Owner’s perception of stress in their pet is a primary reason for avoiding veterinary care. Strategies to reduce stress and ease handling of fearful pets during veterinary visits have included behavioral conditioning, low stress handling, and anxiolytic medications.
Gabapentin is an inexpensive drug readily available for oral administration in liquid and capsule form. This drug is commonly used for its effect in reducing pain in our veterinary patients, and its anti-anxiety properties are well known in humans.
In this Specialty Update we discuss the results of a clinical trial that examined the effect of gabapentin in reducing signs of stress in pets during transportation to the veterinary visit and examination. Discussion includes the recommended dosage as well as potential adverse effects and considerations in administering this medication.
Running time: 9 mins
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