Anti-depressants not for dogs?
"We would not approve of a vet to prescribe anti-depressants
or of people giving them their own anti-depressants. If an animal is in a
depressed state, you need to ask why and take it out of that situation."
(Sounds like good common sense. Why doesn't it apply to humans?)
http://www.thisiseastbourne.co.uk/eastbourne/news/NEWS19.html
Dogs on Prozac
by Chris White
Picture the scene. Pooch is sitting glumly in his doggie basket as if he is
carrying the world's problems on his back.
For most people, the answer would be taking the mutt for a good walk or treating
him to a juicy bone to lift the doggie depression.
But for some in America, that simply isn't good enough. They are taking canine
therapy to new levels by prescribing their pets anti-depressants.
Now, animal welfare workers over here are so concerned that they have issued a
desperate plea - stick to tender loving care and leave Prozac to the humans.
Drugs are being used to cure an increasing number of stressed-out animals and
there have even been reports that Prozac is being used to cure the doggie blues.
The RSPCA and other animal welfare groups have expressed grave concern that
people in Sussex are copying the Americans by giving their dogs Prozac.
A spokeswoman said: "We would not approve of a vet to prescribe anti-depressants
or of people giving them their own anti-depressants.
"If an animal is in a depressed state, you need to ask why and take it out of
that situation."
In America, scientists have hailed Prozac as a potential cure for aggressive and
depressed dogs.
The drug is now available in the US as a meat flavoured pill, despite its known
dangerous side effects.
But Sussex Pet Rescue foster carer Jackie Petty, who took in Tess, a
four-year-old Labrador, is horrified.
Tess was a very depressed dog, who was terrified of men. Jackie explains: "I
don't know how she got this phobia, it might have been from abuse.
"But the previous owners thought it was best that she avoided any men so for the
past year and a half she has never seen one, even when she was taken out for a
walk.
"She has now been with us for two weeks and has gradually got used to my
husband. We are trying to approach the problem head on, rather than run away
from it.
"This is not something that can be helped by drugs. They are not always the
answer."
Pet Rescue organiser Marcia Harris added: "We have found that owners have given
their own prescribed drugs to their dogs.
"Not only is this very cruel, but it is irresponsible. Some people get a dog but
don't realise what it takes to care for it."
Animal behaviourist John Bowen blames the problem of stressed out pets on the
quickening pace of society.
He says people don't look after their dogs as well as they did in the past.
He said: "A dog is a highly intelligent and social animal and that is where the
problem lies.
"In years gone by, large families kept a dog and so there was always someone
around, usually the woman.
More people these days live on their own or just as a couple, so a dog does not
have the same level of social contact, especially if all the household is at
work during the day.
"The situation has got worse over the years and that is one of the reasons why
more dogs get depressed. But, using the likes of Prozac is not the answer.
"Many anti-depressant drugs are not compatible with a dog and can make their
condition worse."
Rayner Butshke, of Sussex Pet Ambulance, has heard of cases where dogs have been
fed anti-depressants that are meant for human consumption.
He said: "In most cases, it's not the animals that need the drugs, it's the
owners."
