Suicidal pets get anti-depressants

www.news.com.au ^ | Feb 25, 2008 | staff

[Esther Ruth]

Suicidal pets get anti-depressants

By staff writers

February 25, 2008 02:19pm

PETS at risk of self-harm are increasingly being prescribed anti-depressants because they cannot discuss problems in their lives with others, a leading veterinarian says.

Zoo and wildlife medicine specialist with the UK’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Romain Pizzi, told the Telegraph that more pets were being prescribed Prozac.

*****

“Firstly, we will change the environment of the animal and make sure it has more stimulation and toys,” Mr Pizzi told the newspaper.

"When we have ruled out underlying medical problems, we try to break the cycle by using Prozac… (which) is given to the parrots in liquid form.

"It doesn't cure all animals, but around two-thirds respond to the treatment. In a small number of cases things will go well until we wean them off Prozac and the problems return."

*****

"Typically if people go out to work all day their parrot will get very bored and frustrated and eventually develop depression,” he said.

[Obadiah]

My dog is an emo. What should I do? I fear he’ll turn in to a cutter.

[madison10]

Okayy... I do know fish become depressed when another in the tank dies, just happened in our home, but there is absolutely NO way I’d buy an animal those type of drugs.

[Esther Ruth]

Maybe the depressed pets can listed to broadcasts of Obama speaking and they will cheer up and realize things are soon going to change and be better - zingo-bingo - depression gone.

[Constitution Day]

Pharmaceutical companies should make a fortune off the owners of pet lemmings...

[Allegra]

[coloradan]

Just so long as it isn’t a government program!!

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

You ever see that?

[The KG9 Kid]

Prozac and Ambien for depressed suicidal dogs. That's just great. I can just picture a liberal Englishwoman putting her friggin' Corgi on Prozac.

Next thing you know, they'll be shooting up malls and schools.

I give it about ten more years before you won't be able to walk down the street without seeing everyone with spinning pinwheels where their eyes used to be and streams of multi-colored cuckoo pills dribbling out of their mouths.

[Esther Ruth]

As a responsible pet owner you should immediately seek fish counseling. Check your policy. It may be covered. You don’t know what a depressed fish is capable of. Make the right choice to seek professional help for this fish before it is to late.

[martin_fierro]

[madison10]

ROFL The fish is fine as long as it can see and hear us, but after the other one died two weeks ago, we thought this one would die of loneliness.

When I put the box of fish food with the fish photo next to his tank Saturday, he just stared at it like it was another fish. (he’s doing it now) THAT made me cry. (goofy, huh?)

I should get a job as a fish psychologist. LOL

[Esther Ruth]

Have you talked to your dog, spent quality time with him. Maybe take some time off work, plan a get-away/vacation for just the two of you - shared experiences, fishing, hunting something where your dog will again regain a sense of how very very important he is in your life.

[Hoodlum91]

Hmmm....suddenly I see things differently.

We found our fish outside the bowl. We always figured the cat finally flipped him out.

Maybe he jumped.

[I_Like_Spam]

I suppose drug therapy for depressed dogs is a lot more practical than talk therapy, at least until a canine-human mind meld can be developed.

[ClearCase_guy]

There’s not much you can do if they’re pining for the fjords.

[dashing doofus]

LOL

That cat looks like one of those Islamist suicider bomber pets I read about this morning! Headscarf and all!

[Obadiah]

You’re right, I’ve been a bad owner. Now I’ll have to steal some of Rover’s antidepressants.

[Esther Ruth]

We get the word pharmacy from the Old Testament pharmakia (something like that) and it is one of the things that God forbids us to do. We think demons in humans are bad? Wait till they start showing up in animals.

[the lastbestlady]

If my dog wanted to commit suicide....how would he do it?

[Esther Ruth]

Seriously... I think those who “self-harm” themselves whether they be people or animals are under demonic oppression or possession. The days/times are getting more and more evil, satan’s time is short and we are going to begin to see more and more manifestation of evil in both animals and people. Countries without the influence of the Old/New Testament have reported this for centuries. Missionary’s testimonies for centuries have told of such in human and animals.

