Can medication therapy help my dogs’ behavior problems?

 

There are many medications that your dog might be able to be prescribed by your veterinarian to assist you in the training program you and your dog trainer are currently working on.  Problems like separation anxiety,  fear issues, compulsive behaviors and reactive behavior are just some of the behaviors that are helped by medication therapy.  However,  your veterinarian will not prescribe medication therapy without your dog already  having had  an evaluation by an accredited dog trainer who specializes in the issues your dog is having and is also in agreement the medication might be useful.

 

Before any medication therapy,  your veterinarian will also do a medical examination including a full blood work up and urinalysis,  this often includes a full thyroid panel, to rule out metabolic  and hormonal disease.  Some behavior problems can arise from medical issues and that needs to be ruled out first.

 

For specific behavioral issues most dog trainers perform a private lesson.  The trainer will  come out to your home and  evaluate the situation where the dog is the most relaxed.  The trainer will discuss your dogs nutrition plan and current feeding regimen,  your dogs exercise program and current life situation. From that point, the trainer will set up a plan to work the issues.  Only after the plan is followed and if its determined the plan needs adjustment, would medication therapy be discussed. You would work with your trainer and veterinarian together to find the best plan for you and your dog.

 

Its not appropriate for a dog to be on medication therapy without behavioral modification because the whole point of the medication is for the dog to get into a state of mind to actually treat the issues and eliminate them from the dogs routine. Medication is not meant to cover up or stifle a behavior, but to  allow the dog to be able to accept appropriate treatment from a proper training plan.