Use of lithium for treatment of canine dominance-related aggression: a case study

Abstract

A 2.25-year-old spayed female Cocker Spaniel was presented to the Cornell University Animal Behavior Clinic for escalating aggression towards family members in contexts of dominance. The dog also exhibited random and frequent air-snapping and pawing. Physical and neurological examination, complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry and urinalysis revealed no overt physical abnormalities. One month after initiating standard behavior modification for dominance-aggression, the dog was placed on oral lithium carbonate 75 mg every 12 h, resulting in a serum Li level of 0.24 m Eq 1-1. Although this level was below target level of 0.8-1.0 m Eq 1 I (based on use in human psychiatry and in treatment of canine cyclic neutropenia), dosage was not changed because the owner described the dog as happy and active, with markedly reduced aggression. Pawing and airsnapping behavior had not changed. Seven months after initiation of therapy the owner stopped medication and noted reduced play behavior and increased aggression toward both family members and visitors. Therapy was reinstituted at the same dose and the aggression again improved. Subsequent laboratory tests revealed relative neutrophilia, lymphopenia and isosthenuria ( 1.010), as expected on this drug. Lithium levels were repeated at 22 months and had increased to 0.68 m Eq 1-1, possibly attributable to an early sample (relative to administration). In summary, lithium carbonate, often used in the treatment of explosive aggression in psychiatry, can be an effective drug for selected cases of canine dominance-related aggression. Serum levels below the therapeutic range may be sufficient, and may be preferable because of this drug's well-described potential for toxicity. A review of its use in animal and human models was presented.