Trazodone for pre-visit anxiety in dogs is dosed at 3–7.5 mg/kg PO, administered 90 minutes to 2 hours before transport to the clinic.Journal of the…+1
The dose range in the literature spans 3–12 mg/kg PO depending on the clinical context. The 2020 AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines list 3–7.5 mg/kg PO for dogs with low Fear, Anxiety, and Stress scores.AAHA Clinical G… The 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines recommend administration ideally the evening before and at least 2 hours before presentation.AAHA Clinical G… For situational anxiety (thunderstorms, public outings, home-alone anxiety), trazodone has been used at 4.5 mg/kg PO q8–12h.Journal of the… Chronic adjunctive dosing begins at approximately 2.5–5 mg/kg PO q12–24h, titrating to a target of 5–10 mg/kg PO q8–24h.Journal of the… The single-dose trial demonstrating reduced owner- and video-assessed stress scores used 9–12 mg/kg PO given 90 minutes before transport.Journal of the…
Onset of anxiolytic effect is within 90 minutes of oral administration.Journal of the… Following rectal administration of approximately 8 mg/kg, peak sedation occurs at a median of 30 minutes and lasts several hours, with effects resolved by 12 hours — a viable route when oral administration is contraindicated.American Journa…
Adverse effects include gastrointestinal upset and sedation, both reported with chronic dosing.Journal of the… Approximately 22% of dogs develop new or worsening postural reaction deficits after trazodone administration, so trazodone should not be given before a neurologic examination.Journal of Vete… Approximately 18.7% of dogs shift from bright, alert, and responsive to quiet, alert, and responsive.Journal of Vete… Trazodone also has the potential to suppress hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, which could interfere with endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol testing — adrenal function testing should not be performed on the same day as trazodone administration.Journal of Vete…
| Dose | Route | Timing | Context | Key Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–7.5 mg/kg | PO | Pre-visit | Low FAS, pre-anesthetic | AAHA anesthesia guideline AAHA Clinical G… |
| 9–12 mg/kg | PO | 90 min before transport | Documented visit anxiety | Highest evidence for stress reduction Journal of the… |
| 4.5 mg/kg q8–12h | PO | As needed | Situational anxiety (storms, outings) | Effective within 90 min Journal of the… |
| 2.5–5 mg/kg q12–24h → 5–10 mg/kg q8–24h | PO | Chronic adjunct | Anxiety disorder, long-term | Titrate to tolerance Journal of the… |
| ~8 mg/kg | Per rectum | — | Oral route contraindicated | Peak sedation at 30 min American Journa… |
Would you like guidance on combining trazodone with other pre-visit medications such as gabapentin or dexmedetomidine?