Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cannabis and melatonin helped reduce compulsive behavior in a dog
By Sacchettino, Luigi et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2023·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Combining cannabis and melatonin treatment with a rehabilitation program improved symptoms in a dog with compulsive disorder: A case report.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mongrel dog with compulsive disorder was struggling with repetitive behaviors that affected his daily life. After not responding well to a common antidepressant, the dog was treated with a combination of cannabis and melatonin, along with a specialized behavioral program lasting five months. The owners noticed a significant decrease in the dog's compulsive episodes and found him easier to manage compared to when he was on the previous medication. After an additional four months of therapy, the dog's abnormal behaviors were reduced to a level that was acceptable for the family.
People also search for: dog compulsive disorder treatment · cannabis for dogs anxiety · melatonin for dogs behavior issues
Abstract
Compulsive disorder in dogs (CD) is characterized by constant and time-consuming repetition of behaviors, emancipated from the environment, that definitely compromise their everyday life activities. Here, we documented the efficacy of a novel approach to counteract the negative symptoms of CD in a 5-year-old mongrel dog, previously found to be resistant to the conventional antidepressant. The patient underwent an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, based on the cannabis and melatonin co-administration, together with a tailored 5-month-lasting behavioral program. Observational findings showed a lower rate of compulsive episodes and better management of the dog as well, when compared to the previous paroxetine treatment. We followed him for an additional four months of therapy, and the owners reported easier management of the dog, as reduction of abnormal behaviors to a level acceptable to the owners. Overall, our data so far collected in the CD dog may allow us to test more deeply the feasibility and safety of such an off-label approach, at both preclinical and clinical levels.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37245289/