title: Use of oral trazodone for sedation in cats: a pilot study.
abstract: Resistance to transportation and stressful veterinary visits are major causes for a decrease in feline veterinary care. Few options exist for oral sedatives to reduce cats' anxiety prior to veterinary visits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral trazodone for use as a single dose agent for sedation in cats.
  
  
  
  Six laboratory cats were given single 50, 75 and 100 mg doses of trazodone and placebo. Trazodone 100 mg and placebo treatments were randomized. Pre- and post-study laboratory values and physical examinations were compared. During each 4 h period post-treatment, sedation was measured via accelerometers and video observations scored by an observer blinded to treatment. Examinations were performed on the cats 90 mins after treatment, and their behavioral responses scored by the same blinded observer.
  
  
  
  No adverse effects or changes in physical examinations or laboratory values were detected as a result of trazodone administration. Accelerometer data showed trazodone 50, 75 and 100 mg caused sedation as measured by activity reduction (83%, 46% and 66%, respectively). In contrast, there was a 14% activity increase after placebo. There was a significant reduction in video observation scores when cats were given trazodone 100 mg compared with placebo. Mean latency to peak sedation for trazodone 100 mg occurred at 2 h. Scores for behavioral response to examination, performed at 90 mins post-treatment, were not significantly different between cats receiving trazodone 100 mg and placebo.
  
  
  
  Trazodone was well tolerated in this population of cats and caused appreciable sedation at all doses. Behavior during examination was not significantly different when cats received trazodone 100 mg compared with placebo. Further studies are recommended to investigate the use of oral trazodone in cats for the purpose of decreasing anxiety assocaited with transportation and examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jillian M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Beth C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Case
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA barbara_sherman@ncsu.edu.
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000662:veterinary; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014196:Trazodone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014196:Trazodone