Overcoming The Stigma Of Behavior Medication

It’s 2022 and while the stigma associated with mental illness in humans has - thankfully - dissipated over the last decade or so there is still a stigma associated with the use of psychiatric medications that are widely available to help those in need with mental illnesses. 

With social media influencers and celebrities screaming to the general public that all we need is - the right diet, selling us exercise routines to cure depression and insisting that we just need discipline or to work harder to overcome our mental illness. It’s no wonder so many of people are still suffering from a lack of understanding or empathy for those who are most in need. These attitudes that somehow we can will away mental illness are dangerous and affect the most vulnerable. 

So what about our dogs? Can they benefit from the same types of medications that help humans with medical conditions like anxiety, PTSD, phobias, depression and more? Absolutely they can. The main difference is dogs cannot advocate for their care and talk to us to tell us when they are suffering emotionally and need help. They use behavior to express their needs and count on us to recognize the signs of suffering and seek further interventions of care. So, just like we would never deny a diabetic their insulin, why do we insist on denying our pets the behavior medications that could help ease suffering? 

Years and years of research and experience have proven that the best outcomes for those suffering from severe behavior challenges result from a comprehensive approach that combines behavior modification based in positive reinforcement training combined with (the right) behavior medications. 

When dogs are struggling with behavior challenges such as extreme fear (of people, dogs, environments), anxiety, aggression, phobias and more this is often linked to everything from genetics and epigenetic’s to early socialization and experiences, trauma, health, pain, environment and more.  This is more than just behavior. Psychotropic medications help to relieve extreme symptoms, balance brain chemistry and help our dogs become more able to process information, cope with stress and increase a dogs ability to learn and modify behavior.  

Yet, we often hear the same things in dog circles - everyone from average dog owners, to TV “Trainers” to those “professionals” that lack the proper education or credentials to be speaking on the subject - telling friends and clients that dogs don’t need medication they just need discipline. That it’s the owners fault and they need to be the alpha. Change the dogs diet, more exercise, and the worst - the dog needs to be “corrected” for their (anxiety, fear, phobia) behavior and this often means harsh, painful, scary punishment is administered in an attempt to suppress the behavior. Can you imagine telling a human they need to be punished for feeling anxious? We stopped doing that a long time ago when we realized it was unethical, ineffective and cruel.

Hint - Punishment often makes the underlying emotions much worse and more difficult to modify later. These suggestions are about as helpful as a sharp stick in the eye. 

I am not a vet nor a vet behaviorist. I cannot prescribe medications. I am a dog trainer & behavior consultant  working with dogs who suffer from separation anxiety,  which is an extreme fear or phobia to being alone. If you have questions about specific medications or if your dog should consider medications please contact your vet or a board certified vet behaviorist. 

Some common misconceptions that continue stigmatize behavior medication:

Medication is a crutch: 

A psychotropic medication helps to relieve symptoms of a medical disorder. It is no more an indication of weakness than taking medication for high blood pressure. Stigmatizing the taking of medication as a weakness implies that if the dog/owner would just try harder medication wouldn’t be necessary. This is akin to advising someone with high blood pressure to just relax. 

Having a dog who needs behavior medication doesn’t make you a failure of a dog guardian. I hear this so often and it breaks my heart and often delays dogs from getting the help they need. If your dog had a heart condition you wouldn’t delay their treatment to see if you could try harder to make their heart better, right? 

Your vet can help you understand why your dog may benefit from medications and for how long. 

“Behavior medication will change my dogs personality and turn them into a zombie”

Simply - No, not the right medication. Some medications will have side effects, and the same drug can affect and be tolerated by dogs differently. That’s why sometimes dogs need to try several medications until we find the one that works. The same goes for humans! Just as with human medications, if a vet recommends a drug they believe that the potential risks are lower than the benefits. 

Additionally, dogs struggling with behavior challenges that affect daily life are at an extreme welfare risk, and are often not showing their true personality. It is clouded with fear, irritation, exhaustion, aggression and more. When we find the right combinations of training and medication to start to change behavior, we can see their true selves come out! 

Isn’t medication just going to mask the problem? 

Medication is not a quick fix. often times, depending on the type of medication your dog is prescribed, it takes weeks for the drug to build up into the system and along with a good behavior modification protocol results in gradual changes to mood and behavior that will lead to lasting changes over time. Extreme and fast changes in mood are not the desired outcome.

Some medications are intended to relieve severe symptoms quickly and reduce stress in extreme situations. If your dog is so worried about thunderstorms or the vet that they cannot function, it may be in their best interest to have a medication on board to just get them through the moment rather than making it a training situation. 

Only your Veterinarian or Vet Behaviorist can help you decide what is right, but I hope to continue to help dog guardians overcome the stigma of medications that are preventing so many from getting the help they deserve. 

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