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Leaving an anxious canine behind could be a horrible feeling for a pet proprietor, particularly when their home is stuffed with chewed up sneakers and destroyed pillows upon return.
Pet nervousness isn’t all that unusual. In a 2020 examine, researchers in Finland surveyed canine house owners and located almost three-fourths (73%) of dogs had some type of nervousness, with noise sensitivity being the commonest trait, adopted carefully by worry.
Fortunately, there are therapies for nervousness in dogs, together with treatment like fluoxetine, an antidepressant that has successfully handled the signs of tension and different behavioral problems in dogs.
And for many pet house owners, the treatment is roofed by pet insurance coverage.
Here’s a take a look at fluoxetine and whether or not it’s secure to provide to your canine.
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What Is Fluoxetine (Prozac) Used for in Dogs?
Similar to its use for people, fluoxetine—additionally referred to by the model identify Prozac—is mostly used to deal with nervousness in dogs.
“Fluoxetine may be used to treat a number of behavioral disorders in dogs such as aggression, separation anxiety, phobias and compulsive behaviors,” says Dr. Jennifer Sperry, D.V.M., veterinary advisor for Pets Plus Us, a pet insurance coverage firm in Canada.
While treating a canine with worry, phobia, aggression or nervousness often focuses on altering a canine’s emotional response with counterconditioning or reinforced-based strategies, typically it’s not sufficient by itself.
“Early intervention with medication may be necessary to achieve success and can be in the best interest of the fearful, anxious or phobic dog,” notes the Merck Veterinary Manual.
“The main benefits of using fluoxetine in dogs are the potential for improved behavior and reduced symptoms of anxiety or compulsive behaviors, leading to a better quality of life for the pet and its owners,” says Dr. Robert Gonzalez, D.V.M., regional medical director for Small Door Veterinary, a series of veterinary services within the Northeast.
Is Fluoxetine Safe To Give to Dogs?
When given below the route of your veterinarian, fluoxetine is secure to provide to dogs.
“Fluoxetine can be a safe medication for dogs, but it is important to schedule an exam with your veterinarian before starting your dog on any new medication,” says Dr. Erica Thiel, D.V.M., Midwest space medical director for IndeVets, a nationwide veterinary staffing service.
Fluoxetine vs. Prozac
It’s essential to notice that fluoxetine is referred to by quite a lot of different names, that are branded names from completely different producers of the identical treatment. While Prozac is without doubt one of the commonest, different model names for fluoxetine embrace Sarafem, Rapiflux and Selfemra.
Any use of those medicine in dogs is “off label” that means they haven’t been authorized to be used in dogs by the FDA.
In 2022, the FDA did approve the treatment Reconcile, which incorporates fluoxetine hydrochloride, to be used with dogs. Reconcile is meant to deal with separation nervousness in dogs together with conduct modification coaching.
Thiel notes that veterinarians nonetheless prescribe fluoxetine off-label as an alternative of Reconcile “for a variety of reasons including ease of access (more pharmacies will carry these products over Reconcile), dosing options and occasionally due to cost concerns for the client.”
Other Medicine Dosage and Uses For Dogs:
When Owners Can Give Fluoxetine to Dogs
Fluoxetine ought to solely be given to dogs if it has been prescribed by a veterinarian to assist deal with nervousness or behavioral points.
Fluoxetine ought to solely be given to your canine after you’ve taken them to the vet.
“Your veterinarian will check that your dog is healthy with no underlying conditions that would make it unsafe to give your dog fluoxetine,” Thiel says. “They will also verify that your dog is not taking any medication(s) that should not be administered with fluoxetine.”
When Owners Shouldn’t Give Fluoxetine to Dogs
It’s at all times greatest to speak to your veterinarian about all drugs and dietary supplements your canine is taking, in addition to any recognized allergic reactions with regards to drugs.
