Associate Professor North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Disclosure(s):
Megan E. Grobman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM): No financial relationships to disclose
Abstract:
Background: Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) are the criterion standard for diagnosing dysphagia in people and dogs. VFSS performed in lateral recumbency and/or involving force feeding carry an increased risk of aspiration. However, free-feeding protocols depend upon patient compliance. The stress of hospitalization may result in a reluctance to eat, reducing the number of patients that may benefit from VFSS. Trazodone, a commonly prescribed serotonin antagonist/reuptake inhibitor reduces behavioral stress markers in dogs during veterinary visits. However, serotonin antagonists may impact swallowing leading to incorrect diagnoses.
Hypothesis/
Objectives: Determine if trazodone (3-5mg/kg PO) administered 1hr before VFSS 1) reduced markers of anxiety, 2) increased patient compliance, and 3) impacted objective swallowing metrics and/or clinical diagnosis compared to placebo.
Animals: Eleven healthy client-owned dogs were prospectively enrolled using a randomized, blinded, placebo controlled cross-over design.
Methods: Dogs were randomly assigned to receive either trazodone or placebo. After a ≥ 7day washout, dogs received the opposite treatment. Differences in stress markers, compliance (e.g., vol. food consumption), objective metrics, and clinical diagnoses were analyzed using a paired t-, Mann Whitney U, or Fishers exact test with a p < 0.05 significance level.
Results: Markers of stress were significantly decreased in dogs receiving trazodone compared to placebo (P = 0.04). No statistically significant differences were identified for the volume of food consumed, esophageal transit time, or clinical diagnosis (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Trazodone may decrease anxiety in healthy dogs undergoing swallowing assessment by VFSS without changing measures of esophageal transit or clinical diagnosis.
