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My dog's been put on puppy Prozac!
So I took Zeke to the vet today to get his paw checked up (he's been licking the scar on it almost obsessively; it's the same paw that was hit by a car before we adopted him), and it was quite the expensive trip. Because his scar is inflamed and infected, the vet has him on 2 antibiotics and a topical cream. Also, because it seems to be an anxiety thing, he's been put on puppy Prozac.
I don't know how I feel about this.... He's a VERY happy dog, but had a very rough life before DH and I adopted him. He's terrified of thunderstorms, loud noises, and the hammer. It's pretty clear that he was abused prior to getting rescued, and he was hit by a car when he was only 6 months old. So I get why he would have some hidden anxieties, but I'm concerned about the effect this drug will have on him. The vet said it's pretty clear that it's a compulsive licking due to anxiety, and the fact that he's licking the car accident scar makes sense if it's anxiety from the accident.
I just don't know how I feel about giving him Prozac, but I guess if it's going to stop him from licking it and making it infected, I'll give it a try. I just don't want his personality to change. Has anyone experienced or heard of giving a puppy Prozac? I know that it's done, but I haven't known anyone who personally had this happen.
Re: My dog's been put on puppy Prozac!
Was his paw hurt when he started licking, or was it already ok, but he was so anxious about his memories of it being hit that he kept licking and got it hurt that way? I agree with your worries - it seems a little over the top to give him puppy Prozac. Wouldn't just healing it help?
As you may remember, we just went through a surgery with our dog. He is 10 years old and an obsessive licker. We laugh that in the past life, he must have been a cat, because he licks for hours in the evening before going to sleep. He was licking his stitched belly and we had to build extension of the collar they gave him. We also dressed him in a t-shirt and put his harness over it, to make sure he has no access to it. It lasted two weeks - us trying to keep his wound dry and him making all the attempts to get out of the t-shirt. We had to make sure he sleeps in his collar, because he would lick at night. we ony took his collar off for eating and his t-shirt for going outside.
Would you be able to get him some sort of a booty that would keep him away from licking the paw? The collar, if long enough, really stops him from licking... he will make super cute sad faces at you to take it off though... but really works.
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Girl, I think I could have written this word for word. Our dog Louie was abused (we know this) before we adopted him. He had a spot on his left front paw that he would lick and lick and lick. Took him to the vet and she said it was most likely because of an allergy. She checked the paw for ingrown hair/nails and for thorns and came up empty. She gave us some antibiotics and I would put a sock over Louie's leg so he wouldn't be tempted to lick. He hasn't licked in who-knows when.
I'd seriously consider investing in a bootie for Zeke to wear. Me personally, I don't necessarily think hopping anyone/any thing up on medication is the only solution. Yes, animals can feel anxiety, but Zeke was hit by a car and animals lick wounds. He might still have some residual pain in his paw and that's why he's licking and in turn, the wound has gotten infected. I'd give him the antibiotics and cream, but I'd hesitate about the Prozac. I'd research it myself to make sure it was something I'd want my dog to take.
Louie is a big wussy and scared of everything -- he shivers and shakes especially when we clip our nails or clap our hands. It makes you wonder what his awful original owners did to him. We had some behavioral problems with Louie initially, but we just took the time with him and now he's a happy, carefree dog who loves taking food out of Mama's hand (big accomplishment!).
From the little I've read in 5 minutes about 'puppy prozac', it sounds like something that is taken as a last resort for pets that are suffering major depression, have stopped eating, terrified of everything to the point it's affecting the owner's quality of life. I've also read mulitple accounts that it's mostly used for pets that have extreme separation anxiety. Obviously, vets went to school for this stuff, but I naturally question everything my personal doctors and Louie's vet wants to give us. I sometimes feel that medical professionals look for the fast and extreme approach to solving problems. Just because my stomach hurts doesn't mean I need my appendix taken out. Same difference with pets.
Do the creep.