Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clomipramine helped stop ritualistic circling and snapping in three
By Overall, K L·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1994·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Use of clomipramine to treat ritualistic stereotypic motor behavior in three dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs were showing strange behaviors like circling, vocalizing, and snapping, which made it hard for them to interact normally with their owners. These behaviors are often linked to obsessive-compulsive disorders. The dogs were treated with clomipramine, a medication that helped reduce these behaviors, along with other medications and behavioral training. However, in two of the dogs, the symptoms got worse when the clomipramine was stopped. This suggests that while clomipramine can be effective, it’s important to monitor for any potential side effects or worsening of the condition.
People also search for: dog circling behavior treatment · clomipramine for dogs · obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs
Abstract
Atypical, stereotypic motor and locomotor behavior was observed in 3 dogs. In 1 dog, the behavior included circling, vocalization, and snapping; in another, circling associated with pica and aerophagia; and in a third, gradually intensifying locomotor behavior stimulated by bright light. This behavior interfered with normal interaction between their owners and the dogs, and has been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorders. Treatment with clomipramine, along with other psychotropic medications and behavioral modification, suppressed the inappropriate behavior in all dogs; in 2 of the 3 dogs, the condition worsened when clomipramine treatment was withdrawn. Clomipramine may be helpful in treatment of such behavioral disorders, but one should consider the ability of such drugs to mask or worsen metabolic or neurologic problems, to induce toxicoses when used at inappropriate dosages, and to be abused by human beings.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7744646/