{"id":4483,"date":"2019-06-19T17:43:03","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T21:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www1.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=4483"},"modified":"2024-12-18T17:57:55","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T22:57:55","slug":"putting-dog-prozac-anti-anxiety-medication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/putting-dog-prozac-anti-anxiety-medication\/","title":{"rendered":"What you need to know about putting your dog on Prozac"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a lot of stress in America\u2014and your pets are not immune. That\u2019s right, your pup can have anxiety. In severe cases, it might require <\/span>treatment with veterinary medicine<\/span><\/a>, like Prozac for dogs. Over the past few decades, there\u2019s been an increase in anxiety diagnoses in dogs, according to Dr. Amy Pike, a veterinary behaviorist in Northern Virginia and self-proclaimed \u201cpsychiatrist of the dog world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the U.S., 45 million homes have at least one dog. That\u2019s the highest dog ownership number reported since the <\/span>American Veterinary Medical Association<\/span><\/a> first began measuring in 1982. There haven\u2019t been any good studies on the prevalence of canine anxiety as a whole, but Dr. Pike says noise aversion studies show that 60%\u201370% of dogs have a <\/span>noise phobia<\/span><\/a>. That could encompass behaviors such as fear of garbage trucks and panic during thunderstorms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To help their pets, some owners are turning to antidepressant medicines such as <\/span>Prozac<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>fluoxetine<\/span><\/a>). A\u00a0<\/span>2017 national market survey<\/span> suggests that nearly 10% of dog owners give their pets anti-anxiety medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is dog Prozac (fluoxetine)?<\/b><\/h2>\n

When veterinarians prescribe Prozac (fluoxetine as generic) for dogs, it\u2019s the same medication you would receive from your doctor for a similar issue\u2014just in a different dosage. It\u2019s a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), meaning it blocks your body from reabsorbing serotonin. When levels of this neurotransmitter are higher in the brain, it\u2019s thought to improve mood. Does your dog need anti-anxiety medication?<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Prozac prescribed for?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The most common reason veterinarians <\/span>prescribe Prozac<\/span><\/a> is for anxiety disorders. But it can also help with a variety of other behavioral issues including aggression, compulsive disorders, phobias\/fear, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n