Some dogs suffer from psychotic episodes. Psychosis is a condition in which a dog temporarily loses control of its actions and is unaware of its behavior. During these episodes, the dog becomes overly excitable and appears nervous. It may become aggressive, or it may seem depressed and withdrawn. In most cases, the dog regains control when the stress triggering the behavior ends. Behavior modification is generally the recommended treatment, but anti-anxiety medications also offer dogs stress relief mitigating the occurrence of psychotic episodes.
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Newer Class of Antidepressants: Clomicalm, Prozac and Zoloft
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The prescription drug clomipramine (Clomicalm) is an antidepressant. It along with fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) represents a new class of antidepressants used to treat dogs and other domestic animals with behavior disorders, such as separation anxiety and aggression. They're available in pill form. Clomicalm, for example, is administered once (small dogs) or twice (large dogs) daily. Adverse reactions are uncommon. However, these drugs can't be combined with other medications. Antidepressants can't cure psychotic dogs but may aid behavior modification and training.
Older Class of Antidepressants: Elavil
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Amitriptyline HCI (Elavil) is from an older class of antidepressants prescribed by veterinarians to treat chemical imbalances in canines. Veterinarians prescribe it for separation anxiety, obsessive disorders and inappropriate urination. Elavil isn't approved by the FDA for use by animals but can be obtained with a subscription from a veterinarian. It's available as a tablet for oral digestion and as an injection and generally administered twice daily. Side effects are infrequent. The drug interacts with other medications. Pet Place considers it less effective than the newer class of antidepressants for treating behavior disorders in dogs.
Natural Remedies
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Natural remedies, such as Pet Calm, are available to ease tension experienced by your dog and promote calm. It's made with homeopathic ingredients, such as passiflora, scutellaria, kali phos and arg nit, formulated to soothe the nervous system and achieve emotional balance. The remedy dissolves in your dog's food or water and is given two or three times daily. Improvement in mood and behavior varies by dog, with some owners reporting improvement a few days after administering the remedy. Consistent use is required to achieve ongoing benefits. Natural remedies don't interfere with drugs, and side effects are rare.
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