WE TRIED THERAPY FIRST, BUT THEY DIDN’T REALLY WANT TO CHANGE

Stressed-out pets treated with Prozac (Armando D'Andrea, National Post, May 19th, 2005)

An increasing number of dogs and cats in Canada are suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and are being treated with such anti-depressants as Prozac, an Ontario veterinarian said.

Dr. Tim Zaharchuk estimated between 3% and 6% of dogs and cats in Canada suffer from this problem. He said pets can be as susceptible as their owners to stress and the disorders that result.

"Just as in our human world, as the world is geared up or revved up or becomes quicker and more fast-paced and more stressful, I think our pets' lives have become that way too, just by living with us," Dr. Zaharchuk said from his Brampton, Ont., animal clinic.

Behaviour exhibited by pets that suggest an obsessive-compulsive disorder includes excessive licking and grooming to the point of mutiliation, along with other incessant activities such as tail chasing, jaw snapping in the air at imaginary objects and "bum checking."

Bet if we let them marry and gave them condoms, all would be well.