News & Tech
Suicidal Pets: Prozac to Fight Depression, Separation Anxiety
Feb 27, 2008
Veterinarians and pet owners are trying new things to solve the problems many pets face. So many pets get very lonely and even depressed when left alone and now some veterinarians are promoting the administration of Prozac to what some are calling their suicidal pets. Separation anxiety is very real for some pets and many pet owners will notice that in a variety of ways.
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| Suicidal Pets: Prozac to Fight Depression, Separation Anxiety |
Dogs will howl when they leave, pace and become very stressed out. They sometimes will chew up different things in the house as they counted the hours until their owner makes it back home. Basically they are lonely and want to be reunited with their owner. But should we dope them up with Prozac?
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As many pet owners already realize, animals are just as subject to feelings of fear, abandonment, loneliness and other rather 'human' emotions as we are. The more intelligent the creature, the more difficult the situation can get. One vet in the UK is noting that more are getting medication. Romain Pizzi told the Telegraph that more pets were being prescribed Prozac.
Exotic birds are also at a big risk. The smarter the pet the more stressed it can become. According to an article in the Telegraph, veterinarians are using a liquid, flavored form of Prozac to give exotic birds but only in "the most extreme cases", in addition to other tactics such as stimulating their environment.
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And check this out, there are other options being worked on by some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Eli Lilly has released a beef-flavored chewable anti-depressant for dogs called Reconcile.
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