Dog Training Update: Cutting Back on Chlomipramine

It started out as a necessity. Swamped with deadlines and a work trip on the docket, I didn’t realize Lilly was getting low on her medicine. To stretch it a bit longer, I skipped her evening dose of clomipramine (antidepressant that targets her generalized fears) for a few days. I kept it up, however, even after her prescription refill arrived.

Cutting back seems to have had no real affect on Lilly’s fearful behaviors. She is a tad bossier to Ginko in the evening, but otherwise we’re not seeing much of a change.

After several years, then, of twice-a-day dosing of chlomipramine, we’re going to stick with once a day for a while.

Granted, my stupid, stupid life lately means that Lilly stays home 100% more than she used to. Lilly isn’t challenged by unexpected, scary things regularly. She simply hangs out at the house, plays in the pastures, and goes for the occasional walk up the mountain and back. We don’t see a lot of strange dogs.

Who knows?

Maybe if I tried taking her in public on a lower dose of her behavior medicines, she would flip out. Maybe not.

Lilly has done really well since we ditched the xanax twice a day earlier this year. Maybe she’ll be OK with this lower dose of chlomipramine too.

I’d love if she didn’t need meds at all anymore, but I’ve always assumed — unlike most dogs who only take behavior meds for a short time — Lilly would take them for life.