Use of fluoxetine to treat dominance aggression in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate fluoxetine for the treatment of owner-directed dominance aggression in dogs.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
9 dogs of various breeds, ages, and either sex determined to have owner-directed dominance aggression.


METHODS
Placebo and fluoxetine (1 mg/kg of body weight) were compared for the treatment of owner-directed dominance aggression in a single-blind crossover study. Owners were instructed to record aggressive and nonaggressive responses of their dogs daily on a canine-overt aggression chart for the 5-week duration of the study. Total aggression scores (linear and geometric) were calculated for each week of the study. The frequency of individual responses was also analyzed independently.


RESULTS
Fluoxetine resulted in a significant (P = 0.01) reduction in owner-directed dominance aggression after 3 weeks of treatment. No particular aggressive response accounted for the overall reduction in aggression.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluoxetine may be useful in the management of dominance aggression in dogs.
School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
N H
NH
Dodman
R
R
Donnelly
L
L
Shuster
P
P
Mertens
W
W
Rand
K
K
Miczek
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004285:Dogs / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012930:Social Dominance
D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors