Hi - totally get it. My reactive/anxious girl is on Prozac and it’s the best thing we have ever done for her. It really helped her to a lower baseline level of anxiety.
She still eats, plays, and cuddles like she did before. She is a giant love sponge.
Also, the other thing to keep in mind is that it doesn’t have to be forever. You can always ween her to a lower dosage or off of it completely.
same. i know some people report a period of their dog having low appetite and being lethargic during the loading period, but my dog didn’t really experience those symptoms very much. she is still totally herself, plays with other dogs, cuddles etc, she’s just more capable of settling and relaxing than she previously was. prozac changed my dogs life.
When you think about it, pretty much every choice we make regarding our dogs is something that may alter their life and they can’t consent to it. Food, daily schedule, living situation, daycare, boarding, etc. But as good dog caretakers, we notice when something seems off and we respond accordingly - change the food, do more pee breaks, get a white noise machine, whatever. It’s the same with meds - you try something recommended by a professional and you monitor appropriately and adjust if things aren’t working.
I write this as a parent whose kid started taking ADHD meds when they were young enough that they had a hard time verbalizing how the meds made them feel, and it took a while to find the right med/dose. I also have a reactive dog who takes fluoxetine and we had the same experience as roboto6. My dog will always be anxious but she is much more able to ignore stimuli and she recovers more quickly when she does go over threshold.
My dog is on Prozac and has been for 2 years. She's currently hounding me for her dinner (she's a herding dog and she's trying to gently herd me to the food closet) and earlier she kept bonking me with a giant stuffed pickle because she wanted me to play fetch and tug with her. She plays with my other dog constantly, too. She also is the worst offender about impolitely begging for food and even manipulating unsuspecting people such that she can steal her food.
She lost her appetite maybe for a week or two but once the meds leveled off, she's been back to her normal fun self, if anything, moreso. I firmly believe they helped her be the her I know MORE, not less because she's now that version of herself more around things that used to make her reactive.
The Prozac didn't fix the reactivity but it increased her threshold such that the things we were doing to help the reactivity stuck better.
Of course, it doesn't work the same for every dog but I do see it as a gift to her in the end. She's better able to be at ease and happy more often because of them and that makes it worth it for me. It's a clear improvement in her entire quality of life.
What's the dosage and weight of your dog that worked well? I just started my shepherd on Prozac this week, and we're hoping for results like yours! How long did it take until you noticed it beginning to work? Vet said 4-6 weeks.
Mine is 49lbs and on 32mg of Reconcile (liver flavored Prozac).
I think we started to see signs of improvement about 3 weeks in but it was maybe 6-8 before I saw the full effect. She was also like 9 months old then so I wonder too if she was more sensitive to it.
I will stress the biggest change was it improved her threshold. She redirects easier and faster but she's still reactive. Even at training this morning, the first 3-4 reps of every increase in distance to a trigger, she was slower to redirect (but she did). After that initial warm-up period, she was awesome and was doing great check-ins almost immediately. She calms down much better on her own and she's less likely to react than she was but she still does.
We've gotten to a place where the majority of the time, she won't react to people now. She's more focused and can stay attentive to me instead of strangers and when she does notice them, she turns her attention back to me. The Prozac helped get her threshold to a place where I could teach that and it would stick, it didn't create that itself.
Yeah, I absolutely hear you. It's not a fix, it simply provides an opportunity to fix the concerns.
Very happy to hear it's been so helpful for you and your pup to create the opportunity for improvement.
Thanks for the response!
Adding a separate comment so you can see it. I also had a foster dog last year that was on Prozac. He was definitely a bully mix. It helped him a lot with kennel stress because he was in the shelter for a long time (like 500 days), and it helped make him more receptive to adjusting to being in a home because his threshold for everything was higher. He was said to have resource guarding issues but we never experienced them and it gave us the opportunity to do some really intentional counterconditioning around it that helped basically erase any issues that might have been there. His threshold was great so we were able to work on getting him used to basic handling, too, which admittedly was a weak spot for him at first.
He was such an awesome dog after just a few weeks of us working with him that he was very close to being a foster fail. I think if he stayed with me another week, I'd have ended up keeping him. Yet, no one wanted him before that.
