Can Xanax for Animals?
Xanax for Animals: Pros and Cons
Anxiety in dogs and cats is widespread; thunderstorms or your absence can trigger it. If your dog is anxious, you should do everything possible to make them feel better. Prescription medications that help treat the same problems in humans are frequently used. Buy Xanax online to treat anxiety in animals. Using Xanax for animals can be beneficial, but it also has risks.
Xanax for dogs and cats is frequently used as a last alternative by pet parents seeking to help their pets relax or deal with behavioral issues. Hundreds of dollars spent on positive reinforcement training, pet relaxation music, or even a Thundershirt do not guarantee results.
Before you buy Xanax online for your dog or cat, be aware that there may be severe consequences. This blog discusses Xanax for dogs and cats, such as how it works, dosages, side effects, drug interactions, and natural alternatives.
Can Dogs and Cats Take Xanax?
Xanax is a brand name for a medicine that belongs to the benzodiazepine (tranquilizer/sedative) class of medications. This widely used medicine treats anxiety and panic disorders in humans. However, it can also treat moderate to severe situational anxiety in dogs and cats.
Veterinary professionals may occasionally recommend you to buy Xanax online for animals, particularly those suffering from anxiety or as an anticonvulsant. Seizures, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and loss of appetite are other reasons a veterinarian may prescribe Xanax to an animal.
Animal anxiety medicines such as Xanax, like those used in humans, must be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian. Continue reading to learn more about Xanax for animals, including prescriptions for dogs and cats, potential side effects, and other treatment options.
How to Use This Medicine Safely?
Because Xanax is a prescription medication, you must always obtain a prescription from your veterinarian when you buy Xanax online. During the consultation, your veterinarian will most likely ask questions to determine whether or not your dog is a candidate for treatment. Make a point of discussing:
- Other medications that your pet is taking (many drugs interact with benzodiazepines)
- Your pet has had adverse reactions to benzodiazepines in the past.
- Existing medical conditions that your pet has
When you want to discontinue treatment with the drug after a long period of use, you must gradually reduce the dosage daily before stopping completely.
Dosage of Xanax for Dogs and Cats
Your veterinarian will determine the appropriate Xanax dosage for your pet based on their anxiety issues. Xanax is available in tablet form and can be taken with or without food.
- The typical Xanax dose for dogs is 0.01 – 0.05 mg per pound, given every 6 to 12 hours as needed.
- The typical dose for cats is 0.125-0.25 mg every 8 to 24 hours.
If your dog or cat is small, your veterinarian may prescribe a liquid Xanax preparation to make dosing easier. If you decide to give your dog Xanax, your veterinarian will begin with a low dose to determine how much medication is needed for effective treatment. The goal is to avoid giving your dog more medication than is necessary. It is best to take medicine one hour before a stressful event.
Buy Xanax online, as it can effectively treat severe anxiety, but there are some safety concerns. Continue reading to learn more about the Xanax side effects in dogs and cats.
Side effects of Xanax in Cats and Dogs
The most common side effects of Xanax are:
- Sedation Clumsy, chaotic walking
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Some pets may be allergic to Xanax. It is essential to monitor your pet carefully and contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of the following side effects: Dyspnea, Swelling of the face, Hives, Seizures, and Sudden diarrhea.
After taking Xanax, your pet can become aggressive or overactive instead of calming down. Your pet reacts paradoxically through body language and behavior. Pets may also experience withdrawal symptoms when weaning from this drug after long-term use.
However, these symptoms are less common in animals taking Xanax than in humans. Xanax can make dogs and cats sick or deadly at high enough doses. These effects are rare at regular doses, but it’s a good idea to be aware of them in case your pet gets put in the medicine rack.
A milder treatment option than Xanax for animals
There are many other ways to relieve animals’ anxiety without resorting to prescription drugs like Xanax. You can try other dog anxiolytics like clomipramine to relieve the symptoms of dogs that are intolerant to Xanax. Massage is another treatment that helps relieve anxiety in animals. Massaging your pet’s muscles can help calm, relieve tension and improve the pet’s mood. You can massage your pet on your own or go to a pet massage specialist.
Keep moving and stimulating the animal to reduce boredom and keep the animal from getting too crazy. This behavioral change can also significantly affect animals suffering from separation anxiety. Distracting with toys and activities reduces the amount of time your pet feels anxious and mischievous. You can also play distractions such as fetches when there is a thunderstorm or loud noise outside.
Focusing your pet on something else can help prevent you from getting angry in tense situations. The calming animal chews, which contain soothing ingredients such as CBD oil, valerian root, and chamomile, are also a great way to relieve stress. These ingredients can provide a similar sedative effect without the adverse effects of prescription drugs.
How does Xanax interact with other medicines?
Keep a list of all your pet’s medications and discuss them with your veterinarian to avoid potential drug interactions.
- Combining Xanax with barbituric acid-based seizure inhibitors such as phenobarbital may increase the risk of dangerous complications. If your pet needs both medications, your vet will help you monitor them carefully and adjust the dose as needed.
- Do not combine Xanax with certain antifungal drugs, such as ketoconazole. With this combination, Xanax’s sedative effect may be too strong. When combined with antacids, Xanax may slow down absorption. There should be a gap of at least 2 hours between taking these two medications.
- Pets with kidney disease, liver damage, glaucoma, or elderly or pregnant animals should take special precautions when taking Xanax. You should thoroughly discuss your pet’s medication with your veterinarian to avoid possible drug interactions.
Conclusion
Animals, like humans, can suffer from mental health issues like anxiety. If you have a nervous puppy, using natural alternatives, exercising them, and providing distractions may be better than giving your pet Xanax. If you buy Xanax online for animals, consult a veterinarian to determine the appropriate dosage and how to monitor your pet for side effects.