Sedatives can help anxious pets. When is it appropriate to use?
You might have heard of pet sedatives or seen them in action, but you wonder if or when they would ever be necessary for your pet. Maybe you have an anxious pet that is acting aggressively, and you wonder if using a pet sedative would be safe or really called for. When is pet sedation necessary?
Circumstances Where Pet Sedation Is Helpful
Traveling
If your pet gets particularly stressed when traveling by car or public transportation, sedating your pet could be necessary to keep it safe and comfortable during the journey. Sedating the pet before traveling to a place like a vet clinic, which could be stressful for your pet, is a good strategy for a safer visit.
Grooming or Medical Procedures
Pet grooming, dentistry, health checkups, and other medical procedures require the pet to be still and calm enough to endure the service and get the best results. Veterinarians can safely give pets heavier sedation, while pet owners can give mild sedation to their own pets under a veterinarian’s guidance. If your pet has a history of anxiety during such procedures, you could consider pet sedation.
Dangerously High Stress Levels
If your pet needs to undergo an experience like a vet visit, a car trip, or another situation that causes high stress, sedation could help your pet cope better. High stress, especially in older or physically impaired pets, can be dangerous to their health.
Pain Management
Sedation can be helpful for pets dealing with chronic pain, although this treatment is more common for terminally ill pets or pre-euthanasia treatment.
Pet Sedation Safety
You must consult with your local veterinarian before sedating your pet to test for its ability to maintain a healthy heart rate and recover smoothly. Pet owners can give their pets oral sedatives, like gabapentin or trazodone, while vets can administer a sedative injection. For more serious procedures, like surgery, the vet may give a pet anesthesia if it is safe to do so.
Why Pet Sedation May Be Necessary
Pet sedation is ultimately for the pet’s best interest. It prevents unnecessary injuries and allows medical professionals to perform their work accurately and completely. Your pet can stay calm and turn out for the better as a result.
Trust the Care of Your Pet to the Professionals at Everhart Veterinary Medicine!
At Everhart Veterinary Medicine, our veterinary professionals strive to provide your pet with the very best of veterinary care. We believe that the best care for your pet should be provided by experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable veterinary professionals. With three Maryland locations in Baltimore, Pasadena, and Cross Keys, we are always ready to welcome your pet as a new patient! Give us a call today at 410-355-3131, 410-793-7670, or 443-470-6790! For more information, as well as updates on veterinary news and topics, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!