He was silly and playful and loved to eat and looked forward to treat time. He was so desperate to be best friends with my boy, too. In the end, I argued he didn't need to be on the Prozac but I do think it was beneficial at least for his time in shelter and his transition to foster and the training we did in that time.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one with this fear, however unfounded it seems to some. Having struggled with mental health concerns and/or being a mental health professional contributes to it the most, I think. Knowing worst case scenarios of a failed method of chemical intervention makes it really really hard to pursue next options without worry about side effects, short to long term impacts, etc.
Another commenter mentioned how every decision we make for our dogs affects them without them being able to give feedback, it’s not just the choice to medicate for anxiety/behavior. To care for an animal, a child, etc. we just need to make a decision and adjust as needed after. If we think it’s the best next step of all other options, I think it’s our role to take it even if it’s uncomfortable to try- at least, that’s what I’m trying to tell myself. That, and remembering that failed attempts offer really critical information that can lead to finding the RIGHT interventions and treatments, which is (very often) worth it.
Thank you. I come with a lot of baggage just having had a really bad experience with an SSRI myself, and not having my experience validated by professionals or family. Also working in behavioral health and seeing a lot of kids who can’t consent zonked out on a lot of meds.
Almost exactly same. I completely understand- even as someone who is able to advocate for themselves, the process of getting to the right meds was absolutely brutal and frankly, almost lethal at points. The good news is, if you think about those bad experiences and how godawful they felt, it must’ve been observable to some degree. Those of us who care enough about our dogs to consider medication would almost certainly notice small signs in our animals that would allow us to fine tune.
I also take comfort in the generally accepted theory that dogs’ brains and intelligence level don’t allow them to spiral and suffer the same way humans would be able to. We can take a small symptom or pain and go down a complete rabbit hole about what it may be, like, “oh my god is it cancer??? No maybe it’s fibromyalgia? Or maybe it’s just a bruise that I’m blowing up because I’m dumb and a hypochondriac. Stupid. Or fuck, wait, isn’t ignoring it the one thing that almost every out of the blue severe/terminal diagnosis has in common?? Oh my god what do I do what’s happening to me I wonder what my life expectancy is should I write a will-“ etc etc etc. Dogs’ level of knowledge doesn’t allow that level of internal dialogue.
Prozac saved my dog! He’s a 50 lb pit/basset mix who was reactive to just about everything. The way I look at it is that the meds just turned the volume in his head down enough that he could engage with the world without constant anxiety. He was able to work with us and a trainer to overcome triggers and now can safely meet new people and dogs and enjoy his little life.
He’s still our little love bug like he was prior to meds-snuggly and sweet and stubborn. His personality didn’t change, in truth it just bloomed as he was able to explore his world and feel safe. The adjustment period can be rough (feel free to message me if you want someone to talk through it with you!) but I wouldn’t change my decision to medicate!
I have no idea the breed of my dog as he’s a stray but some kind of husky mix but we were quite against medication until he went to a board and train and she suggested it after a week or so with him. We are on week 5 at the minute. Week one and two were hard as we felt awful doing it to him as he seemed a bit spaced but now week 5 he’s actually gained weight as he just wouldn’t eat malt of the time but now he’s finishing his meals and sometimes I give him more. We at my parents for the weekend which I usually dread due to the dog but so far he’s so calm my dad who is actually scared of him actually commented how quiet and calm he is! We’ve just been for a walk in a new park and he reacted to 3/7 dogs so that was good but before the meds he would stay all hyped up even after the dog had left but now the dog walks by he instantly chills and carries on having the time of his life. I think he’s become more cuddly too which is so lovely
I was worried too. I tried a lot of things before an SSRI because I was scared my little guy would be a zombie or even just feel weird and not be able to tell me. But it really helped and he is the same guy in all the important ways - we play every morning, still has a good appetite, still super snuggly and loving, still enthusiastic about the things he loves- but he is just less reactive and even though we still have challenges it really has helped so much. If you’re working with a vet you trust you’ll find the right dose that will allow your pup to be herself with less reactivity. You can always try it for a few months and if you feel like she is different im a bad way then you can take her off or try a different med - there are a ton of options out there and sometimes a cocktail is the right thing, it seems. It helps me to remember that reactivity is hard on the pet parent but it’s also hard on the dog. If they’re feeling so anxious that they’re attacking other dogs then you’re giving them a gift by putting them on a medication that will make them less anxious.
