Care & how-to
Trazodone for Dogs: What It Is and Why Vets Prescribe It
Trazodone is a prescription antidepressant that vets use off-label to ease anxiety and fear in dogs, for example before vet visits, during fireworks or storms, for travel, or to keep a dog calm while it recovers from surgery. It is only safe when your vet prescribes it for your dog, at the amount your vet sets. Never give your dog a human trazodone tablet or someone else's prescription.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 14, 20263 min read2 sources
What is trazodone?
Trazodone belongs to a drug group called serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitors, or SARIs. It was developed as a human antidepressant, and vets use it in dogs off-label, which means it is not FDA-approved for this use in dogs but is prescribed based on veterinary judgment and published experience.
In dogs it has a calming, mildly sedating effect that can take the edge off fear and anxiety. It is often used with behavior training rather than instead of it, and sometimes alongside other medicines your vet chooses.
What vets prescribe trazodone for
Common reasons include situational anxiety, such as a dog that panics at the vet, groomer, during car rides, flights, fireworks or thunderstorms; ongoing behavior problems such as separation anxiety, as part of a wider plan; and keeping a dog quiet after surgery, such as orthopedic repairs, when it needs strict rest.
For a one-off event, your vet will tell you how long before the event to give it. For ongoing use, it can take time for the full effect to show. Your vet may ask you to test it at home on a calm day first so you know how your dog responds.
If your vet has prescribed it to help with crate rest after surgery, a correctly sized dog crate and a comfortable calming dog bed inside it make the confinement easier to keep to.
Side effects to watch for
Side effects are usually mild. The most common are drowsiness and sleepiness, an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea and reduced appetite. A sleepy dog can be wobbly, so keep it off stairs, beds and other places it could fall from until it is steady.
Less commonly, a dog may become more anxious or agitated, and in dogs with aggressive tendencies, a calming drug can occasionally lower inhibition and make aggression more likely. Contact your vet about any unusual reaction, and get urgent help for vomiting with a fever, tremors, seizures or trouble breathing.
Drug interactions and who needs extra caution
Trazodone affects serotonin, so combining it with other serotonin-affecting medicines, such as some antidepressants, tramadol, or certain supplements, can cause serotonin syndrome. Tell your vet about every medicine, flea and tick product, supplement and calming chew your dog takes.
Vets take extra care with dogs that have heart disease, liver or kidney problems, glaucoma, or that are pregnant. Your vet sometimes combines trazodone with gabapentin on purpose; that is a decision for your vet, who will set the plan.
Why you should never dose trazodone yourself
The right amount depends on your dog's size, health, other medicines and the reason it is being used, and your vet will set it after an exam. Human tablets come in strengths that may be wrong for your dog, and giving extra to make it work faster can be dangerous. Many states require a recent exam before a vet can prescribe.
If your dog swallows trazodone that was not prescribed for it, or more than prescribed, call your vet straight away or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
How long does trazodone take to work in dogs?
For situational use, it typically starts working within a few hours, which is why vets tell you to give it ahead of the event. For ongoing use, the full effect can take longer. Follow your vet's timing.
Can I give my dog human trazodone?
Only if your vet has prescribed that exact product and amount for your dog. Never use your own or another person's prescription, as the strength and your dog's other medicines matter.
Is trazodone a sedative for dogs?
It has a calming, mildly sedating effect, but it is not a general anesthetic. It is mainly used to reduce anxiety and fear. Some dogs get sleepy and wobbly, so supervise your dog after a dose.
Can trazodone and gabapentin be given together?
Vets sometimes prescribe them together for stressful events, which increases the calming effect. Only combine them if your vet has told you to, following their instructions exactly.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.