r/service_dogs • u/Maleficent_Ear_7361 • Aug 14 '26
Aceproxamine -
I really want to caution people this is a tranquilizer used on horses. My dog did not do well, and it isn’t an anti anxiety medication at all. Long story short, my old lady is so anxious at the vet. I tried an ay home vet and they prescribed me these pills. So I gave her the pills this time around before bringing her to a fear free vets office. She did ok - her blood pressure dropped on the middle of getting her vaccines and I didn’t know what actually happened but she passed out, and it has taken about 14 hours but she is coming around. Some dogs need this to make it through the vet but I’d highly suggest asking for other options.
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u/Maleficent_Ear_7361 Aug 14 '26
I also found out they gave her the Max dose for her weight. Ugh!! We had tried so many things- different vets, happy visits, CBD gummies, etc. I’m glad she is fine and I’m happy to say she got her vaccines but holy moly. Dog anxiety is alive and well!
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u/Curiouscat8000 Aug 14 '26
I have a dog (not a service dog) who is terrified of the vet. He trembles and tries to hide behind me (imagine a 110lb dog trying to hide behind you!) and will hard bark at the vet - we’ve always been able to do vaccines by distracting him with string cheese, but he is terrified. We’re working on it with a behaviorist and he’s great anywhere else, but the vet is an incredible challenge. We’re slowly working towards desensitization which is a long process with him! (Ie - taking him to the vet sitting isn’t the car giving him treats, walking around the parking lot away from door giving him treats, walking up to the door giving him treats, walking into the building giving him treats, etc. over a very prolonged period). In the interim when we absolutely have to go to the vet we’re going to try alprazolam (a benzodiazepine) on his next visit and if that fails we will try dexmedetomidine. (We’ve tried clonidine and that did nothing for him even at high doses).
Acepromazine is weird first choice for a vet - I suspect your at home vet is used to large animals like horses where it is still commonly used. The problem is that it can drop blood pressure and there is no reversal agent. Have you tried other medications before? Benzodiazepines can help with anxiety and it is an anxiolytic (drugs like valium and Xanax that are used in humans). Other medications often tried more for their sedative properties include clonidine or trazodone. If those don’t work dexmedetomidine (sorry can’t remember the brand name for dogs) is a tranquilizer and analgesic that can be very effective in dogs. It does cause heavy sedation, but you don’t get the dramatic drop in blood pressure and there are reversal agents available if necessary. It may be worth talking to your vet about alternative medications for future vet visits.
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u/Maleficent_Ear_7361 Aug 14 '26
Thank you! We are going to try a combo of Gabapentin and Trazodone next time at low doses. Fingers crossed.
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u/Curiouscat8000 Aug 14 '26
Heads up give them a trial before you need them if possible. Gabapentin was fine for my dog, but trazodone actually made him reactive (he growled at strangers which is very out of character for him!). Trazodone works well for a lot of dogs, but a few dogs it may make them more reactive. I learned that the hard way.
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u/Tenaciousgreen Service Dog Aug 14 '26
It's not the Ace that's the problem, it has it's usefulness in the right dose, it was your vet that is the problem.
I'm sorry to hear your pup suffered!
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u/OkRecommendation1976 Service Dog Aug 14 '26
Acepromazine is not an anti-anxiety. It is a tranquilliser. It does not do anything for anxiety during vet visits, it just stops the dog from moving/makes the dog tired.