title: Use of buspirone and enrichment to manage aberrant behavior in an American badger (Taxidea taxus).
abstract: A captive adult female American badger (Taxidea taxus) suffered periodic episodes of agitation and self-mutilation over the course of its lifetime. Initially environmental enrichment curtailed the aberrant behavior; however, intensifying clinical signs periodically required the use of diazepam for amelioration of the problem. When diazepam treatment failed to effectively manage a series of escalating behavioral problems, alternative therapy with buspirone, an azaperone anxiolytic, was initiated. The badger was treated with 10 mg buspirone p.o. b.i.d. for over 18 mo, during which time no undesirable behaviors or noticeable side effects were observed.
authors.affiliation: Coyote Point Museum, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, Califoria 94401, USA.
authors.forename: Laurie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gage
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002065:Buspirone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D045969:Mustelidae; D012652:Self Mutilation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002065:Buspirone