Different Levels of Sedation for Dog Grooming
Not every dog requires deep sedation in order to be groomed safely. Veterinarians assess a dog’s behavior and anxiety level when choosing what sort of sedation to give them for grooming.
Dogs with anxiety limited to trembling, shaking and hiding during grooming might do just fine taking an oral tranquilizer at home before they go to the grooming shop.
Oral tranquilizers are less predictable than injectable or inhalant methods of sedation. You won’t know your dog’s exact response until he takes the drug and gets groomed. Most vets will start with a lower dose than they think your dog needs and work their way up if necessary.
The most commonly prescribed oral sedatives/tranquilizers for dogs include:
When Should You Allow Groomers to Sedate Your Dog?
It is sometimes necessary to sedate a dog in order to groom it for health purposes. If your groomer has suggested your dog be sedated for grooming, it should be done under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Many animal hospitals have an in-house dog groomer. The kind of sedation used depends on your dog’s anxiety level and health condition. Your vet might recommend your dog be given an oral sedative drug at home before you transport him to the groomer.
Dogs who are extremely anxious to the point of injuring themselves of groomers might require injectable sedatives given by the vet at the clinic. If your dog needs heavy sedation or full anesthesia, he will be monitored to keep him safe while he is unconscious. If there are any issues with the sedative, the veterinarian will be in the same building to provide support.
Sedating your dog at a grooming salon without a vet on the premises is risky. Even a mild tranquilizer can cause unexpected reactions in dogs. A grooming shop won’t have the medical equipment or staff needed to help your dog.
Sedation of dogs goes very smoothly most of the time, but if your dog is in the small percentage of complicated cases, he needs to have a medical professional nearby to help.
Melatonin
Some vets may recommend trying melatonin as an extra-label drug. This drug is also available over the counter and is known to have mild sedative effects. However, just as with Benadryl, it may not work in cases of severe anxiety.