Prozac Among Household Pets and Animals

Prozac is an effective human antidepressant, but the drug has also proved to be an effective treatment for a wide variety of problems in cats and dogs. These antidepressants are usually not used for "depression" in animals--pets don't experience that illness the way humans do. Instead, the antidepressants like Prozac are prescribed for an assortment of other biopsychological problems common to animals. One in particular is separation anxiety (Marder 1996).

Some dogs become excessively miserable when their owners leave for a period of time. They often bark, cry, become destructive or urinate and defacate in the house (Marder 1996). If a dog becomes excessively anxious, then it may be time to consider medication. Thus, it is becoming more common for owners and doctors to put their pets on Prozac in order to try and decrease the amount of separation anxiety the pets might feel.

Also, psychoactive drugs like Prozac can help to reduce spraying in cats (Marder 1996). Spraying is a normal behavior by both male and female cats to mark their territory and advertise their availability during mating season. However, if it is performed too much it can become a hassle for the owner/owners of the cat. Therefore, Prozac is sometimes administered to reduce the spraying performed by the cat.