Canine behavioral disorders frequently necessitate long-term treatment, making the ease of product administration a crucial factor in selecting the most appropriate therapeutic approach. Palatability can significantly contribute to the ease of administration. This study was designed to investigate the ease of intake of ClomicalmTM (Virbac, France), clomipramine-based tablets formulated with an artificial meat flavor, indicated as an aid in managing separation-related disorders or anxieties and stereotypes in dogs, depending on the country.

To benchmark the obtained results, AnxitaneTM (Virbac, France) was selected as a reference. AnxitaneTM is a supplement with Green tea concentrate containing L-theanine, which is recognized in the field for its established high ease of intake.

This study involved eighteen adult Beagle dogs in experimental conditions. An assessment of the initial intake and overall consumption of tablets was performed by careful observation of the dogs.

The results of this study demonstrate similar initial intake rates, with no statistically significant differences between the two products. Specifically, 83% and 89% of dogs readily took ClomicalmTM and AnxitaneTM, respectively. Notably, assisted intake of ClomicalmTM was only required for one dog, indicating a high degree of voluntary acceptance. A minority of dogs did not take the tablets at all (three for ClomicalmTM and two for AnxitaneTM). Among the dogs that did take the tablets, the consumption rates were also similar, with 60% and 62% fully consuming the ClomicalmTM tablet and the AnxitaneTM tablet, respectively. Only two dogs half-consumed the ClomicalmTM tablet.

In conclusion, this study provides evidence that ClomicalmTM and AnxitaneTM are comparably easy to administer, with both having a high intake rate (> 80%). This finding is significant for veterinarians and pet owners when considering long-term treatment options for canine behavioral disorders.