Does Prozac cause diarrhea in dogs?

Dr. Marie replied:

Thanks for your question.

The following side effects are listed for Prozac when used for dogs:

• lethargy


• Gastrointestinal effects


• anxiety


• irritability


• insomnia


• panting

As gastrointestinal effects are listed as a side effect then yes, diarrhea could be caused by the Prozac.

Unfortunately we don't have a lot of research on using Prozac in dogs so we often don't have clear guidelines as to what to expect.

I would not recommend stopping the Prozac without instructions from your vet as dogs, just like people, can have side effects from stopping Prozac too quickly.

It is also possible that there is something else causing the diarrhea. Unfortunately it can often be hard to know what the cause is.

If this were my case I would likely be trying a gradual change to another anti-anxiety medication such as Clomicalm (but this depends on why your dog was put on Prozac). I might also try a course of metronidazole which is an antibiotic which can help with intestinal inflammation. I would likely also be suggesting a fecal check for parasites as well.

I hope things are ok soon!

Dr. Marie.

---

Check out our dog age calculator and cat age calculator.

Dr. Marie replied:

You're very welcome. I hope Deja is feeling better soon!

Dr. Marie