[G8 Diplomat]

LOL

[freedomlover]

LOL the only thing better would be if it were a Siamese.

OTOH Siamese cats are usually on the other side of suicide - you commit it by trying to pet one.

[SandyInSeattle]

Huh. When my cat is unhappy, I rub her belly and give her kitty treats.

Works every time.

[Slings and Arrows]

---

[Sherman Logan]

We get the word pharmacy from the Old Testament pharmakia

Actually NT. It's Greek. "pharmakeia"

In the NT it's used in a negative sense and refers to sorcery and poisoning.

[andyandval]

Haha!

[Xenalyte]

I wish my lawn were emo, so it’d cut itself. (rim shot)

[ApplegateRanch]

For suicidal fish, I find this treatment usually cures them.

...Light the two meths burners, sprinkle some sawdust on the base of the smoker, add your food and put the lid on. That's it. There's room for two 3-lb trout, which would take about 15 minutes to cook through. Steak and other meats taste great cooked this way too....

[oprahstheantichrist]

My vet once told me that if a cat continually pees outside the litter box, if all else fails, they put them on Prozac. Works like a champ.

[MotleyGirl70]

I has a sad.

[oprahstheantichrist]

Awwwww....

[MarkL]

There are far too many people who have parrots who have no business with them... Because they can be expensive, people often have just one. They don't realize just how social parrots are in the wild, and by nature. They need company... A lot of company. And if they don't get it, they will go nuts. Usually it's destructive, like over preening that eventually turns to plucking out their feathers.

If you get a parrot, be prepared to work with and handle the bird for at least 6 to 8 hours a day, otherwise you wind up with a psychotic bird. Having a second parrot will help, but you still need to put in quite a bit of time with both birds.

The problem is that parrots are both social AND highly intelligent. Some African Greys have been shown to have roughly the intelligence level of a two year old human child (or a democrat congressional candidate).

Mark

[dmz]

My current mutley (though he’s dead ringer for a Nova Scotia Duck Toller - a breed I did not know existed until I rescued this guy) is a total punk rocker, slam dances, mosh pits, the works.

I think he has lunch plans for my mandolin.

[metmom]

What a market. Why didn’t I think of something like that?

[metmom]

ping

[CougarGA7]

This is why I have never taught my cats to tie knots.

[Biggirl]

First heard about sucidel pets today on Rush. Amazing. =^..^=

[Biggirl]

Or just cooking that fish is treatment enough for cats and dogs. Pamper them. =^..^=

[cyborg]

:snort:

[Slings and Arrows]

[Slings and Arrows]

First heard about sucidel pets today on Rush. Amazing. =^..^=

I already knew about bunnies...

[LucyT]

Speaking of bunnies:

Scientist says jackrabbits are gone from Yellowstone

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975488/posts

[Titan Magroyne]

What the cat can’t tell you is that the dog did it.

[Lizavetta]

Your comments are dead on accurate.

[Slings and Arrows]

Elmer Fudd can rest easy.

[biscuit jane]

My neighbor’s dog committed suicide. She always stayed close to home until she started having health problems.
Then she started wandering all over and neighbors kept bringing her home. On her last hour I saw her wandering the dark country lane as I headed to town, and I tried in vain to coax her into my ride. I gave up and continued on my way.

Next day I get word the dog was hit on the rural route about a half mile from where I saw her.

Purty crazy I know, but sure looks like suicide to me.

[riverdawg]

Our Siamese is a sweetheart; loves to be petted. She does seem completely deranged from time to time, however!

[meowmeow]

First heard about sucidel pets today on Rush. Amazing. =^..^=

We moved in January and when I brought our two cats to the new house, the girl cat went exploring (as one would expect) and the boy cat curled into the fetal position and wouldn't move. He wouldn't even look around or at me. I got scared and called my DH who said, "put him in a familiar situation." So I put him in my favorite chair, wrapped him in my TV-watching blanket and turned on the Food Network for him. After a couple hours he started being responsive. It was weird (he is fine now). He is a sensitive cat.