Fluoxetine is an antidepressant belonging to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Fluoxetine requires a prescription from your veterinarian.
For: Cats and Dogs
Benefits:
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Helps with obsessive compulsive behaviors such as tail chasing in dogs, or constant licking in dogs and cats, and other behavioral disorders which are otherwise common causes for veterinary visits
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Easy to administer
How it works: Fluoxetine affects chemicals in the brain that can cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
Cautions: Avoid giving other medicines that can make your pet sleepy (cold or allergy medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxants, seizure medicine, or other medications for depression or anxiety). Do not give Reconcile if your pet is using an MAO inhibitor such as Anipryl, selegiline, Preventic Collar, or Mitaban Dip. Side effects that may occur include rash, hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. If these or any other side effects occur, stop giving your pet Fluoxetine and contact your veterinarian.
More Information:
Brand Name Prozac (Dista), Reconcile (Lilly)
Generic Name Fluoxetine (flew-ox-a-teen) HCl
What is the most important information I should know about fluoxetine: Do not give fluoxetine with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as Anipryl, selegiline, Preventic Collar or Mitaban Dip. Call your veterinarian at once if new or worsening symptoms such as mood or behavior changes, anxiety, trouble sleeping, irritability, agitation, hostile behavior, aggression, restlessness, hyperactivity. Notify your veterinarian if your pet is pregnant, if you are planning to breed your pet, or if your pet is lactating.
What is fluoxetine: Fluoxetine is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI¿s). Fluoxetine affects chemicals in the brain that cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsession-compulsion. Fluoxetine is a prescription medication used in dogs and cats for the treatment of canine aggression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Fluoxetine is available as 10mg tablets and 20mg capsules. The usual dose is dependant on the condition being treated and the animal's response to treatment. It may take up to 3 or 4 weeks before the medication becomes effective.
What should I discuss with my veterinarian before giving fluoxetine: Do not give fluoxetine if your pet is using and MAO inhibitor such as Anipryl, selegiline, Preventic Collar, or Mitaban Dip. Serious and sometimes fatal reactions can occur when these medications are taken with fluoxetine. You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you can give fluoxetine. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping fluoxetine before you can give an MAOI. Tell your veterinarian if your pet is allergic to any medications of if your pet has liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or seizures. Fluoxetine should not be given to pregnant or lactating animals.
How should this medication be given: Give fluoxetine exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian. If you do not understand the directions ask your pharmacist or veterinarian to explain them to you. Do not give larger amounts or give it for longer than recommended by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may occasionally change the dose to achieve the best result. It may take 3 to 4 weeks or longer before fluoxetine takes effect. Do not stop using fluoxetine without first consulting with your veterinarian. Unpleasant side effects can occur if the medication is stopped suddenly. Store fluoxetine at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep this medication away from children and other pets.
What happens if I miss giving a dose: Give the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed the missed dose and give the next one as directed. Do not give a double dose of the medication.
What happens if I overdose the pet: Contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency room. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, fever, sleepiness, rapid or uneven heartbeat, panting and irritability, confusion, fainting, seizures, and coma.
What should I avoid while giving fluoxetine to my pet: Avoid giving other medicines that can make the pet sleepy such as; cold or allergy medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, seizure medicine, or other medications for depression or anxiety. Tell your veterinarian if you give your pet any of these medications regularly.
What are the possible side effects of fluoxetine: If any of the following serious side effects occur, stop giving fluoxetine and seek emergency veterinary medical attention; an allergic reaction (skin rash or hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat). Call your veterinarian at once if your pet has any new or worsening symptoms such as mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, agitation, hostility, aggression, restlessness, hyperactivity, or increased depression. Call your veterinarian at once if your pet has any serious side effects such as; seizures (convulsions); tremors, shivering, muscle stiffness or twitching; a red, blistering, peeling skin rash; problems with balance or coordination; or agitation, confusion, sweating, fast heartbeat. Less serious side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, changes in appetite, weight changes, dry mouth. Other side effects may also occur. Talk to your veterinarian about any side effect that seems unusual or bothersome to the animal.
What other drugs will affect fluoxetine: Talk to your veterinarian before giving your pet any medicine for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes carprofen, piroxicam, etodolac, and others. Giving any of these medications with fluoxetine may cause the pet to bruise or bleed easily. Before giving fluoxetine, tell your veterinarian if your pet is being given digoxin, diazepam (Valium), phenytoin (Dilantin), warfarin (Coumadin), amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil). Drugs other than those listed may also interact with fluoxetine. Talk to your veterinarian or pharmacist before giving any prescription or over the counter medicines including herbal supplement.
Where can I get more information: Your pharmacist has additional information about fluoxetine written for health professionals that you may read.