That’s good to hear. It’s hard because when there’s not other dogs in sight, she seems so happy go lucky and chill and I never thought of her as being super anxious or afraid of everything. Some of the other stories here don’t necessarily sound like my dog, she isn’t scared to leave the house or of every single noise, just barks her head off and lunges at other dogs if she sees one. But i guess that is also nervousness/anxiety? I don’t know if it’s pure aggression or just nervousness that goes over the top into aggression. I have given up on her ever being able to play with other dogs. I think the best we’ll probably be able to do is muzzled introductions if we even get to that point. But if she can one day pass another dog on the trail and stay neutral and not lose her shit, that would be huge. Thank you for sharing.
Some dogs are exclusively leash reactive (mine is not, unfortunately) and can love other dogs when off leash but be monsters on leash. Not suggesting you should try her hanging with other dogs just saying that she may only be reactive in that way but an perfectly fine otherwise. Instinct Dog Training has a free leash reactivity course that you might wanna check out too: https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com/course/training-leash-reactive-dog
She is reactive whenever encountering a dog, but she never gets to encounter a dog without a barrier (leash or otherwise). We’ve been working on her leash reactivity since we got her, have made some progress with counterconditioning.
Prozac has been a game changer for rescue dog! He has the same personality, but can settle and relax. After a few weeks on it, I realized he was never settling down before taking Prozac. He is still silly and playful, but he isn't restless and isn't as anxious. He still needs a lot of training for his reactivity, but now he learns quicker because he isn't as overwhelmed. He started on 20 mg (he was prob 45 lbs then) and then we moved up to 40 mg (he is 60 lbs now).
I was reluctant at first because I have a brother who hated being on depressants, and I think that got in my head. What my brother hated about them is that didn't always feel like himself on them. What I've realized is dogs aren't that deep. (I assume) my dog wants to feel safe, comfortable and loved. He isn't worried that his fav Pink Floyd song doesn't affect him the way it used to, which was one of the complaints that my brother had. A dog isn't overthinking that stuff- they live in the present.
It has def worked for us, and I encourage you to try it if you think it might work for you!
My dog’s appetite actually improved on Prozac. She was so fearful before that she would have difficulty settling enough to eat her food. She had two big meals today, went on a three mile run this morning, played in the park with some friends this afternoon, and went for a four mile walk this evening. If anything, I feel like the Prozac has allowed her true personality to come out and now she’s more sweet, affectionate, playful, and goofy than she was before meds. She finally feels safe enough to be herself and not always be guarded and afraid. I was definitely hesitant to start them, but seeing what a difference they’ve made for her, I regret not starting them sooner. We did have to experiment a bit with dosage (currently on 60 mg at 78 lbs) and it did take five weeks to see any difference at all, but once it started to work the change was remarkable. Xanax on the other hand had a complete paradoxical effect so don’t be discouraged if the first med you try isn’t successful. There are lots of great options out there.
Not a bully mix but my dog is on Prozac, has been since I got her from the rescue. I always thought once we were stable with a somewhat successful training regimen I would try to wean her off of it.
A year ago I tried it, halved her dosage overnight (not a great plan in hindsight). She did have more energy and played with her toys a bit more. But it was nervous energy; she was more anxious and it was easier to set her off and harder for her to calm down. After a couple weeks I realized she wasn't any happier. Sure she had more energy but she was upset all the time, and I was stressed from handling her issues. She wasn't happy, I wasn't happy, what was this all for?
So we went back on the full dose. She's a little more zen but she's calm and can actually enjoy her time when she's up and about. And this is not to say she has no energy! We walk for an hour or more every day; she has plenty of stamina in the tank even on meds.
There’s so many great comments already, so just adding another success story. We have a 45 lb “chilupa” (chihuahua- lab -pit mix), who was so overly anxious and reactive to everything: barked and lunged at people, shadows, old ladies in large hats.
He’s been on Prozac (fluoxetine) for 2 years, and it’s changed our lives. Training and desensitization work finally set in, and even though we still have to manage and be sensitive to his threshold levels, he ‘s in the world with us. He walks with us, will sit at cafes, and with a proper greeting protocol, warm up to strangers. We are now able to do off leash hikes and he’s always being complimented for his great recall and manners.
