# A Preliminary Study: Evaluation of Oral Trazodone as a Strategy to Reduce Anesthetic Requirements in Bitches Undergoing Ovariectomy

## TL;DR

This study found that giving trazodone to dogs before surgery reduced stress and the need for anesthetic drugs.

## Contribution

The study shows trazodone can safely reduce preoperative stress and anesthetic requirements in dogs.

## Key findings

- Dogs receiving trazodone had lower stress scores and required less propofol for induction.
- Trazodone reduced the need for intraoperative analgesia and vomiting episodes.
- The drug was safe and well-tolerated in the surgical setting.

## Abstract

Trazodone is an anxiolytic drug used in veterinary medicine to minimize stress in patients during visits to the clinic. This study evaluated the positive effect of stress reduction through trazodone administration as part of premedication in routine surgical procedures. It was assessed whether it could reduce the impact of intraoperative painful stimuli, whether it allowed for a reduction in the dose of induction drugs, and whether its use in the surgical environment was safe and free of adverse effects. Two groups of animals participated in this study, eight receiving trazodone and the other eight a placebo. It was observed that the animals that took trazodone were less anxious, and the required doses of induction agents were lower than in the control group. Further studies are required to better assess the implications of using trazodone in anesthetic protocols, with pre-surgical stress reduction being an aspect that should receive more consideration due to its possible beneficial effects in veterinary medicine.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of trazodone as part of premedication in routine surgical procedures. A prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical study was conducted on 16 adult female dogs undergoing elective ovariectomy. Behavioral responses were assessed after oral administration of trazodone (5 mg/kg) in eight dogs and compared with a control group (n = 8). Sedation levels at the time of induction and the required dose of propofol were recorded. Additionally, intraoperative fentanyl IV boluses (2.5 µg/kg) administered in response to surgical pain, along with heart rate (HR) and non-invasive arterial pressure (NIAP), were compared between groups. Dogs receiving trazodone exhibited significantly lower stress scores on the Clinic Dog Stress Scale (CDSS) and fewer episodes of vomiting after premedication, and they required lower doses of both propofol and intraoperative analgesia. These findings suggest that oral trazodone administration two hours before hospital arrival may help reduce preoperative stress in dogs undergoing elective ovariectomy. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these results and fully evaluate the role of trazodone in preoperative protocols.