The Behavioural Side of Recovery: Supporting Rehabilitation Following Orthopaedic Surgery
As published in VET Magazine Annual Guide (Trauma Care), August 2026.
Successful recovery following orthopaedic surgery extends beyond the procedure itself. While clinicians focus on wound healing, analgesia and rehabilitation, behavioural factors also play an important role in patient outcomes.
Dogs recovering from fractures, cruciate ligament repairs, luxating patella surgery and other orthopaedic procedures often require strict activity restriction, which can be challenging for both patients and owners. Confinement-related stress may result in pacing, vocalisation, restlessness, escape attempts and excessive activity, potentially compromising recovery.¹ Behavioural support should begin, where possible, before surgery to promote positive associations with confinement and, alongside analgesia, crate training and owner education, reduce fear, anxiety and stress while supporting calm behaviour and rest.²
How trazodone supports the patients’ recovery
Trazodone is used in veterinary medicine for its anxiolytic and calming effects, supporting improved confinement tolerance and calmer behaviour during recovery.¹ Studies have demonstrated that there are numerous benefits in using Trazodone peri-operatively, including reduced propofol requirements during induction, fewer vomiting events following morphine premedication and reduced rescue analgesia boluses.3,4
How Australian studies strengthen the evidence behind Trazocalm®
Complementing published literature, Australian studies conducted by InVetro have evaluated the efficacy and safety of Trazocalm®. Dogs receiving Trazocalm® demonstrated improved handling, compliance, positioning and reduced reactivity, measured using Grint Score assessments, from doses as low as 5 mg/kg. These findings support calmer patient management during examinations and recovery.⁵
Further data demonstrated a rapid onset of effect, with reduced activity observed for up to eight hours. Clinicians should consider repeat daily dosing as recommended on the Trazocalm® label to support patients during the confinement period after orthopaedic surgery when they need to remain calm. A lower starting dose is recommended, and this can be increased and administered up to 3 times daily if required with dosing for a period of 4-12 weeks after the patient has been evaluated beyond each 4-week period.
InVetro’s findings align with published research demonstrating improved tolerance of post-operative confinement following orthopaedic surgery¹ and reductions in behavioural and physiological indicators of stress during veterinary visits.²
Veterinarians in Australia now have access to Trazocalm®, the first APVMA-approved* veterinary trazodone product available under Permit PER93844. Supported by Australian efficacy and safety data, Trazocalm® demonstrated a favourable safety profile, including no clinically relevant ECG abnormalities at therapeutic or supratherapeutic doses and no adverse events when administered alongside commonly prescribed medications.⁵
As recognition of fear, anxiety and stress continues to grow, behavioural support is becoming an increasingly important component of rehabilitation. Addressing both physical and behavioural needs can support patient comfort, owner compliance and successful recovery.
References*Trazocalm® is a veterinary medicine approved under APVMA PER93844. This permit authorises supply of an unregistered product. An application has been made to register the product.
1Gruen ME, Roe SC, Griffith E, et al. Use of trazodone to facilitate postsurgical confinement in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014;245(3):296–301.
2Kim YK, Lee SS, Choi HJ, et al. Effects of trazodone on behavioral and physiological signs of stress in dogs during veterinary visits. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2022;260(8):876–883.
3Pennington E, Springer C, Albright J, Castel A. Evaluation of different methods of environmental enrichment to control anxiety in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy after acute intervertebral disc extrusion: a randomised double-blinded study. Front Vet Sci. 2023;10:1124982.
4Cambeiro-Camarero N, Fernández-Martín S, González-Cantalapiedra A. Evaluation of oral trazodone as a strategy to reduce anaesthetic requirements in bitches undergoing ovariectomy. Animals. 2025;15:854.
5InVetro. Data on file. Australian efficacy, safety and dissolution studies for Trazocalm®.