Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clomipramine reduces anxiety in beagles during ground transport
By Frank, Diane et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2006·Université·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Placebo-controlled double-blind clomipramine trial for the treatment of anxiety or fear in beagles during ground transport.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Twenty-four beagles were studied to see if clomipramine, a medication often used for anxiety, could help reduce fear and stress during transport. The dogs were given either clomipramine or a placebo before being transported in a truck for an hour. The results showed that clomipramine lowered stress hormone levels and seemed to reduce some anxious behaviors like moving, panting, and drooling. While it appears that clomipramine can help with anxiety during transport, more research is needed to confirm the best dosage and effectiveness.
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Abstract
The purpose of this explorative study was, first, to document changes in physiological parameters and behavior observed in dogs following ground transport and, second, to measure the effects on the above variables of a short-term administration of clomipramine, anecdotally already prescribed in private veterinary practice to reduce fear, anxiety, or both. Twenty-four beagles were randomly allocated to either clomipramine (2 mg/kg, q12h for 7 d) or placebo treatment, and then transported 3 times in a truck for 1 hour. Physiological parameters (cortisol, neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L) ratio, heart rate) and behavior were recorded and analyzed. Clomipramine significantly reduced plasma cortisol (P < 0.05) following transport and tended (P = 0.07) to reduce N:L ratio. Clomipramine tended to only reduce "moving and panting" and drooling. Short-term administration of clomipramine appears to slightly reduce fear, anxiety, or both during transport. More research is needed to confirm the efficacy of this treatment and the appropriate dosage.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17147141/