There were several questions we didn't have time for on the webcast. Dr. Eagan supplied us with answers:
1. Is there a study on how long trazodone works for a dog? Does its efficacy ever decrease with length of use?
Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) with an onset of effect typically within 30–90 minutes after oral administration. In dogs, the pharmacokinetic elimination half-life averages about 2.8 hours (166 ± 47 min), with high oral bioavailability (~85%) and considerable variability in time to peak plasma concentration (mean = 7.4 ± 4.5 hours; Jay et al., 2013). Plasma concentrations remained within the therapeutic range reported for humans (130 ng/mL to 2 µg/mL) for 4 to 14 hours in most dogs, suggesting a functional duration of action of roughly 4 to 10 hours depending on the individual. Unfortunately, I am not aware of published information examining whether its efficacy decreases over time, but it is often used successfully for longer-term management of anxiety with continued reported benefit.
In shelter contexts, trazodone is usually used as a short-acting situational or transitional medication to help dogs cope with acute stressors such as intake or confinement. The main published shelter study (Abrams et al., 2020) found that administering trazodone during intake was associated with reduced illness, shorter length of stay, and higher adoption rates, supporting its benefit for short-term stress reduction rather than long-term maintenance.
References:
• Jay AR, et al. (2013). Pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and hemodynamic effects of trazodone after intravenous and oral administration of a single dose to dogs. Am J Vet Res.
• Abrams KM, et al. (2020). Trazodone as a mediator of transitional stress in a shelter environment. J Vet Behav.
2. Once animals are started on medications, are they kept on them for the duration of their stay or only during transition?
In our results (and other studies), shelters reported using medications for both transitions, and for longer term use. Further, in our study, only about 3-4% of respondents said they medicate all animals on intake. If the medication clearly supports ongoing welfare or behavior modification progress, or if progression stops when medication stops, then medication is often continued (e.g., Collins et al 2022)
3. Is there a version of welfare tracking/resources for shelters that use the Five Domains model instead of FAS scoring?
Yes! The ASPCA's Holistic Quality of Life (QOL) Assessment -- part of the Behavior Pathway -- maps closely onto the Five Domains model. It integrates physical health, environment, nutrition, behavior, and mental state, which makes it easy to align with this welfare framework. Other complementary tools include the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) and the Shelter Quality Protocol, which related to the Five Domains model.
https://awag.org.uk/about
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/2024-06/aspca-holistic-quality-of-life.docx&ved=2ahUKEwiI5oGn7pmQAxUsnokEHajdB50QFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw27La_hFDT8wSexntYm7wx_
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S155878782100068X
4. Re 'Causes of behavior problems,' how were developmental issues and genetic factors defined?
In the survey, respondents rated agreement with several predefined statements about causes of behavior problems. 'Developmental issues' referred to experiences during the socialization period (for example, lack of positive exposure to people, animals, or environments). 'Genetic factors' referred more broadly to inherited temperamental traits that may predispose animals to fear or anxiety. Respondents most strongly agreed that the shelter environment itself was the main cause of behavior problems (93%), followed by developmental and underlying anxiety factors.
5. What was the distribution of Canadian shelters across provinces, and were differences between the U.S. and Canada examined?
Canadian shelters represented roughly 28% of the analyzed responses (65 of 233 unique organizations), spanning several provinces. While the study didn't analyze differences at the provincial level, we did compare countries statistically. There were no significant differences between U.S. and Canadian shelters in medication use frequency, comfort, or perceived efficacy. This suggests fairly consistent approaches to psychoactive medication use across North America on a broad level.
------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 09-12-2025 09:04 AM
From: Alison Gibson
Subject: Maddie's Insights webcast October 9, 2025: Shelter Practices & Barriers in the Use of Anxiety Medications & Alternatives
Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the October 9th webcast is @Bailey Eagan, PhD, MSc., Director of Research with the ASPCA.
When: Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 12noon Pacific / 2pm Central / 3pm Eastern (1-hour)
This webcast will be recorded and made available on Maddie's University a day or so after the live event.
Register here: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister
Fear, anxiety, and stress are common challenges for cats and dogs in shelter environments, yet little is known about how shelters use psychoactive medications and non-medication alternatives to address these welfare concerns. This presentation will include findings from a recently published study examining which psychoactive medications (such as gabapentin, trazodone, and fluoxetine) and non-medication alternatives (such as pheromones and nutraceuticals) are most commonly used in shelters in North America, how shelter staff perceive their efficacy and ease of administration, and the barriers such as cost, uncertainty about efficacy, and time constraints that limit their use, when warranted.
In addition to highlighting key differences between cats and dogs in reported treatment frequency, this presentation will explore how factors such as shelter type, intake volume, and staff roles influence anxiety-medication decision-making. Attendees will gain a comprehensive overview of current practices, perspectives, and challenges to support them in evaluating and applying this information within their own animal care. Based on the barriers identified, the session will conclude with a research-informed discussion on practical strategies to address these challenges and identify priority areas for future work.
Earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webinar has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.
About the speaker Bailey H. Eagan, PhD, MSc.
Dr. Eagan completed her PhD work at the University of British Columbia in Applied Animal Biology, and now serves as a Director of Research at the ASPCA. Dr. Eagan's work focuses on understanding and improving shelter animal welfare through research, including topics such as sound impacts on shelter animals, drivers of shelter intake, anxiety-reducing medication and alternatives, behavior modification, and the use of accessible technologies like open-source computer vision. Dr. Eagan's work is dedicated to making animal welfare research both accessible and actionable for animal shelters.
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------