Referring vets
Suggested Oral Sedative Protocols
Please note that you, as the veterinarian with knowledge of this patient, are best prepared to decide the appropriate pre-visit oral sedative protocol. These protocols provided are here solely for your convenience as a guideline.
These protocols are as outlined in Dr. Kelly Ballantyne’s (DVM, DACVB) 2020 lecture at Western Veterinary Conference titled “Fear Free Psychopharmacology: Selecting Appropriate Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals & Sedation Protocols for Dogs and Cats”.
Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, DVM, DACVB · Western Veterinary Conference, 2020
Dogs (the provided dosages are for single-agent sedation)
| Medication | Dose | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trazodone | 4-10mg/kg PO | 1-2 hours prior to arrival | max dose 300mg/dog |
| Gabapentin | 10-40mg/kg PO | 2 hours prior to arrival | For even more thorough sedation, give an initial dose the evening prior to the appointment |
For more anxious and fearful (particularly those with concerns for aggression) animals, we suggest investigating multi-agent protocols
Cats (the provided dosages are for single-agent sedation)
| Medication | Dose | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Trazodone | 50-100mg/cat (not per kg) | 1-2 hours prior to arrival |
| Gabapentin | 50-100mg/cat (not per kg) | 2-3 hours prior to arrival |