Many indications for psychotropic medications exist, including generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, panic disorders, persistent phobias, compulsive disorders and more. Daily drugs are given as such – every day, regardless of events, season, or stress level. Patients on daily psychotropic medications may still be in need of additional help to alleviate panic, fear and/or anxiety during predictable, situational events, as the daily medications may not be enough to control intense spike in stress levels. Other patients who display distress only as a result of known, predictable triggers, such as fireworks, car travel or thunderstorms, may benefit from an event medication alone. In some cases, nutritional supplements and specialized diets can complement and, in some cases, replace the use of medication. This session will give an overview of the main classes of drugs and nutritional supplements used for daily treatment of emotional disorders as well as for “as needed” treatment of predictable panic/fear triggers in cats. We will cover how these medications work, what the therapeutic expectations are for each, and what side effects may be expected. Drug interactions, adverse effects, and weaning protocols will also be discussed.
