Dog Medication - A Magic Pill for Dog Behavior Problems?

The pet industry is booming, and drug companies now find they can make good money from creating, and marketing a variety of medications for dogs and cats. There is dog medication for obesity. dog medication for separation anxiety, and of course Prozac for dog aggression.

Certain kinds of dog medication, including pain medication, vaccines, anti-biotics, and allergy medicines can be very helpful (as directed by your vet) for dealing with physical ailments in dogs.

However, should dog medication be used for dog behavioral or dog psychological issues?

1. Dog medication can hasten the recovery process.

Proponents of dog medication cite studies showing that dog medication, together with a behavioral modification program, can help dogs recover much faster.

The drugs, they argue, can blunt the effects of extreme stress, fear, or anxiety, and enable the dog to more quickly learn from the behavior modification techniques.

2. Dog medication is better than no treatment.

There seems to be general agreement among dog experts and veterinarians that most dog behavioral problems can be treated with behavior modification.

However, these behavior modification programs can be very time consuming, and many dog owners may not have the time, desire, or monetary resources to carry out such a program. In the absence of such programs, the dog may be left to suffer with his extreme stress, anxiety, and fear; which may ultimately result in him harming himself, or others.

It is true that dog owners should ensure that they have the time and resources for a dog before going out and getting a cheap puppy.

However, the fact is that there are many people who get puppies on impulse.

When faced with surmounting behavioral issues, they are only willing or able to medicate the dog or surrender him. Given that our shelters are already filled with unwanted dogs, another surrender, especially one with behavioral issues, is most likely a death sentence for the dog.

Dog medication provides a last resort alternative for such dogs. Before going down this road, it is important to consult a vet, together with a professional trainer.

1. Dog medications often have bad side-effects.

As with many human medications, dog medications may also have undesirable side effects including depression, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

These "side-effects" may sometimes worsen a dog's behavioral problems, and may significantly decrease the dog's quality of life.

2. Dog medications provide an easy way out for behavioral issues.

Dog medications provide a simple, no effort way, to dog owners, for suppressing behavioral issues.

As a result, it discourages dog owners from pursuing more difficult behavior modification techniques, that actually address the root of the dog's problems, rather than suppress the symptoms. Retraining the dog in this way will improve his quality of life.

Sadly, many dogs get medicated for life, simply because dog medication is an easy alternative for stopping destructive behaviors. The dog's needs and pleas for help are silenced by the magic pill.

To some, the argument for dog medication comes down to nature vs. nurture.

Are behavioral issues caused by bad genetics and internal chemical imbalances, or are they caused by the environment?

The answer is most probably a little bit of both.

Dogs, like us. can have a genetic predisposition towards certain kinds of neuroses. My Shiba Inu has inherited plenty of those. However, these genetic predispositions can often be managed, re-conditioned, and redirected towards healthy and acceptable activities.

Except in the most extreme cases, this can be achieved with behavior modification techniques alone, and without the need for any dog medication.

I must confess that my natural bias is not to medicate a dog for behavioral problems.

I follow the same rule with my own health, and I follow it with my dogs' health. Most dog behavioral problems have solutions that only require some of our time and patience. Surely we can spare some effort to help fulfill our dogs' needs when they so free, and so willingly to fulfill ours.

It is also important that we address our dog's problems as soon as they occur, so that they do not deteriorate to a point where the dog becomes a danger to himself and others.

Letting a dog continue to practice problem behaviors, will also make rehabilitation a lot more difficult.

In more extreme cases, where dog medication will significantly enhance the behavior modification training, and improve the dog's quality of life; perhaps its used should be considered.

Dog medication, however, should only be a temporary measure.

The dog should be slowly weaned off the medication as he progresses in his behavior modification training.

Finally, there are those extreme cases where the owner is unwilling or unable to correct the problem behaviors through training.

The choices, unfortunately, are all grim. We obviously cannot let the problem go untreated, because the dog will ultimately end up hurting himself and others. Therefore, we can either medicate the dog for life, or we can euthanize the dog.

Many will of course argue that the former is a much better alternative, but I am not so sure. I think that this will differ on a case by case basis, depending on the severity of the behavioral issue, and the temperament of the dog in question.

My Shiba Inu, for example, hates being drugged. Whenever he has to go under anesthesia at the vet, he gets really stressed when he wakes up. Some of it has to do with the stress of being at the vet. However, a big part of it has to do with feeling vulnerable, because he does not feel normal, and is not in full control of himself.

I truly think that he would prefer not to live, rather than 'exist' in a dog medicated haze.

Therefore, nip your dog's behavior problems at the bud, and do not let it get to a point where dog medication becomes necessary. That, to me, seems like the easiest choice.

We should try to make life as good as we can for our dogs, because they make life so much better for us.