Call your veterinarian for medical advice about any side effects to your pet. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Directions:
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Fluoxetine is an antidepressant drug in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).
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Fluoxetine is available by prescription and is used to treat separation anxiety and obsessive compulsive behaviors in dogs and inappropriate elimination in cats.
Tip: Do not give larger amounts or give for longer than recommended by your veterinarian. It may take 3 to 4 weeks or longer before Fluoxetine takes effect. Do not stop Fluoxetine without first consulting with your veterinarian.
Dosage:
Pet
Weight
Dosage
Dogs/Cats:
All weights
Dosage is dependent on the condition being treated, the animal’s response to treatment, and the development of any adverse effects. Give exactly as directed by your veterinarian
Horses:
Storage: Store this medication at room temperature away from heat and moisture.
Fludrocortisone Acetate Tablet:
Active Ingredient
Amount
Fluoxetine Hydrochloride
10 mg
Fludrocortisone Acetate Capsule:
Active Ingredient
Amount
Fluoxetine Hydrochloride
20 mg
Fluoxetine
4.4
5
36
36
Sheltie with OCD
My sheltie has been diagnosed with severe Obessive Compulsive Disorder. She paces non stop, barks constantly, runs the fences, spins non stop (sort of like tail chasing) to the point of passing out in the backyard among many other behaviors. I have tried numerous different medications, Chlomipramine, Xanax, Valium and nothing has helped. Finally my vet started her on Prozac, it has been a lifesend. She still has her moments and certainly is still obsessive but it has calmed her down enough that she can relax and lay down without feeling anxious. I would definitely recommend this to someone who may be going through issues of OCD with their dog. This is the only thing that has worked!
06/13/2011
Helped our Traumatized Puppy Mill Rescue
We adopted a 10 month old Pointer mix from a shelter which had just emptied out a horrid puppy mill. Our dog was a mess at the shelter (absolutely terrified--he could not stop peeing on himself) and we knew we were the right people to adopt such a traumatized dog. He hid under a chair and peed in fear at his first obedience class and the trainer sugested we speak to the vet about Prozac. Our lovable 60 pound Pointer now takes 60 mg. of Prozac a day (40 mg in day and 20 mg at night) and it has helped tremendously. He was then easily housetrained, learned to go up and down stairs, is sociable with other dogs, and learning to be more trusting of people. Every week he shows progress. I had an aggressive dog on Prozac in the past and it helped her too (though not enough to ever make her a truly safe dog.) I am very pleased with how it has helped our very fearful traumatized puppy mil rescue and he will stay on it as long as he needs to.
03/19/2011
No more nightmares!
I got my calico from the shelter at 11 months--her first family was abusive, and she had some severe anxiety issues, especially when men were around, or during big changes in her environment.
Very friendly and sweet while awake, but appeared to have seizures in her sleep, often urinating just before waking up. She'd wake up, smell the mess, and seem very upset about it, scratching to cover it and circling the spot until I cleaned it.
I took her to 3 vets who did all sorts of urinary tests and exams--all with clear results, until finally I found a doctor who said, "She's got some bad nightmares." He prescribed Prozac, and the change was immediate. The nightmares stopped that same night!
I kept her on the meds for a month, then only used it during stressful changes. Worked like a charm and I'm thrilled to say she's doing great! The occasional nightmare here and there, but nowhere near as severe or often.
The best part of the Prozac was that it didn't affect her personality. She wasn't dopey or sleepy or in a trance. Still playful and energetic, she just slept better at night.
03/10/2013
Cat stopped spraying
My male cat sprayed due to anxiety caused by my rather aggressive new dog. First we had success with amitryptilene, which is cheaper, but eventually this cat became tolerant of that drug and resumed spraying. (My other cat is also on amitrytilene and has remained stable on that for well over a year). I switched him to generic fluoxetine 5 mg (I cut a 10 mg pill in half with a pill cutter) and give it to him in a pill pocket. It works.
01/12/2013
worked like it was supposed to
perscribed by our vet for a dog who dug up the carpet and chewed through a chair. The product has calmed her down but not affected her personality.
12/23/2012
Nail trimming and gromming can be a traumatic experience for a pet. Please consult with your veterinarian regarding your options on making this a pleasant experience.
I give him one capsule a day, in the morning, by covering it with the "canned spray cheese". He licks it off my finger, and doesn't seem to notice the capsule. Morning is best with most SSRI's.
Is it safe for my 34 pound puggle to combine Clomicalm and Fluoxetine? (40mg Clomicalm and 10mg Fluoxetine) He is very hyper with major separation anxiety.
Try covering the capsule with canned "spray cheese" and see if she'll lick it off your finger and swallow w/o noticing. Peanut butter might be another option, depending about how she feels about it!
This information sheet is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian. Note: Any trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
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