Canine Paroxetine

Can canine paroxetine help your dog change certain behaviors? Early testing points to a possible "yes", but the drug is not yet widely used for dogs and other pets. Find out more about it.

The term "Canine Paroxetine" is a bit of a misnomer because paroxetine is a human drug that has not been approved as a pet medication. Paroxetine is actually a generic name for the well-known drug Paxil® produced by SK-Beecham Laboratories, and it's one of a growing number of human drugs that veterinarians are using to address canine issues.

Paroxetine acts as an anti-depressant. The drug is used to increase levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical secreted by brain cells and actually increases communication between them. Serotonin governs many functions of the central nervous system, including appetite, mood and behavior.

However, these same cells will sometimes reabsorb the serotonin they produce, crippling communications. This is a process the medical community defines as "re-uptake". Technically, paroxetine is classed as a Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor (SSRI). SSRI's prevent re-uptake or re-absorption, leaving the serotonin available to regulate the nervous system.

Our dogs can display many of the same illnesses and disorders as people do. When a certain type of medication is available for human use and not for pets, veterinarians will sometimes try to adapt the use of that medication for animals. This has certainly been the case with canine paroxetine as we'll refer to the drug from this point forward. Let's examine a couple of the ways vets are employing this medication in the treatment of dogs.

Canine paroxetine has been used by vets to address some of the most common fear issues seen in canines. If you've ever observed a dog that is terrified by thunderstorms, you know how debilitating that fear can be. By increasing the natural level of serotonin in the dog's system, the paroxetine effectively calms the pet into a reasonable state of mind.

The drug has also been prescribed to treat pets with severe separation anxiety disorder, a condition that causes some pets to become crazed and destructive when their owner is absent.

Canine paroxetine has been increasingly used to treat aggressive behavior in dogs, such as fear biting and overly territorial behavior toward other household pets.

One of the most promising applications of paroxetine is applying it to the treatment of compulsive disorders like licking and chewing that can drive a dog to mutilate himself.

Although the medication can help alleviate the behavior, it's not enough to stop it by itself. Therefore the medication is usually employed in a two-pronged approach that includes interrupting the licking and chewing with the use of an Elizabethan collar.

Canine paroxetine must be used very carefully and only when prescribed by your vet. While it is generally considered to be safe, it has been known to produce some side-effects.

These can include:

• Allergic reactions
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Increased thirst
• Appetite loss
• Dry and/or itchy skin
• Tremors
• Seizures

Canine paroxetine is typically not prescribed to senior pets and pets previously diagnosed with kidney disease.

The fact that paroxetine is not approved for dogs and does produce side-effects in some animals definitely means you should not share your own prescription with your pet.

Vets are legally allowed to prescribe the drug as an "extra label" medication, which means using it for a species or a use not specifically mentioned on the label. However, they only do so under close observation, and you must follow instructions to the letter if the drug is ever prescribed for your pet.

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