Suicidal pets get anti-depressants

#1
OrangeEmpire

OrangeEmpire

The White Debonair
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#1
Suicidal pets get anti-depressants | NEWS.com.au

PETS at risk of self-harm are increasingly being prescribed anti-depressants because they cannot discuss problems in their lives with others, a leading veterinarian says.

Zoo and wildlife medicine specialist with the UK’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Romain Pizzi, told the Telegraph that more pets were being prescribed Prozac.

Tropical birds such as parrots seemed to have been the most affected by depression, Mr Pizzi told the newspaper.

But Mr Pizzi said anti-depressants were only used in the most extreme of cases.

“Firstly, we will change the environment of the animal and make sure it has more stimulation and toys,” Mr Pizzi told the newspaper.

"When we have ruled out underlying medical problems, we try to break the cycle by using Prozac… (which) is given to the parrots in liquid form.

"It doesn't cure all animals, but around two-thirds respond to the treatment. In a small number of cases things will go well until we wean them off Prozac and the problems return."

Mr Pizzi said the severity of some pet’s depression often put their lives at risk.

"Typically if people go out to work all day their parrot will get very bored and frustrated and eventually develop depression,” he said.

“Symptoms often include plucking out their feathers or self-harming, which is obviously very dangerous.

“When cockatoos in particular are depressed they can start to self-mutilate and peck their own legs to the bone."

Some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies have also recognised the need for anti-depressants for animals.

Last year, Eli Lilly released a chewable anti-depressant for dogs onto the US market.

The manufacturers even gave the “Reconcile” drug a beef flavour.

Pfizer has also created a diet drug for dogs, as well as motion-sickness medicine for all pets.
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Thoughts?
 
#3
#3
What types of anti-depressants would they recommend when a dog licks their b*lls? Or do they figure they are high enough on life already?
 
#6
#6
allvol123 said:
What types of anti-depressants would they recommend when a dog licks their b*lls? Or do they figure they are high enough on life already?
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I would think that is its own anti-depressant.
 
#7
#7
I think this is more about hypochondriac owners than anything else. Much like the myth of ADD in kids, there's apparently a drug for everything.
 
#8
#8
Hey, my dog just lays around in the sun all day long. And we all know how harmful that is to a Bassett Hound. She clearly has no regard for her own well being as she will eat everything I put in her bowl. She doesn't do anything constructive even though she knows she's supposed to finish building the shed. She refuses to chase a ball when thrown. And lets the neighbor's cat walk through the yard. Guess she needs some prozac huh?
 
#10
#10
superdave1984 said:
Hey, my dog just lays around in the sun all day long. And we all know how harmful that is to a Bassett Hound. She clearly has no regard for her own well being as she will eat everything I put in her bowl. She doesn't do anything constructive even though she knows she's supposed to finish building the shed. She refuses to chase a ball when thrown. And lets the neighbor's cat walk through the yard. Guess she needs some prozac huh?
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I think your dog is seriously in need of an intervention. Please act quickly before she does something drastic. :eek:hmy:
 
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