Antidepressants for Dogs? SSRIs are a Last Resort
Antidepressants (SSRIs) are not some light drug to play around with or give your dog on a whim because you suspect they are depressed. Even if a veterinarian recommends that your dog try something like an antidepressant medication, you should only use it as a last resort option. Meaning, you should try to determine the cause of your pet’s depression and treat it with natural means. Something as simple as spending more time with your dog and giving it a little bit of extra attention can go a long way.
Antidepressants are not effective in all people, nor can you assume that they are effective in all dogs that take them. In fact, they may make your dog’s mood worse and since it is not capable of human communication, you will not know how it truly feels whilst medicated. I strongly advise against these medications simply because they do not always work for humans so we cannot assume that they are a miracle cure for dogs. Common antidepressants for dogs include: Clomicalm, Prozac, and Zoloft.
Why I wouldn’t give my dog an SSRI medication like Prozac
Even if your dog is depressed, there are a number of different things you can do to help it. SSRI medications typically take 4 to 8 weeks to work in humans. Additionally, these medications can make some people more depressed. We simply cannot assume that just because you give your dog Prozac that it is going to make it feel depressed – these medications could actually be making them feel worse even though you may not know it.
Although many pet owners are concerned for their dogs, how often do you walk your dog? Do you take care of it? Do you give it a little bit of extra attention? If so and your dog still seems depressed, then you may want to explore other options. However, just like in humans, all other behavioral options should be pursued before resorting to treatment with a powerful medication such as an SSRI.
Why Isolating Himself Occurs in Dogs
Your dog may be isolating himself because of a mental or physical condition, the reason of which could vary.
Anxiety
Anxieties and fears are commonly seen in dogs, and can develop due to a number of reasons, such as poor socialization or trauma. Along with hiding and cowering, fearful and anxious dogs can exhibit behaviors such as trembling, whining, barking and grooming excessively, and even incontinence. Common conditions like noise anxieties could cause your dog to stay away from noisy situations, even if that means avoiding the family.
Depression
Dogs can be victims of depression, just like humans, and can show the same kind of detached behaviors. Major life changes can cause depression, such as a move, an addition to the family, or the loss of a companion. Mourning is common for dogs who have lost a friend, causing changes in appetite and activity, and possibly restlessness as he searches for his lost companion. Other signs of depression include decreased or absent social interactions, anxiety, or an increase in sleep. Another reason for depression in your dog may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Heart Disease
Heart disease can be congenital, but is also often acquired through a lifetime of general wear, injury, or infection. It includes diseases of the valves, heart enlargement, and heart failure, and can lead to death. When the heart cannot function properly, the body is deprived of oxygen and fluid can leak into the airways, causing coughing and gagging. The reduction in oxygen transport results in a reduced stamina, fainting, a loss of appetite, and various behavioral changes, all of which can be misconstrued as isolation behaviors or dullness. While the body can compensate for many months, the signs will eventually progress into a life-threatening condition unless medical attention is sought.
Other Illness
There are many other types of illness and disease that can cause behaviors related to depression, a lack of activity, and seeking isolated areas. Due to a physical discomfort, your dog may be unable to play or move like he normally would. If he is suffering from an illness, he may be quieter than usual, have a decrease in appetite, and hide. This is a behavior that dogs in the wild exhibit called fasting or natural hygiene, which allows the body to concentrate its energy on healing itself rather than moving or digesting food. Such medical problems that can cause this reaction include cancers, infections, poisonings, and various diseases of the respiratory, neurological, autoimmune, and digestive systems.
Pain
Pain is a real condition for some dogs. Joint, bone and muscle problems, as well as various traumas and injuries, can cause pain that results in a reluctance to move. Older dogs can suffer from arthritis and a decrease in muscle mass, which can cause limping and a reduction in movement, jumping, and even comfortable sitting. Dogs may be unable to follow their family members around the house due to pain associated with it, and may choose to lay still, or far from situations which may cause them further pain.
Age
Aging can be tough for our furry companions. While humans can complain of the various problems they are experiencing, our dogs simply can’t tell us that they are having trouble seeing, hearing, or understanding their surroundings. Because of conditions of deafness or vision, they may seem unresponsive to family members whom they did not see or hear. They may have decreased movement due to physical conditions. Cognitive dysfunction may cause confusion as they forget where they are, and can be accompanied by increased vocalization and changes in sleep and eating habits. An older dog who often sleeps away from the family may have gotten lost, or was just too tired to get up when a family member moved to another room.