In the Literature
Weng H-Y, Morrison JA, Topdjian K, Ogata N. Real-world data on behavioral practices for dogs in primary care veterinary hospitals in the United States (2010–2020). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2025;263(7):1-7. doi:10.2460/javma.24.06.0412
The Research …
Primary care clinicians play an important role in identifying and addressing behavioral disorders; however, which therapies are implemented is unclear because of a lack of information regarding how frequently behavioral disorders are recorded in medical records.
This retrospective study analyzed 32,468,046 records from general practices to determine the prevalence of assigning behavioral labels of aggression, separation anxiety, and/or fear or anxiety unrelated to separation anxiety in canine patients. In addition, the frequency of certain psychoactive medication (ie, clomipramine, fluoxetine, trazodone) prescriptions was compiled.
The overall frequency of behavioral problem labels was 5%, increasing from 1% in 2010 to 10.2% in 2020. The likelihood of a label being assigned was low.
Psychoactive medications were prescribed at a low level. Among dogs with a behavioral label, only 0.15% were prescribed clomipramine, 0.14% were prescribed fluoxetine, and 8.4% were prescribed trazodone. Trazodone was most commonly prescribed but is not FDA-approved for treatment of behavioral problems. In overall cases in which behavioral medications were prescribed, 70% lacked an associated behavioral label.
… The Takeaways
Key pearls to put into practice:
There is a gap between frequency of behavioral problems and identification and treatment in general practice. A study based on pet owner surveys indicated incidence of fear and anxiety was 44%, while aggression was 30%.1 In addition, one study using a large dataset of dogs in the United States found that a behavioral concern had been reported in 99.12% of dogs.2
In this study, the most frequent label was anxiety unrelated to separation anxiety, indicating nonspecific signs of anxiety are common; however, 70% of dogs given trazodone did not have a label, suggesting clinicians were aware of signs of anxiety but unsure about attaching a specific label. Training programs (see Suggested Reading) can help with recognizing, identifying, and diagnosing signs of fear and anxiety. Straightforward descriptive labels (eg, situational phobia/fear and distress) may help with accurate identification and treatment.
Taking time to efficiently screen for behavioral concerns can be difficult; however, in a study in which owners completed an 8-question, yes/no behavior questionnaire in the waiting room, identification of behavioral problems increased.3 Implementing this simple screening tool can increase identification of behavioral problems, addressing the discrepancy between frequency of behavioral problems and effective identification and treatment.
Suspected Hepatotoxicity Secondary to Trazodone Therapy
Trazodone is commonly used in dogs for its antianxiety effects, but can it contribute to hepatotoxicity? Read this case in which trazodone-related hepatotoxicosis may be first described.
You are reading 2-Minute Takeaways, a research summary resource presented by Clinician’s Brief. Clinician’s Brief does not conduct primary research.