Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Trazodone is dosed at 2–5 mg/kg PO q8-12h as needed in dogs, per Neilson J. Drug therapy for behavioral problems. Presented at: Western Veterinary Conference; 2010. PMID: 40252524 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1295 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1266, Trazodone monograph spanning p.1266-1268; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 — CEILING: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, Trazodone monograph, printed p.1268 — "The maximum recommendation is 300 mg/dose.". Trazodone is used in dogs for Event-based anxiety, post-surgical confinement. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Trazodone in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Desyrel
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|
| PO | 2–5 mg/kgmax 300 mg total | q8-12h as needed | Event-based or short-term | Event-based anxiety, post-surgical confinement | Strong | Neilson J. Drug therapy for behavioral problems. Presented at: Western Veterinary Conference; 2010. PMID: 40252524 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1295 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1266, Trazodone monograph spanning p.1266-1268; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 — CEILING: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, Trazodone monograph, printed p.1268 — "The maximum recommendation is 300 mg/dose." |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.430 | ment of short-term anxiety associated with hospitalization: 4 mg/kg p.o. q12h titrated upwards to 10-12 mg/kg as needed to a maximum of 300 mg per d |
| 10–12 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.430 | with hospitalization: 4 mg/kg p.o. q12h titrated upwards to 10-12 mg/kg as needed to a maximum of 300 mg per dose. |
| 5 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.834 | • 5 mg/kg PO as needed, but generally every 8-24 hours; or administer a single |
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Antagonizes 5-HT2A receptors and inhibits serotonin reuptake. Produces sedation and anxiolysis at lower doses than antidepressant effect.
Commonly used for event-based anxiety and post-surgical confinement in dogs. Sedation is primary effect. Serotonin syndrome risk with other serotonergic drugs. Priapism reported (rare). GI upset.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Trazodone dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 2–5 mg/kg q8-12h as needed. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Trazodone in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Trazodone in dogs include: Event-based or short-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Trazodone is indicated in dogs for: Event-based anxiety, post-surgical confinement.
These are general warnings for Trazodone across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Commonly used for event-based anxiety and post-surgical confinement in dogs. Sedation is primary effect. Serotonin syndrome risk with other serotonergic drugs. Priapism reported (rare). GI upset.
Why a species-specific page? Trazodone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| 7 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.834 | for dogs is 7 mg/kg q12h. Alternatively, to avoid breaking tablets, give 25 or |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.