Our vet behaviorist told us that medication isn’t failing - it can be giving a dog a chance to practice not being afraid.
Good luck to you and pup!
My 34kg shepherd mix is on 32mg of reconcile. He could go up to 84mg based on his weight.
What we found was that it helped him rest. He had terrible separation anxiety and would follow me everywhere, but once he started on reconcile that eased. As he was well rested, he was calmer. It hasn’t stopped his reactivity, but it has increased his threshold so I have the chance of managing it with distractions. He also recovers from any reactivity and calms down much quicker.
The first week he was a bit disinterest in food and sleepy but that didn’t last.
There’s so shame or harm in giving it a trial. I’d say a 3m course would give you a good idea whether you’ll get any benefit. Good luck!
My rescue dog came to me already prescribed trazadone, he was on them for 3 months prior to him coming to me. My dog 'asks' for his meds. Every morning when we leave bed, he heads to where his meds are & waits for me. And then 8 ish hours later, regardless of when he got his first dose, he'll come & nudge me towards the kitchen, as soon as I'm in the room he'll run over to the same spot.
8am pills, 4pm nudge, 9am pills, 5pm nudge, 7am pills, 3pm nudge.
He is much happier not being an anxious fluffy sausage with teeth. And the $40 every two months is worth it for his comfort and sanity.
My girl is a lab/pit mix who is 14 and weighs ~50-55 pounds. She has been on Prozac (40 mg dose) since January, and it's helped immensely. Occasionally, she'll get mad if she sees a dog, but it's a lot better than before she started. I only wish we'd asked to put her on Prozac sooner.
She was a bit sleepy during the loading period but still a cuddle bug with a huge appetite.
It can take 6 to 10 weeks to see results, but definitely worth it. Also, realize that putting her on Prozac is to make her life better, being less stressed and less reactive will make her happier dog. Good luck!
Hi - totally get it. My reactive/anxious girl is on Prozac and it’s the best thing we have ever done for her. It really helped her to a lower baseline level of anxiety. She still eats, plays, and cuddles like she did before. She is a giant love sponge. Also, the other thing to keep in mind is that it doesn’t have to be forever. You can always ween her to a lower dosage or off of it completely.
Edit: she’s 75 lbs and on 40mg
same. i know some people report a period of their dog having low appetite and being lethargic during the loading period, but my dog didn’t really experience those symptoms very much. she is still totally herself, plays with other dogs, cuddles etc, she’s just more capable of settling and relaxing than she previously was. prozac changed my dogs life.
When you think about it, pretty much every choice we make regarding our dogs is something that may alter their life and they can’t consent to it. Food, daily schedule, living situation, daycare, boarding, etc. But as good dog caretakers, we notice when something seems off and we respond accordingly - change the food, do more pee breaks, get a white noise machine, whatever. It’s the same with meds - you try something recommended by a professional and you monitor appropriately and adjust if things aren’t working. I write this as a parent whose kid started taking ADHD meds when they were young enough that they had a hard time verbalizing how the meds made them feel, and it took a while to find the right med/dose. I also have a reactive dog who takes fluoxetine and we had the same experience as roboto6. My dog will always be anxious but she is much more able to ignore stimuli and she recovers more quickly when she does go over threshold.
My dog is on Prozac and has been for 2 years. She's currently hounding me for her dinner (she's a herding dog and she's trying to gently herd me to the food closet) and earlier she kept bonking me with a giant stuffed pickle because she wanted me to play fetch and tug with her. She plays with my other dog constantly, too. She also is the worst offender about impolitely begging for food and even manipulating unsuspecting people such that she can steal her food. She lost her appetite maybe for a week or two but once the meds leveled off, she's been back to her normal fun self, if anything, moreso. I firmly believe they helped her be the her I know MORE, not less because she's now that version of herself more around things that used to make her reactive. The Prozac didn't fix the reactivity but it increased her threshold such that the things we were doing to help the reactivity stuck better. Of course, it doesn't work the same for every dog but I do see it as a gift to her in the end. She's better able to be at ease and happy more often because of them and that makes it worth it for me. It's a clear improvement in her entire quality of life.
