Erny Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Agree. I'm shocked that a trainer would suggest medication for a puppy before doing any behavioural work or having a full vet check?! I'd stay away from this person I'm not. It's becoming a fashion and I'm seeing it more and more, animals on a variety of medication with NO behavioral intervention at all. Veterinarians and underqualified idiots who call themselves trainers are doing it a lot .... Same here. I'm hearing it quite a lot - people who call me up and ask me to come out to them, few too many have informed me that medication has been suggested to them. Fortunately they have had the presence of mind to query it before jumping on the 'treat-it-with-drugs' wagon. Worst is that the medication is suggested, without recommendation to combine it with behavioural training. (Oops - just noticed you wrote that too, Nekhbet. Obviously it isn't as uncommon as it should be.) In most cases, I've worked with people and their dogs and with a bit of structure, routine and patient persistence, we've been able to work through things. One dog in particular springs to mind we had out and about walking with the owner gobsmacked at how well her dog performed, within the very same first session. Medication didn't even enter my mind for this dog and yet further into the consult the owner confided in me that her Vet had recommended medication for her to administer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 Personally whoever came up with readily accessible medication for animal use like this needs to have a rethink of it. And frankly veterinarians are no more qualified at treating animal behavior problems with your GP is at treating most mental illnesses. We have specialists for a reason, people who dedicate their time and study to that field so send clients to try basics FIRST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I'm on the other side of the coin, after medication being suggested by my trainer I practically had to beg my vet to prescribe. In his opinion it was preferable to PTS. After about 2 months of Prozac I think it is really just giving us the little bit of an edge so that some of the training can stick. I really wish it had been suggested earlier, I may not have gone there straight away but it would have been good to have been aware of the option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murve Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I'm on the other side of the coin, after medication being suggested by my trainer I practically had to beg my vet to prescribe. In his opinion it was preferable to PTS. After about 2 months of Prozac I think it is really just giving us the little bit of an edge so that some of the training can stick. I really wish it had been suggested earlier, I may not have gone there straight away but it would have been good to have been aware of the option. Hankdog have you looked into the side affects of PROZAC Side Effects However, Prozac is not the answer for all dogs. Some dogs' symptoms worsen on medication as they become more anxious or aggressive. Other side effects include lethargy, panting, hyperactivity, shaking, restlessness, excessive vocalization, temporary lack of appetite and gastrointestinal upset. In rare cases, it may cause seizures. If keeping your dog on Prozac for an extended period of time, have liver enzymes checked annually, as with most long-term medications. Prozac can have negative effects if used in conjunction with other drugs, such as diazepam, phenylbutazone, digoxin or busiprone. Read more: Treating Canine Behavior Issues With Prozac for Dogs - VetInfo this is what I found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Curve - hankdog has a genuinely reactive dog and is working with a behaviourist to address the issues. He/she is a hero for dealing with Jakes issues. Let's not guilt them about treating their dog. The pup in the OP is a completely different scenario Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Yes we checked liver enzymes after a month and he was fine. I don't intend to keep him on it long term but it just struck me as odd that my vet, who in the past has offered chemotrherapy to treat an 18 month old mouse with cancer didn't give me the option earlier and was so negative when I asked for it. I confess I have no problem medicating for behavior either in dogs or people. If you need help you take it where you get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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