Buspirone for dogs

In this article:

• What is buspirone used for in dogs?
• Safety
• Dosage
• Alternatives
• Summary

In this article

• What is buspirone used for in dogs?
• Safety
• Dosage
• Alternatives
• Summary

Veterinarians use buspirone to help dogs with mild anxieties or behavior problems. Buspirone can’t fix fears and anxieties when the dog is in the middle of an experience; instead, it is a maintenance treatment for behavior modification therapy. Unlike other anxiety medications, buspirone doesn’t have marked sedative or muscle-relaxing properties, so veterinarians consider it a safe drug with minimal side effects.

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What is buspirone used for in dogs?

Buspirone is an anti-anxiety medication. Veterinarians use it in dogs with low-grade anxieties or as a maintenance treatment in dogs with mild situational anxiety such as separation anxiety. 

Anxiety

Like people, dogs suffer from worry, anxiety, and fear. This is normal. Fear, worry, and anxiety help humans and dogs stay alive in threatening or dangerous situations. Worries and anxieties are problematic when they are out of proportion to reality and affect quality of life. 

Unfortunately, dogs can’t tell us when they’re worried or anxious. The dog can only show anxiety or panic through behaviors, so treating dog anxiety involves some level of identifying and modifying behaviors. Typical dog anxiety behaviors include:

• Trembling, panting, and hiding
• Laid-back ears, low tail, and widened eyes
• Irritability
• Excessive neediness 
• Yawning, stretching, or submission
• Urinating or pooping in the house
• Snarling, barking, and biting

These can all be signs of other problems. The only way to tell is to talk to a veterinarian and rule out other medical concerns.

Both people and dogs prefer nonmedical treatment. Humans can go to a therapist and learn skills to manage worries and fears, while dogs prefer behavioral and environmental treatment. 

Veterinarians use medications either to help with behavioral therapy or in cases of extreme situational stress or panic.

This is where buspirone comes in. It’s a unique anti-anxiety drug in that it doesn’t cause sedation or muscle relaxation. However, it isn’t very powerful, so it’s not effective against more serious anxiety or extreme phobias like thunderstorm phobias. Unlike fast-acting sedatives, buspirone takes many days of dosing before it starts working. It also can’t be used as needed to calm a dog during stressful situations like thunderstorms, fireworks, loud noises, or vet visits. 

For this reason, veterinarians use buspirone as a long-term maintenance treatment for mild anxieties, generalized anxiety, and behavior problems like separation anxiety. As a maintenance drug, it has some effect on phobias or panic, but those situations still need more powerful drugs.

Although buspirone is typically given to a dog for weeks or months, it’s not intended to be used for years. The goal is to use drugs like buspirone to aid behavior modification therapies, which should only take a few months. After that, the dog can be put on lower doses and eventually weaned from prescription medication.

Is buspirone safe for dogs?

In general, buspirone is a safe drug for dogs. It causes minimal or no sedation and few, if any, minor side effects. However, because it can be mildly sedating, veterinarians are cautious about using it in working dogs.

Not all drugs are 100% safe. Buspirone is not safe for dogs that are allergic to the drug. Veterinarians use it cautiously in dogs that have kidney disease or liver impairment.

Veterinarians may use it cautiously in pregnant dogs and avoid using it in nursing puppies.

One of the possible side effects of buspirone is disinhibition, so veterinarians use buspirone cautiously in dogs that have a history of aggression. 

Side effects of buspirone in dogs

The most common side effects of buspirone in dogs are:

• Disinhibition (usually aggression)
• Drowsiness
• Slowed heart rate
• Nausea
• Decreased appetite
• Repetitive behaviors like pacing or compulsive grooming

If these side effects get worse or cause concern, contact the veterinarian.

Serious side effects are rare. Contact a veterinarian if you notice serious side effects such as:

• Fast heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Loss of coordination

Interactions of buspirone with other pet meds

Buspirone has many drug interactions that can cause mild to serious problems in dogs. Make sure to tell the veterinarian about all the drugs, herbal remedies, and supplements you’re giving your dog.

Buspirone cannot be safely given with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like Deprenyl (selegiline) or amitraz, a common ingredient in flea or tick collars. 

Make sure the veterinarian knows about any drugs you’re giving the dog that make the dog sleepy, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, or opioid pain relievers. 