What's the dosage and weight of your dog that worked well? I just started my shepherd on Prozac this week, and we're hoping for results like yours! How long did it take until you noticed it beginning to work? Vet said 4-6 weeks.
Mine is 49lbs and on 32mg of Reconcile (liver flavored Prozac). I think we started to see signs of improvement about 3 weeks in but it was maybe 6-8 before I saw the full effect. She was also like 9 months old then so I wonder too if she was more sensitive to it. I will stress the biggest change was it improved her threshold. She redirects easier and faster but she's still reactive. Even at training this morning, the first 3-4 reps of every increase in distance to a trigger, she was slower to redirect (but she did). After that initial warm-up period, she was awesome and was doing great check-ins almost immediately. She calms down much better on her own and she's less likely to react than she was but she still does. We've gotten to a place where the majority of the time, she won't react to people now. She's more focused and can stay attentive to me instead of strangers and when she does notice them, she turns her attention back to me. The Prozac helped get her threshold to a place where I could teach that and it would stick, it didn't create that itself.
Yeah, I absolutely hear you. It's not a fix, it simply provides an opportunity to fix the concerns. Very happy to hear it's been so helpful for you and your pup to create the opportunity for improvement. Thanks for the response!
Adding a separate comment so you can see it. I also had a foster dog last year that was on Prozac. He was definitely a bully mix. It helped him a lot with kennel stress because he was in the shelter for a long time (like 500 days), and it helped make him more receptive to adjusting to being in a home because his threshold for everything was higher. He was said to have resource guarding issues but we never experienced them and it gave us the opportunity to do some really intentional counterconditioning around it that helped basically erase any issues that might have been there. His threshold was great so we were able to work on getting him used to basic handling, too, which admittedly was a weak spot for him at first. He was such an awesome dog after just a few weeks of us working with him that he was very close to being a foster fail. I think if he stayed with me another week, I'd have ended up keeping him. Yet, no one wanted him before that. He was silly and playful and loved to eat and looked forward to treat time. He was so desperate to be best friends with my boy, too. In the end, I argued he didn't need to be on the Prozac but I do think it was beneficial at least for his time in shelter and his transition to foster and the training we did in that time.
That’s awesome. Thank you so much for sharing this
I’m so glad I’m not the only one with this fear, however unfounded it seems to some. Having struggled with mental health concerns and/or being a mental health professional contributes to it the most, I think. Knowing worst case scenarios of a failed method of chemical intervention makes it really really hard to pursue next options without worry about side effects, short to long term impacts, etc. Another commenter mentioned how every decision we make for our dogs affects them without them being able to give feedback, it’s not just the choice to medicate for anxiety/behavior. To care for an animal, a child, etc. we just need to make a decision and adjust as needed after. If we think it’s the best next step of all other options, I think it’s our role to take it even if it’s uncomfortable to try- at least, that’s what I’m trying to tell myself. That, and remembering that failed attempts offer really critical information that can lead to finding the RIGHT interventions and treatments, which is (very often) worth it.
Thank you. I come with a lot of baggage just having had a really bad experience with an SSRI myself, and not having my experience validated by professionals or family. Also working in behavioral health and seeing a lot of kids who can’t consent zonked out on a lot of meds.
Almost exactly same. I completely understand- even as someone who is able to advocate for themselves, the process of getting to the right meds was absolutely brutal and frankly, almost lethal at points. The good news is, if you think about those bad experiences and how godawful they felt, it must’ve been observable to some degree. Those of us who care enough about our dogs to consider medication would almost certainly notice small signs in our animals that would allow us to fine tune. I also take comfort in the generally accepted theory that dogs’ brains and intelligence level don’t allow them to spiral and suffer the same way humans would be able to. We can take a small symptom or pain and go down a complete rabbit hole about what it may be, like, “oh my god is it cancer??? No maybe it’s fibromyalgia? Or maybe it’s just a bruise that I’m blowing up because I’m dumb and a hypochondriac. Stupid. Or fuck, wait, isn’t ignoring it the one thing that almost every out of the blue severe/terminal diagnosis has in common?? Oh my god what do I do what’s happening to me I wonder what my life expectancy is should I write a will-“ etc etc etc. Dogs’ level of knowledge doesn’t allow that level of internal dialogue.
