{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,11]],"date-time":"2026-07-11T09:39:32Z","timestamp":1783762772319,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,1]],"date-time":"2023-11-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1698796800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["javma"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>OBJECTIVE<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>To evaluate sedative and behavioral effects of a client-administered preappointment protocol with PO gabapentin and melatonin and oral-transmucosal acepromazine (GMA protocol).<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>ANIMALS<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>45 client-owned dogs between 1 and 12 years old that underwent standardize examinations between February and August 2021.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>METHODS<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>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 <jats:italic>t<\/jats:italic> 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.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>RESULTS<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>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.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>CLINICAL RELEVANCE<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>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.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.23.02.0067","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,7,26]],"date-time":"2023-07-26T18:23:40Z","timestamp":1690395820000},"page":"1660-1665","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Gabapentin, melatonin, and acepromazine combination prior to hospital visits decreased stress scores in aggressive and anxious dogs in a prospective clinical trial"],"prefix":"10.2460","volume":"261","author":[{"given":"Renata S.","family":"Costa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Specialty Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Teela","family":"Jones","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Specialty Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sandra","family":"Robbins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Grafton, MA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amy","family":"Stein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Office of Research and Sponsors Program, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephanie","family":"Borns-Weil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Grafton, MA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1272","reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"ref1","series-title":"Vet J","first-page":"38","article-title":"Fear-related behaviour of dogs in veterinary practice","volume":"182","author":"D\u00f6ring D","year":"2009","unstructured":"D\u00f6ring D, Roscher A, Scheipl F, K\u00fcchenhoff H, Erhard MH. 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