Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 12-19 , January 2008

Effectiveness of fluoxetine chewable tablets in the treatment of canine separation anxiety

  • Gary M. Landsberg, BSc, DVM, DACVB, Dipl. ECVBM-CA

      Affiliations

    • Doncaster Animal Clinic, Thornhill, Ontario
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests and correspondence: Gary M. Landsberg, BSc, DVM, DACVB, Dipl. ECVBM-CA, North Toronto Animal Clinic, 99 Henderson Avenue, Thornhill, ON, L3T2K9.
    • ,
  • Patrick Melese, MA, DVM, DACVB

      Affiliations

    • Veterinary Behavior Consultants, San Diego, CA
    • ,
  • Barbara L. Sherman, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB

      Affiliations

    • North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC
    • ,
  • Jacqueline C. Neilson, BS, DVM, DACVB

      Affiliations

    • Animal Behavior Clinic, Portland, OR
    • ,
  • Alan Zimmerman, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN
    • ,
  • Terrence P. Clarke, DVM, PhD, DACVP

      Affiliations

    • Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN

References 

  1. Bamberger M, Houpt KA. Signalment factors, comorbidity and trends in behavior diagnoses in dogs; 1644 cases (1991-2001). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2006;229:1591–1601
  2. Beaver BV. Canine Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 1999;pp. 26-28
  3. Chapman BL, Voith VL. Behavioral problems in old dogs: 26 cases (1984-1987). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1990;196:944–946
  4. Clark DB, Birmaher B, Axelson D, Monk K, Kalas C, Ehmann M, et al. Fluoxetine for the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders: open-label, long-term extension to a controlled trial. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry. 2005;44:1263–1270
  5. Dodman NH, Shuster L. Pharmacologic approaches to managing behavior problems in small animals. Vet. Med. 1994;89:960–969
  6. Fairbanks JM, Pine DS, Tancer NK, Dummit ES, Kentgen LM, Martin J, et al. Open fluoxetine treatment of mixed anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. J. Child Adolesc. Psychopharmacol. 1997;7:17–29
  7. Flannigan G, Dodman NH. Risk factors and behaviors associated with separation anxiety in dogs. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2001;219:460–466
  8. Hewson CJ, Luescher UA, Ball RO. Measuring change in the behavioural severity of canine compulsive disorder: The construct validity of categories of change derived from two rating scales. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1998;60:55–68
  9. Horwitz D. Diagnosis and treatment of canine separation anxiety and the use of clomipramine hydrochloride. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 2000;36:107–109
  10. Houpt KA, Honig SU, Reisner IR. Breaking the human-companion animal bond. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1996;208:1653–1659
  11. King JN, Overall KL, Appleby D, Simpson BS, Beata C, Chaurand JP, et al. Results of a follow-up investigation to a clinical trial testing the efficacy of clomipramine in the treatment of separation anxiety. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2004;89:233–242
  12. King JN, Simpson BS, Overall KL, Appleby D, Pageat P, Ross C, et al. Treatment of separation anxiety in dogs with clomipramine: results from a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter clinical trial. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2000;67:255–275
  13. Landsberg G, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L. In: Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat. 2nd ed.. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2003;p. 258–267
  14. Lem M. Behavior modification and pharmacotherapy for separation anxiety in a 2-year old pointer cross. Can. Vet. J. 2002;43:220–222
  15. Luescher A. Behavioral disorders. In:  Ettinger SJ,  Feldman EC editor. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2005;p. 183–189
  16. Miller DD, Staats SR, Partio C, Rada K. Factors associated with the decision to surrender a pet to an animal shelter. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 1996;209:738–742
  17. Murphy TK, Bengtson MA, Tan JY, Carbonell E, Levin GM. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders: a review. Int. Clin. Psychopharmacol. 2000;152:S47–S63
  18. Overall KL. Pharmacological treatment in behavioral medicine: the importance of neurochemistry, molecular biology and mechanistic hypotheses. Vet. J. 2001;162:9–23
  19. Petit S, Pageat P, Chaurand JP, Heude B, Beata C. Efficacy of clomipramine in the treatment of separation anxiety in dogs: clinical trial. Rev. Med. Vet. 1999;2:133–140
  20. Podberscek AL, Hsu Y, Serpell JA. Evaluation of clomipramine as an adjunct to behavioral therapy in the treatment of separation-related problems in dogs. Vet. Rec. 1999;145:365–369
  21. Salman MD, Hutchison J, Ruch-Gallie R. Behavioral reasons for relinquishment of dogs and cats to 12 shelters. J. App. Anim. Welfare Sci. 2000;3:93–106
  22. Segurson SA, Serpell JA, Hart BL. Evaluation of a behavioral assessment questionnaire for use in the characterization of behavioral problems of dogs relinquished to animal shelters. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2005;227:1755–1761
  23. Schwartz S. Separation anxiety syndrome in dogs and cats. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2003;222:1526–1532
  24. Seksel K, Lindeman MJ. Use of clomipramine in treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety and noise phobia in dogs: a preliminary, clinical study. Aust. Vet. J. 2001;79:252–256
  25. Simpson BS, Papich MG. Pharmacologic management in veterinary behavioral medicine. Vet. Clin. North Am.: Small Anim. Pract. 2003;33:365–404
  26. Simpson BS, Landsberg GM, Reisner IR, Ciribassi JJ, Horwitz D, Houpt KA, et al. Effects of Reconcile (fluoxetine) chewable tablets plus behavior management for canine separation anxiety. Vet. Ther. 2007;8:18–31
  27. Sonawalla SB, Farabaugh A, Johnson MW, Morray M, Delgado ML, Pingol MG, et al. Fluoxetine treatment of depressed patients with comorbid anxiety disorders. J. Psychopharmacol. 2002;16:215–219
  28. Takeuchi Y, Houpt KA, Scarlett JN. Evaluation of treatments for separation anxiety in dogs. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2000;217:342–345
  29. Topal J, Miklosi A, Csanyi V, Doka A. Attachment behavior in dogs (Canis familiaris): a new application of Ainsworth's (1060) Strange Situation Test. J. Comp. Psychol. 1998;112:219–229

 This study was funded by Lilly Animal Health, Greenfield, Indiana.

PII: S1558-7878(07)00225-0

doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2007.09.001

Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research
Volume 3, Issue 1 , Pages 12-19 , January 2008

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution