Keynote Presentation: Use of Psychopharmacology to Reduce Anxiety and Fear in Dogs and Cats: A Practical Approach

Anxiety and fear responses indicate impaired welfare in dogs and cats and often lead to erosion of the human-animal bond. In combination with simple behaviour modification regimes, psychopharmacologic agents may be given strategically to attenuate anxiety and fear responses (Hart and Cooper, 1996). The purpose of this review is to elucidate pharmacologic regimes that may be used strategically to manage such negative emotional states in dogs and cats, particularly in specific situations, such as travel, confinement and veterinary visits (Gruen et al., in press; Mills and Simpson, 2002). The goal is for dogs and cats to be less anxious, less fearful, to have the capacity to learn new behavioural responses and to improve welfare. The application of specific drugs in a number of categories, including benzodiazepines, serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors, and alpha 2 agonists, will be described, the literature briefly summarised, and case examples provided.