Man’s depressed best friend: Surge in ‘Puppy Prozac’ prescriptions as owners struggling to cope with ‘misbehaving’ dogs bought in lockdown demand vets medicate their pets

Vets have reported a surge in 'Puppy Prozac' as owners struggle to control their misbehaving pets bought in lockdown.

Over the past decade, UK dogs on on fluoxetine, an antidepressant sold under the brand name Prozac when used in humans, has increased exponentially, research reveals.

It is licensed to treat pets displaying anxiety or aggression as chewable tablets, under the brand name Reconcile. 

The study of data from 2.3 million dogs found that nearly one in 500 were taking fluoxetine for problems such as excessive whining, barking or chewing furniture. 

Damningly, a similar study in 2013 found that only one in 10,000 dogs were on the drug. 

Lockdown dogs especially were most likely to be prescribed the drug as the pandemic meant many were not socialised properly and struggled to be left alone as owners returned to the office. 

But vets have blasted owners who are treating their dogs like children and expect them to be perfect.

Dr Dan O’Neill, an associate professor at the Royal Veterinary College said most of the time there is 'nothing wrong with the dog'. 

He told The Times: 'What is wrong is the owner’s expectation.
The owners are looking for a perfect animal that plays with them when they want it to, and never barks. 

'Over time, since lockdown, people seem to be moving to treating their dogs like children, there is more pressure on the dogs to behave like mini-humans.

'Owners call them fur-babies.
It is less acceptable that dogs will behave like dogs, that they run and bark and play and chew.
The expectation is that dogs’ behaviour will be perfect.'

His research findings revelaed the breeds with the highest prescription rates for fluoxetine were border collies and lurchers - working dogs that are not suited as domestic city pets. 

While Dr Julian Hoad, president of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, said he has seen the drug save aggressive dogs from being put down.

But warned that vets and owners should not rely on fluoxetine alone and should work alongside behavioural management.