Although canines are known for being the most vigorous pets, most of them experience anxiety-related conditions. It’s common for dogs to feel anxious when being left alone in the house or when taken to the veterinarian.
Nevertheless, pet parents can minimize the anxiety of their companions by administering antidepressants, such as trazodone. This medication is known for prolonging the presence of serotonin in the brain, thus boosting the mood of pets. As long as you keep to the prescribed dosage, the liveliness of your companion will be soon restored.
Here is everything you need to know about the uses, dosage, potential side effects, and precautions of trazodone.
Uses
Owing to its role in the maintenance of a serotonin balance in the brain, trazodone is generally administered to canines to minimize anxiety. This drug is particularly effective in the treatment of separation and generalized anxiety, the most common forms of anxious behavior in dogs.
Moreover, an increasing number of canine pets suffer from separation anxiety, exhibiting nervous and aggressive behavior whenever the owner leaves the house. Anyhow, most dogs experience symptoms of generalized anxiety, being nervous in unpredictable situations that aren’t part of their mundane routine.
For instance, noise-averse canines are incredibly frightened of the sound of fireworks or thunderstorms, thus becoming anxious when exposed to such noises. Therefore, pet owners are advised to administer trazodone a few hours before the onset of the fireworks in order for their companions to stay calm during the noise.
Another type of situation that causes short-term anxiety in pets is paying a visit to the vet. Most canines are terribly scared when being taken to the veterinarian since car rides and medical check-ups aren’t exactly their favorite activities. The most effective way for your pet to be tranquil at the vet is to administer trazodone at least several hours before the visit. In order to guess the right timing, make sure you administer this drug a few days before the event to test its effects.
Apart from being used in the treatment of anxiety-related conditions, trazodone is also beneficial as part of post-surgical treatments. It provides pets with the required rest after surgical procedures by keeping them calm.
Dosage
Trazodone can be purchased in the form of tables, coming in a variety of dosages of 50,100, 150, and 300 milligrams. The optimal dosage of this drug is considered to be at least 2.5 milligrams to a maximum of 3.5 milligrams per kilogram of weight. Anyhow, the exact dosage should be prescribed by a veterinarian in accordance with the condition of your pet.
In most cases, veterinarians tend to commence the therapy with a minimal dose of trazodone to test its effects on the health of your companion. After three days, vets gradually increase the dosage until the dog starts experiencing the desired effects of the drug. The treatment duration will depend on the type and severity of the condition that your furry friend is suffering from.
Additionally, these tablets can be administered with meals or on an empty stomach, depending on whether your dog has a sensitive stomach. In case it feels nauseous or vomits after being administered trazodone on an empty stomach, make sure you combine the drug with food the next time. Visit this page for some helpful tips about getting your dog to take its medicine.
Trazodone is a short-acting drug, providing relaxing effects in approximately a few hours after taking a dose. However, when administering this drug as a long-term treatment, the ultimate results are usually noticed after several weeks of starting the cycle.
Furthermore, there’s no reason to panic in case you miss a dose, as you can administer the dose as soon as you remember. Anyhow, bear in mind that if the next dose is supposed to be provided in a few hours, you should forget about the dose you’ve missed. Administering two doses in order to make up for the one you skipped is strictly forbidden.
Potential side effects
Due to its short-acting nature, trazodone is known to cause minimal side effects in canines. Your furry friend might feel lethargic or surprisingly aggressive. Also, it’s likely to experience some gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some canines are at the risk of experiencing ataxia, which refers to the loss of muscle control or colitis, referring to inflammation of the colon.
Perhaps the most severe side effect of taking trazodone is the serotonin syndrome, which occurs when this medication is taken in combination with other serotonergic drugs. This syndrome manifests in dilated pupils, vomiting, seizures, breathing difficulties, temporary blindness, disorientation, salivation, skin sensitivity, depression, and coma.
Moreover, it’s also known for having fatal consequences, which is why your pet requires immediate medical attention after noticing some of these symptoms. The following link, https://www.healthline.com/health/serotonin-syndrome, explains the most common symptoms and causes of the serotonin syndrome.
Precautions
Despite its mild side effects, trazodone isn’t supposed to be given to canines that take monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors or the ones suffering from liver, kidney, and cardiovascular problems. Additionally, this drug is not recommended to be used by pregnant canines or dogs with angle-closure glaucoma. It’s paramount for the veterinarian to be familiar with the medications that your dog is taking momentarily to prevent potential adverse effects.
Bottom line
Your pet doesn’t deserve to be anxious.
Use trazodone to boost its mood!