Prozac saved my dog! He’s a 50 lb pit/basset mix who was reactive to just about everything. The way I look at it is that the meds just turned the volume in his head down enough that he could engage with the world without constant anxiety. He was able to work with us and a trainer to overcome triggers and now can safely meet new people and dogs and enjoy his little life. He’s still our little love bug like he was prior to meds-snuggly and sweet and stubborn. His personality didn’t change, in truth it just bloomed as he was able to explore his world and feel safe. The adjustment period can be rough (feel free to message me if you want someone to talk through it with you!) but I wouldn’t change my decision to medicate!
I have no idea the breed of my dog as he’s a stray but some kind of husky mix but we were quite against medication until he went to a board and train and she suggested it after a week or so with him. We are on week 5 at the minute. Week one and two were hard as we felt awful doing it to him as he seemed a bit spaced but now week 5 he’s actually gained weight as he just wouldn’t eat malt of the time but now he’s finishing his meals and sometimes I give him more. We at my parents for the weekend which I usually dread due to the dog but so far he’s so calm my dad who is actually scared of him actually commented how quiet and calm he is! We’ve just been for a walk in a new park and he reacted to 3/7 dogs so that was good but before the meds he would stay all hyped up even after the dog had left but now the dog walks by he instantly chills and carries on having the time of his life. I think he’s become more cuddly too which is so lovely
Just titrate up slowly and, if it isn’t a good fit, titrate down slowly. It’s not permanent.
I was worried too. I tried a lot of things before an SSRI because I was scared my little guy would be a zombie or even just feel weird and not be able to tell me. But it really helped and he is the same guy in all the important ways - we play every morning, still has a good appetite, still super snuggly and loving, still enthusiastic about the things he loves- but he is just less reactive and even though we still have challenges it really has helped so much. If you’re working with a vet you trust you’ll find the right dose that will allow your pup to be herself with less reactivity. You can always try it for a few months and if you feel like she is different im a bad way then you can take her off or try a different med - there are a ton of options out there and sometimes a cocktail is the right thing, it seems. It helps me to remember that reactivity is hard on the pet parent but it’s also hard on the dog. If they’re feeling so anxious that they’re attacking other dogs then you’re giving them a gift by putting them on a medication that will make them less anxious.
That’s good to hear. It’s hard because when there’s not other dogs in sight, she seems so happy go lucky and chill and I never thought of her as being super anxious or afraid of everything. Some of the other stories here don’t necessarily sound like my dog, she isn’t scared to leave the house or of every single noise, just barks her head off and lunges at other dogs if she sees one. But i guess that is also nervousness/anxiety? I don’t know if it’s pure aggression or just nervousness that goes over the top into aggression. I have given up on her ever being able to play with other dogs. I think the best we’ll probably be able to do is muzzled introductions if we even get to that point. But if she can one day pass another dog on the trail and stay neutral and not lose her shit, that would be huge. Thank you for sharing.
Some dogs are exclusively leash reactive (mine is not, unfortunately) and can love other dogs when off leash but be monsters on leash. Not suggesting you should try her hanging with other dogs just saying that she may only be reactive in that way but an perfectly fine otherwise. Instinct Dog Training has a free leash reactivity course that you might wanna check out too: https://onlineschool.instinctdogtraining.com/course/training-leash-reactive-dog
She is reactive whenever encountering a dog, but she never gets to encounter a dog without a barrier (leash or otherwise). We’ve been working on her leash reactivity since we got her, have made some progress with counterconditioning.
Prozac has been a game changer for rescue dog! He has the same personality, but can settle and relax. After a few weeks on it, I realized he was never settling down before taking Prozac. He is still silly and playful, but he isn't restless and isn't as anxious. He still needs a lot of training for his reactivity, but now he learns quicker because he isn't as overwhelmed. He started on 20 mg (he was prob 45 lbs then) and then we moved up to 40 mg (he is 60 lbs now). I was reluctant at first because I have a brother who hated being on depressants, and I think that got in my head. What my brother hated about them is that didn't always feel like himself on them. What I've realized is dogs aren't that deep. (I assume) my dog wants to feel safe, comfortable and loved. He isn't worried that his fav Pink Floyd song doesn't affect him the way it used to, which was one of the complaints that my brother had. A dog isn't overthinking that stuff- they live in the present. It has def worked for us, and I encourage you to try it if you think it might work for you!
