biological systems, particularly pertaining to the brain and related biochemical reactions.
In humans, antidepressants don’t work in 30 percent of patients, and up to 33 percent of patients see a return in symptoms. A similar pattern may be true in dogs but because they cannot communicate with us, fill out subjective surveys about their own behavior like a human seeing a doctor for mental illness does. However it is difficult to determine. We likely won’t receive clear cut answers on this issue until fMRI brain imaging is made available for dogs. We are quite a long time away from that since the technology is not even available for human patients outside of a study setting at the moment. In the meantime, we believe the community needs to come together to fill in blanks as best as possible to improve the quality of our dogs lives.
