Effects of Gabapentin on the Treatment of Behavioral Disorders in Dogs: A Retrospective Evaluation.

Simple Summary: Gabapentin is a medication often prescribed to dogs for some types of pain and/or behavioral disorders. This study surveyed dog owners regarding the effectiveness and side effects of gabapentin when it was prescribed for their dogs with problem behaviors. According to the owners in this study, gabapentin was well-tolerated with minimal side effects in most dogs. Few reported side effects were considered bothersome, and none were a cause for discontinuation of the medication. The most common reason owners gave for discontinuation of gabapentin was perceived lack of effectiveness. Sedation was the most commonly reported side effect, mostly when given at high doses. Close to one-third of owners reported that their dogs displayed no unwanted side effects, even at the highest doses. Overall, gabapentin appears to be a safe and well-tolerated medication choice for dogs with behavior disorders. Specific dose ranges (milligram per kilogram of body weight) did not correlate with reports of side effects nor effectiveness, suggesting that some dogs may be more sensitive or resistant to adverse and/or therapeutic effects than others and multiple dosage trials may be needed before finding the best fit. The use of gabapentin in treating dogs with behavioral disorders is not well described. To characterize behavioral effects of gabapentin, this study surveyed 50 owners whose dogs were prescribed gabapentin at a veterinary behavior-focused practice over a five-year period. Most owners (72%) reported that gabapentin was moderately or very effective at improving their dog's behavior. The majority of owners reported at least one side effect (70%), with sedation being the most common. Sedation was more likely to be seen at doses higher than 30 mg/kg. Specific dose ranges (mg/kg) did not correlate with any other reports of side effects nor effectiveness. Dogs with a diagnosis of conflict-related aggression were more likely to have owners report that gabapentin was effective at improving behavior compared to dogs with other behavioral diagnoses (p = 0.04), while dogs diagnosed with aggression secondary to high arousal were less likely to have owners report that gabapentin was effective (p = 0.01). Overall, reports of effect varied widely and, with the exception of sedation, did not correlate with specific mg/kg dose ranges. Results suggest that some dogs may be more sensitive or resistant to adverse and/or therapeutic effects than others and multiple dosage trials may be needed before finding the best fit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]