Other drugs that may cause problems include:

• The antibiotics erythromycin or clarithromycin
• The antifungal drugs ketoconazole or itraconazole
• Blood pressure drugs, particularly diltiazem
• The stomach acid reducer cimetidine
• Metoclopramide

Buspirone dosage for dogs

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the standard buspirone dosage for dogs is 0.5–2 mg/kg given one to three times daily. Other published dosages include:

• For mild anxiety: 2.5–10 mg given one to three times a day
• For low-grade anxieties or fears: 5–15 mg given one to three times a day

Buspirone tablets made for humans come in dosage strengths of 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg. Tablets are scored to allow them to be divided into two doses, so the smallest dosage strength available is 2.5 mg if a 5 mg tablet is divided. Human buspirone tablets should be compatible with most dog prescriptions. 

Pet owners can use veterinary buspirone tablets, which have the same dosage strengths as human versions. For easier dosing, the veterinarian could supply a liquid version of buspirone prepared by a compounding pharmacy. 

Can dogs overdose on buspirone?

Dogs can overdose on buspirone. If a dog has been given too much buspirone or shows signs of an overdose, immediately call an ASPCA poison control helpline or take the dog to a veterinarian. Symptoms of a buspirone overdose include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sleepiness, and a distended stomach.

Can I give my dog buspirone every day?

In veterinary medicine, buspirone is intended for long-term use. To work, buspirone must be given to a dog one to three times daily over several weeks or months. There are no known side effects or complications in dogs due to long-term use of buspirone.

How to give your dog buspirone

For it to work, give your dog buspirone every day. Most pet owners will administer tablets, but they may need to provide doses up to three times a day: 

• Follow the veterinarian’s instructions when giving your dog buspirone doses.
• Do not change the dose. If there are problems with side effects or effectiveness, talk to the veterinarian.
• If a dose is missed or forgotten, give it to the dog when remembered. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and give the next dose on time.
• Buspirone can be given with or without food.
• If the dog vomits up the tablet, try giving later doses with a treat.
• How to give a dog buspirone tablets:
  • If you are unsure how to administer tablets to a dog, have a veterinary professional show you the proper procedure. If you know how to use a pill plunger, it is also an option.
  • Buspirone tablets should be stored at room temperature in the original light-resistant container, not exceeding 86˚F.
• How to give a dog buspirone oral suspension:
  • Shake the bottle well before measuring a dose to mix the medicine with the liquid.
  • Measure the dose using the oral syringe provided with the medicine. If it’s missing, the veterinarian or a pharmacy can supply one.
  • If you don’t know how to give a dog a liquid medicine, ask a veterinary professional to show you the proper procedure.
  • Store buspirone oral suspension in the refrigerator in its original light-resistant bottle. 
  • Unless the veterinarian says otherwise, the medicine is only good for 14 days. The expiration date should be written on the bottle. Throw it out when it is past its expiration date.

Buspirone alternatives for dogs

The primary treatment for anxiety in dogs is behavioral training to help dogs “relearn” behavioral responses to stress-inducing situations.

The most effective ways to deal with low-grade anxieties and behavioral problems in dogs are behavior modification therapies, including:

• Avoidance

Pet parents can change the environment to decrease the dog’s exposure to stress-inducing triggers like loud noises. 

• Desensitization

Desensitization is a gradual process of exposing the dog to stress-inducing triggers that start very small and gradually rise to a normal level.

• Counterconditioning

Counterconditioning involves giving a dog nice or rewarding things in a stressful situation. The dog starts associating the situation with positive experiences and changes its behavior to be directed towards those positive experiences.

Buspirone is intended to help these therapies succeed. However, it’s not a powerful anti-anxiety drug. If it doesn’t work, veterinarians can turn to other maintenance anxiolytics such as:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine
• Tricyclic antidepressants like clomipramine

Situational anxiety or panic disorders are typically treated with sedatives. These include trazodone, clonidine, or benzodiazepines such as diazepam.

Alternative or complementary therapies for dog anxiety include:

• Pheromone therapy, such as pheromone-releasing collars
• Prescription diets such as Veterinary Diet Calm
• Supplements such as Purina Calming Care, l-theanine, or melatonin 
• Acupuncture if the dog can tolerate it

Summary

Veterinarians use buspirone off-label to treat mild anxieties or behavior disorders, but the drug isn’t strong enough to handle acute anxiety like thunderstorm phobias. Buspirone is safe for dogs with minimal side effects. For maximum effectiveness, daily maintenance doses of buspirone should be used along with behavioral interventions to help the dog learn different responses to stress.