Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with tail-chasing itched badly after naltrexone treatment
By Schwartz, S·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1993·Department of Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Naltrexone-induced pruritus in a dog with tail-chasing behavior.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with tail-chasing behavior developed severe itching after being given naltrexone, a medication sometimes used to help control repetitive behaviors. While the treatment slightly reduced the dog's tail-chasing, it did not eliminate the behavior and caused uncomfortable side effects like intense itching. Due to these issues, naltrexone may not be the best option for treating obsessive-compulsive behaviors in dogs. Pet owners should discuss alternative treatments with their veterinarian if they notice similar symptoms in their pets.
People also search for: dog itching after medication · tail chasing behavior in dogs · naltrexone side effects in dogs
Abstract
Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist recently advocated for the control of stereotypic behavioral patterns in horses and dogs, induced an intense dose-related pruritic reaction in a dog with tail-chasing and self-mutilating behavior. Used in human beings primarily as an adjunct in the treatment of opioid abusers, naltrexone's adverse effects include dermatologic signs, such as alopecia and pruritus, observed in < 1% of human patients. In contrast to previously reported findings, naltrexone treatment was of limited benefit to the dog of this report. During administration of the drug, stereotypic patterns were reduced but did not disappear. Although naltrexone may be effective in controlling certain obsessive-compulsive disorders, its inconsistent therapeutic value, prohibitive cost to pet owners, and side effects such as the pruritus observed in the dog of this report may restrict use of this drug.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8428834/