Dog Prozac (Fluxotine)

[stilldazed]

My rescue dog was prescribed Prozac (Fluxotine) 6 months ago for fear aggression and it has helped massively. she has been taking it whilst we have been working with a behavouralist but I think it has been the medication that has been the major factor in calming her down. She is still reactive and we can't have visitors in the house but I feel she is managable.

The vet wants to take her off the medication as he says it is not good for dogs to be on it long term. Everything I read on line says it is fine for dogs as a long term option.

I'm terrified at the thought of her coming off it. does anyone have any experience ? is it really not ok long term, surely better than a dog being sent to a kennel or PTS for aggression?

I have to be honest, if a dogs only options (because their behaviour is so bad) are long-term medication or that behaviour, then I think PTS is the kindest choice.

The vet knows more than a quick google about the risks of long-term medication. If they are advising your dog comes off it, then it’s for a good reason. Please take the advice of a qualified professional over a few google quick-reads that 99% of the time are written by someone with an agenda or a stake in that medication.

Also, the only place I could find someone advising continued use of this medication- on a quick google - was Reddit or the AI generated nonsense. The first two ‘dog’ websites I’d trust (in so much as I trust anything) strongly advised against it due to excess kidney damage.

I have an anxious rehomed dog on that drug. My vet friend suggested I tried that having stayed with me for a few days and my own vet agreed to try it.
I had been unable to work with him properly because he was too anxious to reward with food, and following a series of unavoidable changes and events in our life, was getting worse.

It has made a massive difference to his anxiety. He was a bit reactive, but mostly worried and unhappy. He’s now much more relaxed, enjoying life more, easier to manage. I continue to work with him to build his confidence in all aspects of his life.

He’s been on it for a year and I hope can stay on it longer. I recognize the risk of side effects and potential impact on his future health, but I think that is a risk worth taking so he can enjoy a happier, albeit potentially shorter life.

Im going to agree with @LandSharksAnonymoushere. If after six months living in a stable and suitable home environment and being medicated and having behaviourist input they are only just 'managable' and the idea of taking them off medication is filling you with dread then I would really be questioning what quality of life they're having?

It is sad that dogs are treated in such a way that it results in this but dont agree that they can or should all be 'saved'.

Dogs live in the moment and being constantly terrified and aggressive unless they're drugged is not a nice life for them.

You need to have a frank conversation with the vet about what the long term option is if it's not medication. Im sorry but PTS should be an option once you've explored everything else.

Well I'll agree with @Springcoming .
I had a reactive dog, who lived to be 14.5 years old. He didn't like other dogs, so walks were sometimes stressful. He didn't like visitors in the home, so was kept separated if people came round. (Which wasn't very often.) But in his own home with his own people, he was perfectly happy and a great family dog.
Although he improved with age and a lot of work, he had to be 'managed' for most of his life. He eventually got dementia and forgot he was frightened of everything, so was more relaxed in his old age.
My friend is a behaviourist and works with lots of dogs that are on long term medications, which help them to live a happy life.
And I disagree about vets knowing best. I have seen far too many over the last few years who really don't. Just this week a vet gave me information that is the exact opposite of the instructions that come with a medication. I only checked because she told me that's what the information says.
If kidney damage is a concern, then you can have yearly blood tests to check their function. I have to do this for my 4 year old who is on long term Metacam for arthritis. I believe there is medication that she can take to repair any damage if needs be.
Only you can judge what quality of life your dog has. If you think she is happy enough on the medication, then I would keep her on it. Hopefully in the future, she won't need it. But if she does, then so be it.

One of mine has been on it for a year and the longterm plan is that he stays on it

He had blood tests before starting it and he’ll have them again at some point (we’re not doing it regularly because he has to be sedated for them)

We’d discussed taking him off if we felt like he’d improved enough… but while it definitely helps there’s no way he’s improved so much that taking him back off is an option tbh.

we were prescribed it originally be a vet with a behavioural specialism though, he’s actually the first dog my own vet has had on it, so I get the impression a lot of vets don’t really know much about it.

re visitors, mine goes in a bedroom with a white noise machine playing rain sounds and chews or a kong - not that it helps you with the vet, but just in case it’s useful.

thank you everyone for your replies.
I'm the first to admit I'm no expert, it's just so frustrating we are finally (thanks to the medication) at a point in which we have a manageable dog (in the house with us) and no the vet says we have to stop the medication.

I just can't go back to things the way they were before, I don't have the energy to deal with that level of stress and know it will end in her being rehoused.

why are some dogs able to stay long term on this medication, why is there no consistency?

You could ask for a referral to a vet behaviourist. They will have more knowledge and experience of prescribing meds long term.