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Gabapentin is a medication veterinarians may prescribe for a dog's anxiety. Do not give it without instructions for your dog. Gabapentin is commonly used off-label for short-term anxiety during thunderstorms, fireworks, travel, veterinary visits and other predictable stressors. It may also be added to a treatment plan for ongoing anxiety, usually alongside behavior modification.
If your dog may have swallowed xylitol, contact a veterinarian or emergency animal clinic immediately. In the United States, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center can be reached at 888-426-4435.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Your veterinarian prescribed gabapentin for your dog | Give only the prescribed dose and timing |
| You have leftover human gabapentin | Ask your veterinarian before giving it |
| You are considering a liquid product | Check the inactive ingredients first because some human liquids contain xylitol |
| Your dog received too much | Contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately |
| Your dog is extremely sleepy, uncoordinated, collapsed or having trouble breathing | Seek emergency veterinary care |
When Is Gabapentin Used for Dog Anxiety?
Gabapentin is often given before a known source of stress, such as a car trip, thunderstorm, fireworks display or veterinary visit. Veterinary behavior guidance lists it as a possible short-acting medication for fear and anxiety.
Gabapentin is not usually enough by itself for chronic separation anxiety or generalized anxiety. Ongoing anxiety may require a veterinary assessment, behavior modification and, when appropriate, a maintenance medication. Merck Veterinary Manual identifies fluoxetine and clomipramine as FDA-approved treatments for canine separation anxiety when they are used with behavior modification.
Why Should I Avoid Giving My Dog My Own Gabapentin?
You should not assume that a prescription for a person, another dog or a previous medical problem is suitable for your dog. Your veterinarian will consider:
- Body weight
- Age and general health
- Kidney function
- The type and severity of the anxiety
- Other medicines or supplements
- Whether the medication is for occasional or regular use
Gabapentin can cause sleepiness and loss of coordination. These effects may be stronger with higher doses, occasional use or other sedating medicines. Dogs with kidney disease may need extra caution because gabapentin can remain in the body longer.
Is Human Liquid Gabapentin Safe for Dogs?
A human liquid gabapentin product may be unsafe for dogs because some formulations contain xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs.
Xylitol can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar, weakness, staggering, collapse, seizures and potentially liver failure. Do not give the liquid if the label lists:
- Xylitol
- Birch sugar
- Wood sugar
- Birch bark extract
If your dog has already received a liquid product containing xylitol, do not wait for symptoms. Contact a veterinarian immediately and take the packaging with you.
What Side Effects Can Gabapentin Cause in Dogs?
Gabapentin can cause:
- Sleepiness or sedation
- Wobbliness
- Loss of coordination
Contact your veterinarian if the effects are severe, last longer than expected or your dog is difficult to rouse. An overdose or adverse reaction needs prompt veterinary advice.
Seek emergency care for collapse, seizures, severe weakness, abnormal breathing or an inability to stand.
What Should I Do If My Dog Already Took Gabapentin?
Call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic, and do not give another dose until you have spoken with them.
Before you call:
- Record the medication name, strength, amount given and time administered.
- Check whether it was a capsule, tablet or liquid.
- Check the label for xylitol.
- Keep the packaging nearby.
If xylitol may be involved, call immediately even if your dog appears normal. Serious effects can develop after ingestion.
What Is the Safest Next Step?
If gabapentin was prescribed specifically for your dog, follow the veterinary label and ask when to give it before the stressful event.
If it was not prescribed for your dog, contact your veterinarian before giving it. Recurring anxiety usually needs more than sedation. A veterinary assessment can help identify the trigger and determine whether your dog needs behavior work, gabapentin, a maintenance medication or a combination of approaches.
Do not use gabapentin simply to make a dog excessively sleepy or to manage unexplained aggression without a veterinary assessment.