Anxiety in Dogs: Dexmedetomidine Treatment Reduces Sensitivity to Noise

Many dogs suffer from acute anxiety and stress associated with sudden loud noises, such as explosions, gunshots, thunder, and firecrackers. A new double-blind clinical study shows how a dexmedetomidine gel treatment, administered orally, can help alleviate fear-related behaviors in dogs, such as trembling and vocalization. This relief also benefits dog owners.   Noise sensitivity is one of the most common behavioral disorders in dogs, but it is often difficult to treat. A research team led by Dr. Mira Korpivaara of Orion Pharma has developed a dexmedetomidine-based treatment in the form of an oral gel that can be administered at home by the owners themselves. In the study, 182 dogs with a history of acute anxiety and fear associated with noise (firecrackers, fireworks) received either dexmedetomidine gel (89 dogs) or a placebo (93 dogs), up to five doses as appropriate, as part of a randomized, double-blind trial. On New Year’s Eve, the dogs’ owners assessed the overall effect of the treatment on their pets, as well as signs of anxiety and stress observed in response to fireworks. The overall effect of the treatment was statistically significant. A good or excellent therapeutic effect was observed in a higher proportion of dogs in the dexmedetomidine group (64 out of 89, or 72%) compared to the placebo group (34 out of 93, or 37%). In addition, dogs treated with dexmedetomidine gel exhibited significantly fewer signs of fear and anxiety (trembling, vocalizations, urinary incontinence, etc.) than those in the control group, despite exposure to the noise of fireworks. The authors conclude that dexmedetomidine significantly reduced fear- and anxiety-related behaviors over time, and that the overall effect and treatment success were deemed superior to the placebo effect. Furthermore, at the dose used, no intolerance or side effects occurred during the study. Finally, the new formulation and route of administration were found to be easy to use by the animal owners. However, it will be up to veterinarians to thoroughly educate their clients on the proper use of this new medication and to establish a treatment plan tailored to each animal, covering all therapeutic options. The study won the 2017 Veterinary Record Impact Award, which recognizes research likely to have the most significant practical impact in veterinary medicine. It was selected from among some 150 articles published by the journal last year because its findings are relevant to addressing a problem frequently encountered by veterinarians in canine practice. The study was recognized for making a significant contribution to improving animal welfare and the well-being of pets and their owners. The innovative gel, developed by Zoetis, is already available by veterinary prescription in the United Kingdom.