Objective: To evaluate sedative and behavioral effects of a client-administered preappointment protocol with PO gabapentin and melatonin and oral-transmucosal acepromazine (GMA protocol).
Animals: 45 client-owned dogs between 1 and 12 years old that underwent standardize examinations between February and August 2021.
Methods: In this clinical trial, dogs with a history of anxiety, fearfulness, and/or aggression during hospital visits were assessed and videotaped before (baseline) and after administration of the GMA protocol. For the second visit, owners administered PO gabapentin (20 to 25 mg/kg) in the evening prior to the next visit and PO gabapentin (20 to 25 mg/kg), PO melatonin (3 to 5 mg/dog), and oral-transmucosal acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) 90 to 120 minutes prior to the second appointment. Examinations were performed, and behavioral stress and sedation levels were evaluated with semiquantitative rating scales. Randomized videos were analyzed, and a paired t test was used to compare stress and sedation scores between baseline and GMA. A Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the effect of age on the scores.
Results: Stress scores were significantly lower after the GMA protocol, and sedation scores were significantly higher when compared to baseline (21.84 vs 27.11 and 1.39 vs 0.68, respectively). A significant correlation between increasing age and lower stress scores post-GMA and higher sedation scores post-GMA were observed.
Clinical relevance: Preappointment administration of the GMA protocol reduced signs of stress, fear, and fear-based aggression during hospital visits and provided sedation in this dog population. This protocol could represent an adjunct tool for veterinarians to improve quality of care and reduce animal-related injury.