Behavioral Medications (Psychotropic) for Dogs & Cats

1. What Are Psychotropic Medications?

Psychotropic medications are prescription drugs that alter chemical levels in the brain, affecting mood, perception, consciousness, and behavior. They are designed to treat behavioural health conditions — such as phobias, anxiety, fear, or aggression — by adjusting neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

Key Uses and Considerations

• Situational Anxiety: Used for travel, veterinary visits, or thunderstorms.

• Chronic Issues: Treats persistent problems like separation anxiety, spraying in cats, and fear-based aggression.

• Combination Therapy: Rarely used alone — they serve as an aid to behavioral modification programs.

2. When Restraint / Restraint Devices Are Not Enough

• If handling plans A and B do not work, OR the animal immediately reaches FAS (Fear, Anxiety, Stress) score over 3, the DVM may recommend sedation or PVP (Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals).

• This must be discussed with the client before administration, as there will be an additional cost (added to the initial estimate or end invoice).

• These drugs can be used prior to a visit, en route to the clinic, and in-clinic when performing a procedure.

3. Chemical Restraint (In-Clinic Sedation)

The following drug combinations may be used for in-clinic sedation:

• Acepromazine and Butorphanol

• Diazepam (Valium) and Butorphanol

• Clonidine

• Alprazolam

• Dexmedetomidine (can be reversed with Atipamezole)

• Dexmedetomidine, Ketamine, and Butorphanol (can be partially reversed with Atipamezole)

• Zenalpha (medetomidine and vatinoxan hydrochloride)

Fear Free Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals: Acepromazine (use in combination with anxiolytics)

• Class/Action: Phenothiazine; Sedative/Tranquilizer

• Dosage: Dog/Cat: 0.5–2 mg/kg PO (depends on other drugs in combination)

• Side Effects: Increased aggression, increased noise responsiveness

• Warnings: Possible increased aggression; long duration of sedation; not reversible; unpredictable results

• Notes: Not recommended as a single drug agent; use in combination with anxiolytic drugs for adjunctive sedation

Fear Free Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals: Alprazolam

• Class/Action: GABA agonist; anxiolytic, appetite stimulant, panicolytic effects in humans

• Dosage: Dog: 0.02–0.1 mg/kg/dose PO; Cat: 0.125–0.25 mg/CAT (not/kg) PO; administer 30–60 min before need

• Side Effects: Ataxia, polyphagia, paradoxical excitation

• Warnings: Possible behavioral disinhibition

• Notes: Metabolized by hydroxylation — may reduce potential for liver toxicity in cats; test dose in advance of need

Fear Free Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals: Clonidine

• Class/Action: Alpha-2 agonist; inhibits noradrenergic activity

• Dosage: Dog: 0.01–0.05 mg/kg/dose PO; administer 1.5 hours before need; avoid/use caution combining multiple alpha-2 agonists (may exaggerate sedation and recovery)

• Side Effects: Sedation, ataxia, vomiting, constipation

• Warnings: Dose/efficacy not established in cats; caution in patients with cardiovascular disease or seizure predisposition

• Notes: Can be used in combination with other anxiolytic drugs

5. How to Administer Drugs When FAS > 3

• Use general standing/exam restraint on a muzzled dog.

• Door Method: Use the exam room door to limit movement while administering the injection.

• Drive-By (Walk-By) Method: See details below.

Door Method Technique Use the door or a free wall to gently immobilize or sedation-restrain the patient, limiting the dog's ability to move away while the injection is administered into a safe muscle site.

Muzzle / Walk-By Sedation Combo Technique

1. Ensure the dog has been muzzled and the leash remains on.

2. One RVT leads the dog in a quick walk through an area.

3. The second RVT has the syringe (sedative) and butterfly catheter ready, walks alongside the dog, places the needle into the epaxial muscle, and injects while the dog is in motion.

6. Behaviour Problems

• Socialization period: 3 weeks to 3 months — the critical window for learning.

• Learning becomes less flexible as the animal ages.

• The cost of waiting: delaying treatment is not recommended, as the behaviour will progress.

• Time erodes the human-animal bond — if the animal is constantly displaying problem behaviour, treat early to preserve the bond.

Timeline of Behaviour Problem Development

• Behaviour problems appear to increase at 12 months of age.

• 12–24 months is the prime time for relinquishment.

• Some dogs improve between 12–15 months.

Client Questionnaire When assessing a patient, key questions to ask the owner include:

• "Why are you here now, and what would you like to see with your pet?"

• "What does success look like to you?" (Refer to AAHA questionnaire for a full assessment tool.)

7. PVP — Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals

PVP refers to medications given to the pet prior to arriving at the veterinary clinic to reduce fear and anxiety.

• Common PVP drugs: Gabapentin, Trazodone, Benzodiazepines.

• Must be prescribed by a DVM only.

• Important: PVP and behaviour medications do not cure the behaviour — they assist with signs/symptoms only.

CLOMICALM (Clomipramine Hydrochloride) (at home use)

• Used as part of a comprehensive behavioral management program to treat separation anxiety in dogs.

• May alleviate inappropriate barking, destructive behaviour, and inappropriate elimination (urination or defecation).

• Note: May take 1–2 weeks to see improvement, as serotonin levels need time to adjust.

Sileo (Dexmedetomidine Oromucosal Gel) — Dogs Only (at home use)

• The first FDA-approved, prescription oromucosal gel designed to treat noise aversion in dogs (e.g., fear of fireworks, thunderstorms, or construction sounds).

• Acts as a fast-acting, low-dose sedative (dexmedetomidine) that calms dogs without heavy sedation.

• Administration: Applied between the cheek and gum.

• Timing: Apply 30–60 minutes before the noise event, or immediately upon signs of anxiety.

• Duration of effect: Generally 2–3 hours.

• Side effects: Drowsiness, pale gums at the application site, decreased heart rate.

Anxitane (L-Theanine) — Dogs and Cats (at home use)

• Palatable, natural supplement designed to reduce anxiety, fear, and stress-related behaviours in dogs and cats without causing sedation.

• Used for environmental stressors such as fireworks, travel, or fear of other animals.

• Promotes relaxation while helping with concentration.

• Should not be used for severe behavioural issues.

• Considered very safe.

Reconcile (Fluoxetine Hydrochloride) (at home use)

• Prescription chewable tablet used to treat canine separation anxiety in dogs.

• Typically used in combination with a behaviour modification plan.

• Helps manage anxiety-related behaviours by fostering a calmer state of mind.

• Results may be seen in 1–8 weeks.

Tessie (Tasipimidine) — Oral Solution (at home use)

• The FDA's first approved single product cleared for both noise aversion and separation anxiety in dogs (approved May 6, 2026).

• Noise aversion and separation anxiety are fear-related behavioural disorders presenting with a range of clinical signs.

• Prescribed by a DVM; oral solution formulation.

9. Behavioural Diets / Supplements — Veterinary

Calm diets and supplements are used to nutritionally support anxious pets.

• Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed milk protein (containing the peptide alpha-casozepine) and L-tryptophan.

• These two amino acids work together to help reduce stress and anxiety in both cats and dogs.

Examples of veterinary calm diet/supplement products:

• Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Stress (cats)

• Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements — Calming Care (probiotic supplement, dogs)

• Royal Canin Veterinary Calm diet (cats)

11. Behavioural Euthanasia

• Behavioural euthanasia focuses on the pet's welfare and psychological state — this is distinct from convenience euthanasia, which is based on human needs.

• Behavioural problems are not limited to aggression — they degrade both animal welfare and the family's quality of life, damaging the human-animal bond.