400 Mg Trazodone For Dogs

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Trazodone can be used in dogs “off-label” to manage anxiety and phobia-related behavioral disorders. This is groundbreaking since studies show that behavioral issues have a negative impact on overall pet welfare. Plus, behavioral problems are amongst the leading causes of euthanasia in dogs.

Keep reading to learn more about Trazodone for dogs. We will start by explaining what Trazodone is and how it can be implemented in the dog‘s behavior management plan. We will also discuss its pros, cons, and possible alternatives.

Trazodone for dogs is the same as the drug used by people. It was developed and designed for humans but is prescribed off-label for dogs. Veterinarians often prescribe Trazodone to help with severe behavioral issues like fear, aggression, and anxiety. It’s usually only used when all other options have been exhausted.

Trazodone selectively blocks serotonin reuptake, which enhances serotonin’s effects.4 It is an antagonist of 5-HT2A, H1-histaminic, and α1-adrenergic receptors at low to moderate doses, resulting in various levels of sedation.3–6 It can have hypotensive effects.4 At higher doses, trazodone acts as a serotonin agonist, and serotonin syndrome can develop.4,6 Trazodone also has anxiolytic properties, but the exact mechanism of action is unknown.4

The ASPCA APCC includes a full staff of veterinarians, including board-certified toxicologists, certified veterinary technicians, and veterinary assistants, and its state-of-the-art emergency call center routinely fields requests for help from all over the world, including South America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

In 2008, Gruen and Sherman studied 56 dogs prescribed trazodone in combination with other primary behavior therapies and discovered that trazodone seemed to offer therapeutic benefit with relatively minimal adverse effects.7 Since then, studies have investigated the benefit of trazodone in postorthopedic surgery treatment plans involving confinement to enhance calm behavior and reduce anxiety in hospitalized dogs. Trazodone has generally been shown to be beneficial and relatively safe. Adverse events associated with trazodone can be divided into behavioral and systemic signs. Adverse events previously reported in the literature include drugged or “spacy” behavior, drowsiness, panting, anxiety/restlessness/agitation, vomiting/gagging, behavioral change (counter surfing and trash raiding), excitation, sedation, increased hunger, colitis, and aggression (growling).5,7,8

Toxicology Talk is written and reviewed by members of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center (APCC). The mission of the APCC is to help animals exposed to potentially hazardous substances, which it does by providing 24-hour veterinary and diagnostic treatment recommendations from specially trained veterinary toxicologists. It also protects and improves animal lives by providing clinical toxicology training to veterinary toxicology residents, consulting services, and case data review.

In veterinary medicine, trazodone is generally dosed at 1.7 to 19.5 mg/kg/d on a daily or as-needed basis with immediate action (not extended-release) tablets and can be given with food.1 When administered in combination with tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it is recommended to begin dosing trazodone at 2 to 5 mg/kg and increase as needed to a maximum dose of 14 mg/kg/d.1 Trazodone should be administered about an hour before potential anxiety-inducing stimuli, as its onset of action is approximately 30 to 60 minutes.1,5 Gruen and colleagues reported owner-observed duration of effect lasting 4 hours or more.5 The parent compound has an elimination half-life of approximately 7 hours in immediate-release tablets.1 Trazodone undergoes extensive metabolism in the liver and is predominantly excreted via the kidneys.1,4

Signs of overdose are typically seen about 30 to 60 minutes after exposure. Usually, the clinical signs last 10 to 12 hours, but in some cases, they might last for more than 24 hours.

The drug is not recommended for dogs hypersensitive to the medication. It should also be used with caution in dogs with heart disease as well as those suffering from kidney or liver disease. Dogs with narrow-angle glaucoma should not use the medication either.

Make sure to let your vet know if your dog is taking any medications, including supplements or vitamins. In addition, tell your vet if your dog has worn a tick collar or had a flea dip in the last 2 weeks and, if so, what kind. Preventic or dips containing amitraz might negatively interact with trazodone.

Store trazodone in the original bottle at room temperature and away from moisture. If your vet has made a special formulation for your pet, follow the storage recommendations for the product.

While some canines receive this drug 2-3 times a day on an ongoing basis, many dogs only take it intermittently, i.e. before highly stressful events.

Use of Trazodone in Canines and Felines

  • Trazodone HCl, also known simply as Trazodone and by the brand names of Oleptro®, Desyrel®, is used in dog and cats with behavioral problems or various anxiety-related problems, including fears related to veterinary visits and hospitalization.
  • Trazodone is categorized as a Serotonin 2a antagonist/reuptake inhibitor (SARI). It is an antidepressant that is often used for behavioral disorders. It works by altering chemicals (serotonin) in the brain that may become unbalanced. Serotonin is a chemical that facilitates transmission of “messages” among brain cells and increases serotonin levels in the brain.
  • Behavioral disorders in dogs and cats are common causes for veterinary visits. They are also a frequent reason for euthanasia of pets, especially when unacceptable or dangerous animal behavior is involved. Over the past decade, veterinarians have begun placing increasing emphasis on training and behavior modification, and animal behavior specialists have adopted drugs used in modifying human behavior for animal use. Trazodone is one of these drugs.
  • It is a relatively inexpensive drug, making it appealing over some other behavioral modification medications.
  • Trazodone is used to treat depression, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, cocaine withdrawal, and migraines, as well as other uses, which can make it available for accidental exposure in dogs. For more information about Trazodone Toxicity – go to: What to Do if Your Dog Eats Trazodone® Medication?
  • Trazodone is a prescription drug and can only be obtained from a veterinarian or by prescription from a veterinarian.
  • This drug is not approved for use in animals by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it is prescribed legally by veterinarians as an extra-label drug. Do not administer this drug to your pets unless advised by your veterinarian.

    • FAQ

    How much trazodone can I give my dog daily?

    In veterinary medicine, trazodone is generally dosed at 1.7 to 19.5 mg/kg/d on a daily or as-needed basis with immediate action (not extended-release) tablets and can be given with food.

    Can a dog overdose on Trazodone?

    It’s possible for dogs to overdose on trazodone if they are accidentally given too much or they get into the bottle of pills. Be sure to keep this and other medications out of your dog’s reach. Trazodone overdose can cause serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition that may cause the following: Vomiting.

    Is 300 mg of trazodone a lot for a dog?

    Target dosing for dogs less than 22 pounds is a total dose of 50 mg every 8 to 24 hours. For dogs 22 to 44 pounds, the total dose is 100 mg every 8 to 24 hours. Dogs 44 to 88 pounds may be prescribed 200 mg every 8 to 24 and dogs over 88 pounds may be prescribed a total dose of 200 – 300 mg every 8 to 24 hours.

    How long does 100mg of trazodone last for dogs?

    Therefore, trazodone would last for approximately 6-12 hours in dogs at therapeutic doses.