Fluoxetine shouldn’t be utilized in dogs for the next causes:
- They are at the moment on or have been lately on different antidepressants
- They have a historical past of seizures
- They are on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), which may improve the chance of gastrointestinal bleeding
- They have a recognized allergy to fluoxetine or its parts
- They are at the moment taking or have lately taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which may result in doubtlessly harmful drug interactions
- They have extreme liver or kidney illness
What is a Safe Fluoxetine (Prozac) Dosage For Dogs?
A secure dosage of fluoxetine will depend upon a number of components, together with the canine’s dimension, weight, and its particular behavioral wants for the treatment.
Fluoxetine is mostly prescribed for dogs at 1 to 2 milligrams per kilogram (about 2.2 kilos) each 24 hours, in keeping with the Merck Veterinary Manual.
The VCA Hospitals be aware that fluoxetine is available in pill, capsule or liquid kind, and will be given with or with out meals.
Can Dogs Overdose On Fluoxetine?
While fluoxetine is secure and authorized by the FDA to deal with nervousness in dogs, an excessive amount of can result in toxicity, in keeping with the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists.
Dogs can overdose on fluoxetine, and should develop one thing known as serotonin syndrome, Thiel says.
Sperry notes that “signs of serotonin syndrome can appear in as little as an hour or can take several days to develop.”
Symptoms of serotonin toxicity in dogs embrace:
- Fatigue
- Agitation
- Tremors
- Increased saliva manufacturing
- Vomiting
- Loss of urge for food or refusal to eat
- Seizures
- Aggression
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Decreased coronary heart price
- Difficulty walking
If you watched your canine has taken an excessive amount of fluoxetine, it’s essential you name your veterinarian immediately.
Can I Give My Dog Fluoxetine Every Day?
Fluoxetine is meant for each day use and usually given to dogs each 24 hours
Fluoxetine Side Effects for Dogs
When taken as prescribed, fluoxetine ought to assist ease extensive fluctuations in temper resembling worry and nervousness.
“In many cases, fluoxetine can help reduce anxiety and compulsive behaviors, leading to a calmer and more relaxed dog, Gonzalez says.“It can improve the dog’s overall quality of life by alleviating symptoms associated with behavioral disorders.”
But as is the case with most drugs, fluoxetine does carry the chance of uncomfortable side effects.
The commonest uncomfortable side effects for dogs taking the usual dose of fluoxetine embrace:
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Appetite loss
- Lethargy
- Changes in sleep patterns
“Some dogs may also experience increased anxiety or aggression as an initial side effect before the medication starts to take effect,” Gonzalez notes. “It’s important to monitor your dog closely during the initial weeks of treatment for any concerning side effects.”
How Long Does it Take for Fluoxetine to Start Working?
Fluoxetine doesn’t begin working instantly.
“It generally takes about two weeks for fluoxetine to reach therapeutic levels in the body and start showing positive effects,” says Dr. Diana Watkins, D.V.M., proprietor of 143 Veterinary Services in Cohasset, Massachusetts.
In some cases, it may well take 4 to eight weeks for the total results of fluoxetine to be seen in some sufferers, Thiel provides.
How Long Does Fluoxetine Stay in a Dog’s System?
How lengthy fluoxetine stays in a canine’s system can range relying on the canine’s total well being and metabolism, in addition to how lengthy the canine was on the treatment.
Typically, fluoxetine stays within the physique wherever from a number of days to some weeks, Gonzalez says.
Thiel notes it’s essential that house owners not abruptly cease giving fluoxetine to their dogs, particularly in the event that they’ve been on the treatment for some time. Dogs must be slowly tapered off of fluoxetine.
“Sudden withdrawals can increase the risk of side effects, and even potentially worsen the undesirable behavior the dog was experiencing and put on fluoxetine for in the first place,” Thiel says.
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Bottom Line
Under the correct care of a veterinarian, and at the side of a behavioral modification plan, fluoxetine can be utilized safely to deal with and handle nervousness in dogs. Not solely can it assist enhance your canine’s well-being and high quality of life, however it may well assist enhance yours as effectively.
If you suppose your canine could also be a candidate for fluoxetine, it’s essential to go to your veterinarian—solely they will decide if the treatment is acceptable to your canine.
