Prozac for dogs is a miracle, and more people should consider it. Yes, MY dog is on Prozac (Fluoxetine). She has been on Prozac since she was just over two, and had I done it earlier, life would have been a lot easier and simpler.
I urge all pet owners who have extreme behavior problems (reactive, anxiety, etc., ruling out health issues first) to consider medication such as Prozac for dogs as early as possible. The thought of medicating my dog scared me at first – I mean, what sort of failure of a pet owner would I be to need Prozac for my dog? Sure, drug her up! Had I not had this stigma in my head about putting my dog on medication, we could have gotten on a path to happy lives a lot faster.
Our Prozac Story
Emme is as well bred as dogs get. She is from world-class lines who have health and behavior history for years and years. But she has a screw loose. Or maybe three or four screws loose!
Her reactive and guarding behaviors started as early as 16 weeks old. She bit me after I tried to take a chew away from her. At six months old she started viciously attacking my partner. We could not identify what was causing this behavior. Likely it was escalated resource guarding gone wrong. These traumatic months for us turned into years. I tried every “natural” remedy I could find. We tried training. Nothing worked.
Finally I caved, and started her on Prozac for dogs. And it changed our lives.
Were it not for the Prozac, she may have been euthanized. That’s right. Euthanized. Let that sink in. That is how dire our situation was.
And now – because of the Prozac, she’s an awesome dog. I often wonder how many other dogs could be saved if their owners knew the options open to them?
Close friends & family know my dog is on Prozac. But when I tell others not within our close circle, I usually get funny looks, or an eye roll. I’m told I should train my dog better instead. These people do not have our experiences. They do not know. All the training in the world won’t help. The medication helps Emme’s brain allow her to be receptive to the right behaviors. It helps “take the edge off” her anxiety and helps her be able to redirect to proper behaviors. It helps her learn. With the right dosage (and no ill effects), we are issue-free for years.
Prozac Saved Our Lives
We still have our issues: dog reactivity, leash reactivity, general crazy sometimes. But I know how to work through them, and with the help of the Prozac, Emme is able to calm down quicker and redirect to me and yummy treats. If we see you on the street with your dog, don’t be offended when we spin around and go the other way without any word – I just can’t take my focus off her and redirecting her. We try to avoid situations where she may feel threatened or confused, we avoid putting her into a position to guard me (she loves me so much, lucky me). Without the Prozac I’m not sure any of this could have occurred.
Now we get to enjoy all the things we love:
- Agility competitions
- Dock diving
- Barn hunt
- Rally
- Walks and visiting her favorite people!
She is a happy dog and lives life to the fullest!
Talk to Your Veterinarian
Putting your dog on medication is not something you should do without first ruling out any other medical issue. Take your dog to the veterinarian for a full physical exam. This should include: behavior history, thyroid panel, and any blood work your vet recommends. If possible, consult a Certified Veterinary Behaviorist. They are best equipped to help you with behavior modification exercises and the right type of medication. (Sometimes several different medications need to be tried to see what works best). We did all of this and MUCH, MUCH more before finally settling on this medication.
I hope this post helps out some other dogs and dog owners who may not know where to turn next.
Recommended Behavior Training Reading:
- Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog by Emma Parsons
- Mine! by Jean Donaldson
- The Cautious Canine: How to Help Dogs Conquer their Fears by Patricia McConnell
- On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
- Culture Clash by Jean Donaldso
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