Separation-related problems (SRP), such as barking, destruction, and inappropriate toileting when left alone, are among the most common behavioral issues reported by dog owners. While fluoxetine and training are well-established treatments, little was known about their impact on dogs’ underlying emotional state.
In this pilot study, Karagiannis, Burman, and Mills (2015) treated five dogs with fluoxetine chewable tablets (Reconcile™) and a structured behavior modification plan over two months. Dogs’ progress was tracked through owner questionnaires and a cognitive bias test, which measures optimism or pessimism in response to ambiguous cues. A group of seven dogs without SRP served as controls.
Before treatment, SRP dogs reacted more pessimistically, approaching ambiguous cues slowly compared to controls. By weeks 2 and 6, their responses shifted, becoming similar to those of control dogs—indicating a normalization of affect. The effect was most pronounced at week 6. Importantly, improvements in behavior reported by owners were correlated with these positive cognitive shifts.
The results show that treatment not only reduces outward problem behaviors but also improves welfare by lifting dogs’ mood. This study provides the first evidence in a non-human species that clinical treatment of negative affect can produce measurable changes in cognitive bias, highlighting the importance of addressing both behavior and emotional state in canine therapy.
Source: Karagiannis, C., Burman, O., & Mills, D. (2015). Dogs with separation-related problems show a “less pessimistic” cognitive bias during treatment with fluoxetine (Reconcile™) and a behaviour modification plan. BMC Veterinary Research, 11.
