The CHILL protocol — formally the GMA protocol — combines oral gabapentin (20–25 mg/kg PO), oral melatonin (3 mg for dogs under 10 kg; 5 mg for dogs over 10 kg), and oral-transmucosal (OTM) acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg), all administered by the owner prior to hospital arrival.Journal of the…
The protocol reduces stress scores in over 70% of anxious and aggressive dogs when administered as a client-administered preappointment protocol.Journal of the… Gabapentin and melatonin act synergistically, and acepromazine functions as a reliable tranquilizer that decreases struggle and fear during examination — reducing the need for fear-inducing restraint — rather than as a standalone anxiolytic.Journal of the…
Acepromazine in this protocol is administered OTM, not orally or parenterally, at 0.05 mg/kg.Journal of the… Acepromazine has minimal to no anxiolytic effect on its own and should not be used as a sole agent for fear or phobic states.Journal of the… Although acepromazine has been associated with increased noise sensitivity and disinhibition of aggression in other contexts, no dogs in the GMA protocol study exhibited increased noise sensitivity or worsened aggression.Journal of the…
Melatonin dosing is weight-based by threshold rather than mg/kg: 3 mg PO for dogs under 10 kg and 5 mg PO for dogs over 10 kg.Journal of the… Vital parameters after melatonin administration remain within physiological ranges, supporting its safety in dogs.Journal of the…
| Drug | Dose | Route | Key Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabapentin | 20–25 mg/kg | PO | Synergistic with melatonin and acepromazine |
| Melatonin | 3 mg (<10 kg) / 5 mg (>10 kg) | PO | Not a per-kg calculation above 10 kg threshold |
| Acepromazine | 0.05 mg/kg | OTM | Not anxiolytic as sole agent; tranquilizer only |
Would you like guidance on timing — specifically how far before the appointment each drug should be administered?