Medication: Trazodone

Your cat has been prescribed trazodone for management of both ongoing or anticipated anxiety (eg fireworks, thunderstorms, veterinary appointments). It should be used alongside a desensitizing behavior program to help control your pet’s anxiety. It may have been prescribed if your cat has recently had surgery and needs to be confined in a crate for the recovery period or will be housed in a high stress situation for a short period of time (eg boarding kennel).  It is also prescribed, typically in combination with gabapentin, prior to veterinary appointments for sedation and calming during transport and examination. 

Key points: 
• Serotonin receptor agonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI).  
• Do not use with MAO inhibitors eg Selegiline or Amitraz. 
• Decrease dosage by half for first 3 days when combining with tramadol. 
• Do not use in cats with bleeding disorders. 
• Use with care in animals with epilepsy. 
• Use with care in animals with liver or kidney disease. 
• Use with care in animals with heart disease and avoid if cardiac arrhythmias. 
• Use with care in pregnant animals and lactating queens as can enter the milk. 
• Use with care in cats with certain types of glaucoma. 
• Dosage: usually used as needed just before known stressful situations. Can be given daily for use in anxiety.  
• If used long term do not stop suddenly - taper dose when stopping.