Question submitted as part of the Crash, Boom, Bang: Update on Canine Noise Phobia Treatments webinar:
Comments about use of gabapentin, CBD oil, and tryptophan?
Answer provided by Julia (Julie) Albright, MA, DVM, DACVB:
Gabapentin is prescription medication that has a chemical composition similar to GABA and GABA agonist drugs like the benzodiazepines. It has been a successful adjunct in some of my noise phobic patients.
Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin and available alone or in combination with other natural ingredients in a supplement chew or capsule. CBD (or cannabidiol) is a very en vogue supplement right now. I get several calls each week about its usage. I would encourage veterinarians to try to learn more about the mechanisms and regulations through other available venues, as it I do not feel as if I have sufficient knowledge at this time to provide good advice. I can say that I have had some clients report back with success with CBD whereas others report no noticeable change. That is a common theme for most supplements in my clinic patients. It may be the compound, or it may be a poor-quality product. Supplements are not well-regulated by the FDA. Many noises trigger a strong fear/startle response in animals suffering from noise phobias and I do not find a supplement alone to be satisfactory during these panic events. They may have a place for mild cases, as a maintenance adjunct treatment during storm season, one layer of therapy to help reduce the clinical signs and stress response by a few degrees, or help the animal return to normal baseline anxiety more quickly. I just take each patient and family individually and I encourage you to talk to your veterinarian.
