Veterinary science has also borrowed from human psychiatry. Anxiolytics like trazodone and gabapentin are now routinely used as pre-visit pharmaceuticals to lower a pet's arousal threshold before a stressful event. For severe behavioral disorders—such as canine compulsive disorder (similar to OCD) or feline idiopathic aggression—psychotropic medications (fluoxetine, clomipramine) are prescribed alongside environmental modification. This pharmacological approach is grounded in neurobiology: altering serotonin or dopamine pathways can literally rewire maladaptive fear circuits.
The Intersection of Instinct and Medicine: Exploring Animal Behavior and Veterinary Science Veterinary science has also borrowed from human psychiatry