What Tessie and Liavium-CA1 mean for treatment choices

The FDA has approved two new treatments for dogs: Tessie, the first medication approved for both noise aversion and separation anxiety, and Liavium-CA1, the first treatment for pain linked to Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia. Together, they expand options for dogs that previously had limited pharmaceutical choices.

Within weeks of each other in May and June 2026, the FDA approved two new medications for conditions that affect significant numbers of dogs but have historically had limited treatment options. Understanding what each drug does and how they differ is useful for dog owners, trainers, and veterinarians considering pharmaceutical intervention alongside behavioural work.

Tessie

Tessie (tasipimidine oral solution) was approved in May 2026 as the first FDA-approved medication for both noise aversion and separation anxiety in dogs. This dual-indication approval matters because about 40 percent of dogs with separation anxiety also experience noise phobias. Previously, veterinarians had to prescribe different medications or use off-label options to manage both conditions in a single dog.

The medication works by activating receptors in the brain that reduce fight-or-flight responses. It is dosed orally about one hour before a known trigger, whether that is fireworks, thunderstorms, or your departure for work. It can be given up to three times within 24 hours with at least three hours between doses. The drug is not a sedative; it aims to reduce panic while keeping dogs alert and functional.

Common side effects in clinical trials included lethargy, mild sedation, vomiting, and diarrhea. As with all anxiety medications, Tessie is most effective when used alongside behavioural training and environmental management, not as a standalone solution.

Liavium-CA1

Liavium-CA1 (pregabalin chewable tablets) received conditional FDA approval in May 2026 for managing pain and clinical signs associated with Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia, a condition that primarily affects small and toy breed dogs. CM is a structural condition where a dog’s skull is too small for its brain, causing the cerebellum to herniate. When this restricts cerebrospinal fluid flow, painful fluid-filled cavities form in the spinal cord.

Dogs with CM and syringomyelia often cry out when touched around the head, neck, or shoulders, exhibit phantom scratching, or experience progressive mobility problems. Pregabalin targets nerve-related pain by reducing the release of neurotransmitters involved in pain transmission. The medication is dosed twice daily with food and requires veterinary prescription because diagnosis of CM and syringomyelia requires advanced imaging (MRI or CT scans).

The conditional approval means the FDA determined the drug is safe and has a reasonable expectation of effectiveness, pending full effectiveness data. Liavium-CA1 offers a targeted option for a condition that previously relied on compounded versions of pregabalin, gabapentin, or other off-label approaches.

What these approvals mean for dog owners

Both approvals expand the pharmaceutical toolkit available for dogs with serious conditions. Tessie offers a first-choice option for dual anxiety problems that previously required medication juggling. Liavium-CA1 provides the first officially approved option for a painful condition that has no cure, only management.

Neither medication is a replacement for behaviour modification, training, or environmental management, and both work best as part of an integrated treatment plan, but for dogs whose welfare is significantly impacted by anxiety or pain, having evidence-based pharmaceutical options is meaningful progress.

NOTE: When/if these drugs will be licensed for use in SA is unclear.

Sources

FDA approval: Tessie (tasipimidine oral solution). Approved 6 May 2026 for treatment of noise aversion and separation anxiety in dogs.

FDA conditional approval: Liavium-CA1 (pregabalin chewable tablets). Conditionally approved 12 May 2026 for management of pain and clinical signs associated with Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia in dogs.

AVMA: Latest FDA approvals include BRD treatment for cattle, several drugs for dogs. 26 June 2026.