My dog is on Fluoxetine for anxiety. How long until it works?

Question

My dog has been taking Fluoxetine for almost 3 weeks now for anxiety and obsessive behavior. This was recommended by his trainer & I have reluctantly agreed. Side effects were immediate. Loss of appetite and very sluggish. His appetite has improved a bit and outdoors he still is very active. Inside he has not played with any of his toys since he has been on the meds. He also is a bit restless at night changing his sleeping area. Wondering what to expect next? Heard it could take months. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 3 years and 6 months old | 54 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

I usually don't expect to see positive changes for at least 6 weeks. You may want to discuss these side effects with your vet to see if there might be a better anxiety medication to use - there is no one best medication for all dogs, sometimes it is trial and error. I can't really tell you what to expect next, since every dog is so different. I would not expect that his current side effects would get worse, though.

My dog is on Fluoxetine for anxiety. How long until it works?

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