FDA approves drug for dogs scared by noise

[MicaelS]

For all who have furbabies who get scared by loud noises.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an anti-epileptic drug, Pexion, to treat dogs freaked out by noises.

The drug is already approved for use in treating epilepsy. Known generically as imepitoin, the drug is similar to Valium and other benzodiazepines but works in a different way to treat noise aversion. Other seizure drugs, such as gabapentin, can also treat some types of anxiety.

The drug must be used cautiously. “The owners of three of the 90 dogs that received Pexion in the effectiveness trial also reported that their dogs became aggressive, including growling towards a young child and lack of restraint or self-control towards other dogs,” the FDA said.

The drug was originally developed to treat epilepsy in people but it had some troubling effects on metabolism so was never brought to market for use in humans.

[Gothmog]

1. I could have use this drug for my beardie

Herding dogs in general and bearded collies in particular hate thunder

[Bayard]

2. Sounds like experimentation on dogs to me

I have one of the Great Pyr's, and the mini-dachshund, who are deathly afraid of thunder and the crazy neighbor's occasional gun blasting, but I'm not about to give them this drug.

As long as they can velcro themselves to me, they're fine.