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A kid goes away to college or someone gets divorced, or even when there's relationship problems or financial problems. Your pets can sense your behavior.
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There's a high level of side effects associated with these medications. There could be a sedative or lethargic effect, or they won't have as much energy as a result of the medication so they may not eat as well as they should. Or there could even be vomiting or diarrhea as a result. That's why it's very important that we have a baseline of what's going on in the body as a result of medication.Are there specific antidepressants for cats or do they take the same brand names as humans?
There are actually. There are veterinary-specific medications that help animals. There is a drug that is called Clomipramine and there's a veterinary medicine of it called Clomicalm, and that's for things like separation anxiety. But there are other pets that for separation anxiety that will take a drug just like people take which is Fluoxetine, also known as Prozac.How long do cats usually stay on this stuff?
They could actually be on it for life. It depends on the situation that causes the anxiety and how it can be resolved. If they're constantly under stress in the home environment, and we're not addressing that, they might need to be on medication for life. I [treat] a dog that has separation anxiety and has to take a version of Prozac. We also use acupuncture and Chinese herbs.What is some depressed body language to watch for?
Your cat could be sleeping more. Instead of coming and greeting you, your cat might start hiding in a secluded spot, perhaps in a closet or under a bed. They might not walk around as much; they could spend a lot of time lying down. We could see appetite changes where they start to refuse their food. Especially with cats, if they start losing weight, there could be an underlying problem like kidney stones or cancer or liver failure.Could a cat develop a pill addiction like humans could?Well, they're probably not going to be able to open the bottle as easily. Probably not, but that's why they always want to use our medicine responsibly. Collaborate with your vet to make sure your pet is showing a response. Pets can't dose themselves like people would.Follow Sophie Saint Thomas on Twitter.