A review of pre-appointment medications to reduce fear and anxiety in dogs and cats at veterinary visits.
Amelia Erickson, Kaylin Harbin, Justine MacPherson, Kate Rundle, Karen L. Overall
Abstract
This review focuses on pre-appointment medications used to decrease fear and anxiety in dogs and cats related to veterinary visits. A review of the literature revealed data on 4 medications from 4 medication classes that have been used to ameliorate acute situational fear and anxiety in dogs and cats: gabapentin, trazodone, oral transmucosal dexmedetomidine, and alprazolam. The available information on use, mechanism of action, and pharmacokinetics is reviewed.
Topics & Concepts
AnxietyAlprazolamCATSMedicinePanicGabapentinDexmedetomidineAnxiolyticAnesthesiaVeterinary medicinePsychiatryAlternative medicineInternal medicineSedationPathologyVeterinary Pharmacology and AnesthesiaHuman-Animal Interaction StudiesPediatric Pain Management Techniques