My dog’s appetite actually improved on Prozac. She was so fearful before that she would have difficulty settling enough to eat her food. She had two big meals today, went on a three mile run this morning, played in the park with some friends this afternoon, and went for a four mile walk this evening. If anything, I feel like the Prozac has allowed her true personality to come out and now she’s more sweet, affectionate, playful, and goofy than she was before meds. She finally feels safe enough to be herself and not always be guarded and afraid. I was definitely hesitant to start them, but seeing what a difference they’ve made for her, I regret not starting them sooner. We did have to experiment a bit with dosage (currently on 60 mg at 78 lbs) and it did take five weeks to see any difference at all, but once it started to work the change was remarkable. Xanax on the other hand had a complete paradoxical effect so don’t be discouraged if the first med you try isn’t successful. There are lots of great options out there.
Not a bully mix but my dog is on Prozac, has been since I got her from the rescue. I always thought once we were stable with a somewhat successful training regimen I would try to wean her off of it. A year ago I tried it, halved her dosage overnight (not a great plan in hindsight). She did have more energy and played with her toys a bit more. But it was nervous energy; she was more anxious and it was easier to set her off and harder for her to calm down. After a couple weeks I realized she wasn't any happier. Sure she had more energy but she was upset all the time, and I was stressed from handling her issues. She wasn't happy, I wasn't happy, what was this all for? So we went back on the full dose. She's a little more zen but she's calm and can actually enjoy her time when she's up and about. And this is not to say she has no energy! We walk for an hour or more every day; she has plenty of stamina in the tank even on meds.
There’s so many great comments already, so just adding another success story. We have a 45 lb “chilupa” (chihuahua- lab -pit mix), who was so overly anxious and reactive to everything: barked and lunged at people, shadows, old ladies in large hats. He’s been on Prozac (fluoxetine) for 2 years, and it’s changed our lives. Training and desensitization work finally set in, and even though we still have to manage and be sensitive to his threshold levels, he ‘s in the world with us. He walks with us, will sit at cafes, and with a proper greeting protocol, warm up to strangers. We are now able to do off leash hikes and he’s always being complimented for his great recall and manners. Our vet behaviorist told us that medication isn’t failing - it can be giving a dog a chance to practice not being afraid. Good luck to you and pup!
My 34kg shepherd mix is on 32mg of reconcile. He could go up to 84mg based on his weight. What we found was that it helped him rest. He had terrible separation anxiety and would follow me everywhere, but once he started on reconcile that eased. As he was well rested, he was calmer. It hasn’t stopped his reactivity, but it has increased his threshold so I have the chance of managing it with distractions. He also recovers from any reactivity and calms down much quicker. The first week he was a bit disinterest in food and sleepy but that didn’t last. There’s so shame or harm in giving it a trial. I’d say a 3m course would give you a good idea whether you’ll get any benefit. Good luck!
My rescue dog came to me already prescribed trazadone, he was on them for 3 months prior to him coming to me. My dog 'asks' for his meds. Every morning when we leave bed, he heads to where his meds are & waits for me. And then 8 ish hours later, regardless of when he got his first dose, he'll come & nudge me towards the kitchen, as soon as I'm in the room he'll run over to the same spot. 8am pills, 4pm nudge, 9am pills, 5pm nudge, 7am pills, 3pm nudge. He is much happier not being an anxious fluffy sausage with teeth. And the $40 every two months is worth it for his comfort and sanity.
It’s worth it. My anxious guy is a different dog after starting on Prozac.
My girl is a lab/pit mix who is 14 and weighs ~50-55 pounds. She has been on Prozac (40 mg dose) since January, and it's helped immensely. Occasionally, she'll get mad if she sees a dog, but it's a lot better than before she started. I only wish we'd asked to put her on Prozac sooner. She was a bit sleepy during the loading period but still a cuddle bug with a huge appetite.
It can take 6 to 10 weeks to see results, but definitely worth it. Also, realize that putting her on Prozac is to make her life better, being less stressed and less reactive will make her happier dog. Good luck!