Drug Selection for Enhancement of Behaviour Modification

The selection of adjunctive medication for the management of behaviour problems can be a challenge, and before reaching for the “behaviour modifying drugs” it is essential that the patient has been properly medically assessed. This is not just to make sure that the animal is fit to receive medication, but also to ensure that it is not in pain. In our own caseload we are recognising an increasing number of behaviour cases with chronic pain problems, which can make a variable amount of improvement with analgesia before behaviour modification strategies are implemented. Approximately twenty five years ago, when working largely in general practice, I reported that 13% of cases presented as a behaviour problem without a suspicion of medical cause by the owner, had a significant ongoing medical issue. The latest figure from our referral only clinic is around 70%. The reason for the rise is unclear, but it may reflect a combination of being a specialist clinic that often sees cases that have failed to respond to conventional treatment, better awareness and detection of pain related problems as well as a growing prevalence of certain problems like hip dysplasia and patella subluxations from inbreeding. Only be treating pain effectively can behaviour modification expect to reach its potential and the welfare of subjects safeguarded. [...]