{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]],"date-time":"2025-12-31T20:09:21Z","timestamp":1767211761269,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,3]],"date-time":"2025-05-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746230400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Feline healthcare phobia is a major challenge in veterinary practice, limiting medical care and increasing stress for cats, owners, and veterinarians. Traditional desensitization\u2013counter-conditioning (DS-CC) protocols aim to reduce fear responses, but their success is limited in sensitized cats. This study evaluates whether gabapentin can improve the efficiency of DS-CC training in healthcare phobia in cats. Forty-two sensitized cats participated in a claw-trimming learning protocol. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, the cats followed 10 training sessions: the first 5 under one product and the last 5 under the other one. Their progression through the learning steps was monitored. The results indicate that gabapentin significantly accelerated the cats\u2019 ability to complete DS-CC steps, suggesting a positive effect on the learning process. While some side effects, such as mild sedation and ataxia, were observed in 42% of the cats, they were transient and did not hinder participation. These findings suggest that gabapentin should be added when engaging patients in DS-CC protocols in order to lower the time needed to achieve therapy, which will improve the overall welfare of our patients. Further studies are needed to confirm these results in other types of therapies and in a clinical setting.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15091326","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,4]],"date-time":"2025-05-04T20:09:14Z","timestamp":1746389354000},"page":"1326","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The Effect of Gabapentin on the Efficiency of a Desensitization\u2013Counter-Conditioning Claw-Trimming Protocol for Cats with Healthcare Phobias: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Lua","family":"Raucourt","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Oniris\u2014\u00c9cole Nationale V\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire, Agroalimentaire et de L\u2019alimentation, 44300 Nantes, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6089-5825","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sylvia","family":"Masson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinique V\u00e9t\u00e9rinaire de la Tivolli\u00e8re, 38565 Voreppe, France"},{"name":"No Ledge Research, 38340 Voreppe, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Masson, S., Bleuer-Elsner, S., Muller, G., and Medam, T. 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