Impact of short-acting behavior medications on clinical testing

Authors: Radosta L
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 55, Issue 1, pp 19-23, Mar 2025
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Animal type: Cat, Dog
Article class: Clinical Article

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Abstract:

As with much of veterinary medicine, we understand less than we would like about how medications prescribed for behavior problems in companion animals can affect diagnostic testing. Unlike human medicine, where dosing and formulations are more standardized, veterinary patients receive a wide variety of drug formulations and dosages. The absence of specific studies on companion animals at various doses and preferred routes of administration forces us to rely on extrapolations from human research and studies on other animal species, formulations, and dosages.

Veterinarians may be undereducated about the medications used to treat behavior problems in companion animals. Undereducation can lead to uncertainty and overconcern in decision-making, resulting in the discontinuation of behavior medications before procedures, unnecessarily removing the stress support system from the patient.

Prescribing pre-visit pharmaceuticals (PVP) is becoming more common as veterinarians recognize the effect of stress on not only the patient’s quality of life but also on immune response, recovery from anesthesia, and hematological parameters. PVPs reduce stress and positively affect biological parameters such as blood glucose, neutrophils, creatine kinase, and lymphocytes. With every rose, there is a thorn, and behavior medications are no different. Some medications that relieve stress before procedures can affect diagnostic testing. Knowing which medications to use at what time can make all the difference when walking the thin line between reducing stress and maintaining a high level of medical care.

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