My Dog Ate 50 Mg Zoloft

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A pet eating anti-depressant tablets has become one of the enquiries we receive almost on a daily basis. Most of our calls are from concerned dog owners since cats are notoriously fussy and suspicious so rarely eat tablets they come across.

1) The pet eats the owner’s medication which has been either dropped on the floor or found in the house

2) The pet has been prescribed an anti-depressant licensed for veterinary use for a behavioural problem (such as an anxiety or compulsive disorder or feline urine marking) and the owner has accidentally given too many tablets

It is, however, most important to point out that many anti-depressant drugs are not licensed for veterinary use and that you should always consult a veterinary specialist before administering any human drug to a pet. It is also worth remembering that the dose per kg body weight for humans is often very different to the doses used for pets for the same drug so human tablets can be very toxic, especially to small dogs and cats or if multiple tablets are ingested.

An overdose of Zoloft in dogs can cause vomiting, diarrhea, an increase in salivation, and lethargy. If a dog eats too much Zoloft then it can get more serious symptoms such as muscle tremors, agitation, hyperactivity, more vocalizing, high or low blood pressure, seizures, coma and yes, it can be fatal as well.

Symptoms of Antidepressant Poisoning in Dogs

Although antidepressant poisonings share many symptoms, they each have some unique symptoms that should be noted. This may help in determining which medication your dog has ingested if it is unknown. The symptoms can be separated by the type, or may be just general symptoms if the medication type is unknown:

General

SSRI

TCA

MAOI

  • Abnormal heart rhythms
  • Coma
  • Depression
  • Fever
  • High or low blood pressure
  • Respiratory depression
  • Restlessness
  • Seizures
  • Shock
  • Tachycardia

    • Novel

    Types

    There are many types of antidepressant medications with different names, but the most common are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

    SSRI

  • Citalopram (Celexa)
  • Escitalopram (Lexapro)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
  • Nefazodone (Serzone)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Trazodone (Desyrel)

    • TCA

  • Amitriptyline (Elavil)
  • Clomipramine (Anafranil)
  • Desipramine (Norpramin)
  • Doxepin (Sinequan)
  • Imipramine (Tofranil)
  • Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl)
  • Protriptyline (Vivactil)
  • Trimipramine (Surmontil)

    • MAOI

  • Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
  • Phenelzine (Nardil)
  • Selegiline (Emsam)
  • Tranylcypromine (Parnate)

    • Novel

  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban)
  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  • Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
  • Venlafaxine (Effexor)

    • Causes of Antidepressant Poisoning in Dogs

    The causes of antidepressant poisoning usually includes one of these three things:

  • Accidental ingestion (dog eating human’s medication)
  • Giving too much medication (accidental double dosage or failure to follow proper instruction)
  • Side effect of medication (rare)

    • What are the different types of antidepressants?

    The most common anti-depressants drugs are either:

    1) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – e.g. fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Cipramil) and sertraline (Lustral or Zoloft)

    2) Serotonin – noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) e.g. duloxetine and venlafaxine

    3) Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) e.g. nortriptyline

    FAQ

    What if my dog eats Zoloft?

    If you are worried your pet has eaten something they or been exposed to something they should not have, please call the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000 for advice on what to do next. If your pet starts showing any signs, then take them to your local vet practice immediately for treatment.

    How much Zoloft can a dog take?

    The usual dose for sertraline in dogs is 1.25 to 2.5 mg per pound (2.5 to 5.0 mg/kg) orally every 24 hours.

    What happens if dog eats 25mg of Zoloft?

    Overdose of sertraline can be serious or fatal and may cause diarrhea, lethargy, fever, tremors, drooling, vomiting, muscle rigidity, agitation, increased heart rate, seizures, vocalization, and coma. Any known or suspected overdose should be reported to a veterinarian right away.

    Can dogs take Zoloft?

    Zoloft is safe for healthy dogs without liver or kidney conditions. Dogs with a history of blood disorders should be carefully monitored by their vet if Zoloft is prescribed to them. Zoloft is known for thinning the blood with long-term use, so dogs with preexisting blood conditions might do better on a different drug.