I would try more alone training then socialization skills first to build the confidence.

Yes, I have heard others say the xanax did not work for their pups, and have heard the same about prozac and trazodone. Somseems there is no one medication fits all fits.

I use all,of,those drugs in my practice but rarely use xanax due to its abuse potential, but when Cali was suffering my vet really hit the nail on the head with it. But I probably would have tried anything she recommended because the situation was so sad and bad.

A lot of vets use acepromazine but I don’t know much about it.

Lovetodream has a great point about activity. It was during this time for Cali that we started agility and I think it helped her a lot along with the medication, and probably was a great help with titrating the dose down over time!
It gave herdistraction and confidence!

Phil, I am not seeing anything that suggests this difference ...

https://www.vetinfo.com/side-effects...-for-dogs.html

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Rx_Inf...alprazolam.pdf

P
 

Of course, I am not a vet, but I prescribe Xanax to humans and have never had anyone get addicted. Although I have had patients come to me with the addiction and it is rough to get off of the drug. Cal took the same xanax human take, except it was the liquid so I could control the dose better. She is only 3.8 pounds.

Cali took the Xanax for about a year and a half with no addiction or major side effects. I did end up giving her a little less tha was originally prescribed because it made her more sleepy than I liked, but I have to adjust doses all the time with humans as well. We all metabolize differently, but I could not speak to Canine cs human metabolism. But calimwas definitely never addicted and dhsntook itmlonger than usual.

The key to dosing xanax (and mzostmdrugs formthat matter);is primarily having a provider who knows what they are doing. Cali was never staggering or too sleepy to function, but the edge was off and she could manage daily life with it. Most addiction issues with Xanax as related to human patients are folks not taking it as prescribed and doctors not paying attention.

I was never approved for long term use by the FDA. I did start agility to give her some exercise and keep her mind and body busy. I think that was very beneficial. As the time went by i was gradually able to decrease the dose down to none in the end. It was a patient, long process, but with a good result.

I am referring to the physical addiction (dependence) which has nothing whatsoever to do with people abusing a drug. The facts are there....if taken as prescribed over a period of time, benzos are addictive. I agree that many abuse....but it isn't always the case.

One not need to be staggering around to be addicted.

I personally don't see a valid need for them in most cases. Often there are other meds that are more effective ... OR other methods of treatment.

If it were not addictive, then why was there a need to taper dosing? I am not questioning you....just saying that I am not talking about the mental addiction/abuse of this drug. A dog certainly could not abuse a drug....yet is says in those two links I posted that addiction is a problem in dogs. That is because of the physical dependence issues.

Oh, and YES, it should only be used for short term...not long term. I am always sad when I see people on it for lengthy periods of time. They get trapped in that belief that their anxiety is worse, when in fact, their body has become dependent on this drug and their symptoms are worse due to the withdrawal. Stopping the drug can be downright dangerous....I think it is probably the worst benzo ever made and wish it were outlawed.
I believe it is in Great Britain. As a nurse, I saw some really bad cases of Xanax dependence....also saw it in a co worker as I had mentioned in another post.

I tapered it as I was seeing her ability to cope improving.
I choose to not argue about this, only to say your perception is not totally accurate.

I won't argue either. It is not my "perception". The facts are there.

I will just leave this here, but there is SO much evidence based studies on benzos......

https://americanaddictioncenters.org...how-addictive/

I have been practicing for 30 years and have many patients who have taken xanax and never became addicted. I have also had many patients who came to me addicted and could not get off of them. Just because some one takes a drug that has adggdictions potential does not mean everyone who takes it becomes addicted. That is not opinion, that is clinical fact.

I tapered Cali’s xanax because she was getting better and it is ridiculous and poor practice to give a mediciantion that is not longer needed. She was never addicted.

The answer to why Xanax is a problem is in it's half life. It is much shorter than all of the other benzos ....

I am wondering if dogs were used in the studies for approval of Xanax .. I guess I need to look at the clinical trials. When I have time...LOL .. chasing dogs is my full time job these days.

I did find this link and find this one sentence to be interesting ... it makes me think that the thought that they metabolize these meds differently is erroneous. Phil, you are the mad ( not mad as in crazy) researcher...help! LOL

" Few veterinary clinical studies have been reported, and guidelines for veterinary use are grounded on therapeutic applications in human medicine."

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/pharm...otropic-agents

I am not questioning your credentials. You told me you are a MD..and also a NP and have your PHD. I didn't say any of your patients became addicted . The discussion is about using Xanax in dogs and as I stated above....I would never take it OR give it one of my dogs. I am not saying it is wrong for a person to use it...I am merely stating what I know about this medication. I always share what knowledge I have so people can make their own decisions for their pups.

I am merely responding to comments on this thread about a drug that is well known to have dependence issues.

Perhaps then, you can share the clinical trials that I don't have time to look for right now. I did NOT say ALL become addicted. I said it is a problematic benzo ... that it does have a very high potential for habituation.

Ativan has a longer half life but can be addictive as well. I prefer it over Xanax for humans but have no idea how it might work for dogs. I think Cali’s vet landed on Xanax because of her small size and we could get it in liquid. Also her vet had had a lot of experience with Xanax for extreme anxiety. She works with the military with extreme PTSD military dogs.

Yea I hear you Lady Jane. We did not try anything other than Xanax, probably because it was liquid, and also probably due to the extreme nature of her anxiety. When the pup can’t sleep or eat because they are always having to be ready to fight a hawk there is a major problem. So glad we are over all that!

Addiction is a major concern and national issue these days and I think we are all very concerned about it. I treat addiction and anxiety and they are both tough for folks to live with.