THE EFFECT OF HALOPERIDOL AND NALOXONE ON EXCESSIVE GROOMING BEHAVIOROF CATS

In a double-blind cross-over study the effect of a single injection of naloxone (1 mg/kg s.c.) was investigated in 12 cats which suffered fr om excessive grooming with subsequent coat damage. Based on clinical o bservations and reports of the owners, naloxone had a beneficial effec t on grooming which lasted between 2.5 weeks and 6 months (median 3 mo nths). In another double-blind placebo-controlled study the effect of a single injection of haloperidol (2 mg/kg i.v.) was investigated in 2 0 cats with excessive grooming. Within 24 h haloperidol significantly reduced the time spent grooming. Four months after the injection no ef fect remained in nine of 10 cats injected with a placebo solution, whe reas six of 10 cats injected with haloperidol the improved condition o f the coat was maintained. It is hypothesized that naloxone is only ef fective in counteracting recently developed stereotypic behaviors and that haloperidol rather reduces stereotyped behaviors over a longer pe riod.