WHY A VET MAY RECOMMEND PROZAC FOR YOUR DOG
My niece, who lives outside Philadelphia, adopted a now two-and-a-half-year-old mix breed dog from a reputable shelter about six months ago. She is in a nursing program and must spend long gaps of time doing her on-site studies; leaving Buckley to be walked by different dog walkers, or by her mother, or sending him to doggie daycare, or boarding him for weekends. Not only has it been hugely expensive but emotionally trying on both human and dog who long to spend more time together. When she came down for a visit with Buckley two months ago, I saw a depressed dog and a stressed-out person. Buckley enjoys doggie day care, and the place where he boards, but he has taken offense to being walked by various employed strangers with whom he has no bond, to the point that his protests are verging on aggression. Overall Buckley is very accepting of dogs and people, but I would not call him a jolly soul. My niece has consulted many specialists and behaviorists and is feeling guilty at the thought of rehoming him, like she is the failure when in fact he just may be the wrong match for her current (and future) lifestyle as he would do better with consistent human interaction and stimulation. Her two cats for company in a small apartment are not enough. Her vet has now started Buckley on Prozac.
Prozac may help rescue pets with bad life experiences like abandonment and/or abuse. Ebby, I later learned, may have been abused by the old man’s wife, as she was supposedly his dog. Ebby has become quite friendly to neighbors and contract workers stopping by-until yesterday when she growled and snapped at Stu. “I thought I was your friend.” Stu sadly remarked to her. Luckily, she did not bite him. Although I have been giving Ebby CBD oil in her nightly meal and a CBD Pet Stress Relief when we go to the vet or she gets groomed, we must always be on alert with her. My niece does not know much about Buckley’s previous life. But the moment she was introduced, he rolled his sixty-pound body over in her lap for belly rubs. She was “hooked line and sinker.” Buckley is her very first canine pet.
The generic name for Prozac is Fluoxetine. It is a drug that has been widely used for humans to treat certain anxiety disorders and more recently (perhaps 25 years), for companion animals suffering from anxiety and anxiety related anti-social and destructive behaviors. Prozac is a serotonin enhancer, giving longer feelings of happiness and well-being. “Serotonin is a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout the body. It plays a key role in such body functions as mood, sleep, digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health, blood clotting, and sexual desire.” It is especially helpful to dogs that are anxious and depressed. It is not particularly costly and can be a means to controlling a pet’s aggression, fear of thunderstorms, anxiety around strangers, compulsive disorders (like Zoey licking her feet) and urine marking. Compulsive disorders also include, “licking of wrists and ankles, light or shadow-chasing, tail-chasing, rock chewing, compulsive digging and even compulsive swimming.” Prozac has been used very successfully with SEPARATION ANXIETY.
Keep in mind that Prozac may not be the cure-all for every dog. It takes a few weeks to take full effect. Although it may not work for your dog there are similar drugs that you might try. Prozac must be monitored by your vet as it can cause reduced appetite, lack of energy, itchiness, and when given more than needed, anxiety, tremors, restlessness or panting. It also might be necessary to combine a Prozac regimen with behavior modification techniques and/or desensitization to the negative triggers. Don’t allow stigmatization of this drug to cause you to despair or refuse its potential success. Although it may help Buckley to accept his new life’s order, it still may not be the best home for him or he the best companion for my niece at this time.
