I'm coming back to you about ilove. I mentioned a while ago that his behaviour has been "tricky" since he arrived. Just a quick reminder: ilove came from the RSPCA; we adopted him at 10 months old without knowing anything about his background. He's hyperactive but also very affectionate. It's impossible to let him off the lead, he's a nightmare on it, he's caused quite a bit of damage at home, and it’s a total disaster if we cross paths with another dog: he whines, pulls, jumps all over the place, bites his own paws, licks everything obsessively... He is very loving, but at the slightest outside stimulation, he loses his mind and can no longer control himself; he completely forgets we're there and has no "off" switch. As for training, it's really tough: he knows "sit", "come", and "steady", but only when things are extremely calm. After a year, it’s becoming very difficult, and the dog training club hasn't changed anything...
Our vet, who is also a behaviourist, is talking about severe anxiety and is even worried about a shortened life expectancy because his heart races so much during these episodes. He is generally against "dulling" a dog with medication (he’s been telling me this for a year and wanted to let nature take its course). After a lot of advice during our visits, he put him on Zylkene for a month. It had zero effect. Last night, he and his colleagues decided to prescribe Prozac at moderate doses so it doesn't leave him in a daze, but rather "settles" him so we can finally start some training together. They’re worried ilove might eventually become aggressive if he can’t control himself—two reactions he had towards my son make me fear that too...
So, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the treatment and the side effects. Do you have any advice on how to handle things once the meds have calmed him down, so I can finally get ilove back on track?
Thanks for reading :)
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
Hello, my 4-year-old Jack Russell has been on Reconcile for three years now. I was lucky enough to meet a very experienced dog trainer who agreed to pass on all his wisdom to me, so Sam was clicker trained. We even passed the sociability and handling certificate with an 'excellent' grade.
Everything isn't perfect, though; he barks a lot and we often don't understand why. He’s friendly, but when we’re out on the lead he pulls like a train and constantly switches direction, though he isn’t reactive to other dogs. He isn’t destructive, but he does lick his paws quite a lot. Things go well with my grandchildren, but they weren't able to stroke him until he was ten months old. My husband and I make sure he gets plenty of exercise—in short, he’s high-maintenance, but when he gives us cuddles, we’re over the moon.
He’s a truly lovely dog. His sisters aren’t like him, and he wasn't separated from his mum too early. We have a dog with HSHA (hyperactivity syndrome), much like a family might have a hyperactive child. It’s nobody’s fault; it’s just the way it is. We’re also lucky enough to know an exceptional boarding kennel, so we can get away for a fortnight every year. Anyway, best of luck to you all ❤️🩹.
Thanks for getting back to me. I’m feeling quite anxious because Snoopy has been so sleepy since he started the fluoxetine. Have you noticed anything like this yourself?
I had my German Shepherd on Fluoxetine for years because she was hyperactive. It was a genuine case of HAHS (Hypersensitivity-Hyperactivity Syndrome), and she was under the care of a veterinary behaviourist. This treatment really allowed her to live a "normal" life. My only regret is starting the treatment so late; my first vet didn’t recognise the signs of HAHS and actually suggested having her put down because she was becoming unmanageable. It takes a few days for the dog to settle into it, and of course, you'll need regular check-ups with the vet.
I wasn’t trying to question the treatment plan suggested by the behaviourist; I just wanted to know if any other dog owners who’ve used Fluoxetine could tell me if the results were generally positive.
My 2-year-old dog has been diagnosed as a sociopath. He can be very aggressive because he’s scared of everything and won’t trust anyone. Every walk has to be on a lead, and as soon as he spots another dog, it’s a nightmare—not to mention the off-lead dogs that run straight up to us. Last week, a lovely little Dachshund bore the brunt of it. It saw us and crossed the road to come and see Lewis, and it was a total disaster.
The problem – or problems – won't be exactly the same, and neither is the dog! Give us more details about your situation, but as far as medication prescribed by a vet is concerned, we would never go against medical advice! You must follow the treatment to the letter! They generally know what they’re doing!
Hi there,
I know @orelyyy’s post was from quite a while ago, but I was wondering if you had any luck with the results? I’m having the same issue with my 2-year-old, Lewis Jack, and he’s due to start Fluoxetine tomorrow. I’m feeling a bit anxious about giving this medication to my dog when he’s only 2.
Thanks for any replies!
I've just adopted a dog from a rescue centre with exactly the same behaviour as yours! He’s also 10 months old. How are things going now? Has he calmed down at all? Is he still on medication?
Thanks for your reply, that’s really kind of you. I was actually worried I’d get some harsh reactions, people saying things like "you’re just trying to drug your dog so you can have some peace and quiet", which definitely isn't the case. It’s true that when I picked him out, I didn’t exactly choose the calmest of the bunch, but he’s my dog regardless and all I want is for us to live together in harmony. As for the vet, yes, he’s very professional; he looked after my first dog 20 years ago and has since specialised somewhat in behaviour. I trust him completely.
The effect of the first dose is clear: he’s tired, and the walk... honestly, it was incredible. He was so wiped out that he actually walked to heel; it’s literally the first time he hasn't practically pulled my arm out of its socket. The vet did warn me that it might take 2 or 3 days before he settles into a normal, calm, and peaceful state without the drowsiness.
I’m pinning a lot of hope on this treatment because both the vet and I are convinced he’s a good boy at heart, wanting to be an even better dog, but he just doesn't know the first thing about the rules of behaviour yet.
Who knows, maybe he’s a future obedience champion in the making? lol
