Sure they have issues (just like people do) but medication isn't always the answer. Sometimes you need to actually address the problems. But I know there are cases that this is the best course of action so it's not always bad.

I think we are over-medicating ourselves and now we are over-medicating our pets. I would NEVER give my dog a drug for separation anxiety or depression. This is a ridiculous abuse of drugs.

My aunt's dog is on anti-anxiety medicine - she was bred to be a hunting dog, but the rifle shots scared her. She's terrified of any loud noises, but I think they could have tried harder to desensitize her when she was younger.

My doxie Ladybird barks at noises a lot, but she's being a good watchdog (or so she think). We're trying to get her to stop by not coddling her or rewarding her barky behavior. I don't think I'd ever give her medicine unless it was the last resort.

After months of working with a behaviorist, animal professionals, and being very consistent and open about training our rescue dog we finally decided to try clomipramine. He has severe separation anxiety that was not curbed by any SA training that we did. He was to the point of hurting himself when we left. Faced with the decision of trying medication, or returning the dog to the rescue group we tried the former. We honestly didn't know if hurt him more to be re-homed again or to continue to work with him including RX. It's been over two years. He's responded to the medication and our continued efforts. We attempted to stage him off however his symptoms returned almost immediately. Just like there are some people that need medication to be well, so do our pets. I don't like taking OTC meds for when I have a headache, so this was a big decision. I don't think it's fair to say "I would never!". We want our human and animal friends to have a healthy life, and sometimes meds may be a piece of that.

Good for you genxjules for making the commitment and sticking with it! Your pooch is one lucky pooch, as I know not all rescues are fortunate enough to find loving forever homes!

Personally I agree with the person who said that we're over medicating ourselves and our pets, but I do believe in using medication as a last resort (like genxjules did).

I think more people need to look at what the problem is and try to solve it without medication.

I think we're definitly overmedicating our pets just as much as we overmedicate ourselves and our children.

I mean seriously - antidepressants for dogs?

99.5% of these problems can probably be avoided by owners treating their dogs like, ya know, DOGS. When you coddle a dog too much and don't let them feel like they're just a pack member, they feel stressed because they don't know what to expect. So they get separation anxiety and sometimes they act neurotic. My dog had separation anxiety when I first got her, but crating her and obedience-training pretty much solved the problem. And don't even get me started on Slentrol...the remedy for canine obesity is called "get off your lazy ass and walk your dog and feed him dog food, not people food". It ain't rocket science.

My dogs have only ever had medication for pyshical health issues (we had two with epilepsy and one had a liver problem). Most of our dogs have had bad allergies in the spring, so the vet told us to give them Benedril (and she told us how much), but I think there are plenty of other ways to treat emotional and behavioral problems.

I've never had an animal with emotional issues, but had I, I would have opted to address any potential source(s) rather than medicating. IMHO, we are just to quick to throw a pill at things these days in the name of convenience, whether it be for humans or our beloved pets.

no medication! No way!!
I mean, if my dog is really sick, of course, but if it's just because I'm not able to understand her or her behavior, it would be ridiculous!
My dog is a anxious by nature and was suffering of separation anxiety. But I fixed it with the vet by MY behavior with Polka!

The majority of the problems that are being discussed are all issues that humans have caused in domesticated animals. As dogs and cats have become more and more domesticated over the years their natural instincts have gone away and have been replaced by anxiety and other issues.

Working with animals everyday, I do see the necessity of these medications. Even the "off-label" uses have their purpose. A lot of them go through studies and then become standards of care across the industry. I even hear many of the owners who take the financial burdens of medicating say they are happy with the fact they get their dog back, especially those with severe anxiety.

The problems all stem from over breeding and domestication. Pugs, bulldogs, and many dogs that have been popular over the years are now getting other medical problems due to these issues. Veterinarians are seeing dogs with the cute smooshed noses getting infections in the folds even to the point of rot or even collapsing tracheas. I have watched many dachshunds come in with severe back problems due to height standards, it's extremely hard to watch a 3 year old dachshund suffer with a back injury to see it pass away in a few days. It breaks my heart to see a young boxer that comes in with enlarged hearts or an unusual cancer. AKC breeding standards cause these medical issues. It is sad what the domestication of the dog and cat has done to their species.

I totally agree that we are over medicating ourselves and since our dogs have become an extension of ourselves, we over medicate them, now too. The country is fat, so most dogs are fat. Honestly it breaks my heart to see a fatty dog because I know he isn't getting walks and I figure mom and dad are probably overweight as well.

Obviously someone like genxjules who uses meds as the last resort is on the right track.

They need FAR too many shots!