Prozac instead of Elavil, more frustrations

Carey has been on Prozac since last Wednesday (Baytril too, as a "what
the hell"). Switched from Elavil for inappropriate urination (Elavil
had worked at 1/2 pill from August-March, and she's been on a whole
pill from April-last week with minor improvement, but the ACL thing
and blood in her urine). Elavil had stopped her weird yowling as
well. Now that she's on Prozac, it's baaaaaaack. The urination seems
to be going ok though. Maybe it's a trade off? I need to accept/deal
with yowling in order to not have urine everywhere? ACK, but ok!

We bought her a ramp for her counter. She walked up fine. When I saw
her, she walked down fine. But now her hind legs are not functioning
properly. They weren't 3 years ago, she recently had a [suspected]
torn acl, and she's walking "sloped". Doesn't seem to have any pain
when handled. Jumps up into her "cat bucket" (round bed) in a chair,
onto my lap, etc. She's seeming content but practically dragging
herself around. She wants to engage with the other cat, but he's
backing off on play a bit - like "I don't want to hurt you". We'll be
talking to the vet again this week of course, and sometimes she's
walking semi-normally.

I just am not sure what to be doing for her anymore, but trying to
keep her happy and comfortable and showing her love and affection.
Geez, having and loving pets gets complicated sometimes.

I have a timed cat feeder that I loaned out and will get back,
thinking that maybe food popping open at 4 a.m. may silence her
yowling a bit, but the yolwing at other times is somewhat random.
After a few days, it's starting to be background noise.

Any other ideas are welcome.

--
Janet B
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bestfr...bedience/album

"Janet B" wrote in message
...
Carey has been on Prozac since last Wednesday (Baytril too, as a "what
the hell"). Switched from Elavil for inappropriate urination (Elavil
had worked at 1/2 pill from August-March, and she's been on a whole
pill from April-last week with minor improvement, but the ACL thing
and blood in her urine). Elavil had stopped her weird yowling as
well. Now that she's on Prozac, it's baaaaaaack. The urination seems
to be going ok though. Maybe it's a trade off? I need to accept/deal
with yowling in order to not have urine everywhere? ACK, but ok!

Prozac does not produce noticable effects in humans until 4-6 weeks
from first dose. Is there a reason you expect your cat to show results
in less than a week? I don't know if it is different with cats, but think
the question is valid.

On Mon, 23 May 2005 00:32:23 -0400, "Mary" wrote:


Prozac does not produce noticable effects in humans until 4-6 weeks
from first dose. Is there a reason you expect your cat to show results
in less than a week? I don't know if it is different with cats, but think
the question is valid.

It's not so much a question of showing results in less than a week.
It's more that her vocalziation was controlled on the Elavil, and as
soon as we switched, it returned. Which leads me to believe that the
Prozac will not be affecting the vocalization. I may be wrong. That
would be nice! If not, it's just one of her quirks that I will
continue to live wit.

--
Janet B
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bestfr...bedience/album

"Janet B" wrote in message
...
Carey has been on Prozac since last Wednesday (Baytril too, as a
"what
the hell"). Switched from Elavil for inappropriate urination
(Elavil
had worked at 1/2 pill from August-March, and she's been on a whole
pill from April-last week with minor improvement, but the ACL thing
and blood in her urine). Elavil had stopped her weird yowling as
well. Now that she's on Prozac, it's baaaaaaack. The urination
seems
to be going ok though. Maybe it's a trade off? I need to
accept/deal
with yowling in order to not have urine everywhere? ACK, but ok!
[] Janet B
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bestfr...bedience/album

Hi Janet,
I'm sorry you're having such problems with Carey. She's lucky to have
you as an owner. I don't have any advice but just want to mention to
be cautious about using Baytril; higher doses can cause retinal
degeneration.
http://www.tufts.edu/vet/vet_common/..._march2003.pdf

Alison

On Mon, 23 May 2005 13:09:33 +0100, "Alison"
wrote:


I'm sorry you're having such problems with Carey. She's lucky to have
you as an owner. I don't have any advice but just want to mention to
be cautious about using Baytril; higher doses can cause retinal
degeneration.
http://www.tufts.edu/vet/vet_common/..._march2003.pdf


Thanks Alison. I knew about possible problems with Baytril, but my
vet felt it was the best choice right now. Carey is such a lovely
little cat, but I sure wish we had answers to her problems. It gets
more confusing all the time.

--
Janet B
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bestfr...bedience/album

"Janet B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 May 2005 00:32:23 -0400, "Mary" wrote:


Prozac does not produce noticable effects in humans until 4-6 weeks
from first dose. Is there a reason you expect your cat to show results
in less than a week? I don't know if it is different with cats, but think
the question is valid.

It's not so much a question of showing results in less than a week.
It's more that her vocalziation was controlled on the Elavil, and as
soon as we switched, it returned.

I see. But you have to expect that since Prozac takes 4-6 weeks
to begin working (the seratonin must pool in the brain for a while)
that there will be a period of vocalization until it begins to work.

Which leads me to believe that the
Prozac will not be affecting the vocalization. I may be wrong. That
would be nice!

Given that it really does take Prozac 4-6 weeks to work (I checked
for cats, just did a Google search and the action seems to be the same)
I think you need to wait that long to see if it will help with your mouthy
critter! I have a nephew on the stuff for anxiety, and I was the one who
had to do the research as his mom could not be bothered. I also wanted
to mention that if you decide to keep him on it, the generic is Fluoxetine
and much cheaper.


If not, it's just one of her quirks that I will
continue to live wit.


Well it can drive you insane, so I hope not.

Yes, it definitely takes about 4 weeks for the prozac to take full effect.
My cat is on prozac for his spraying problem. It has helped. I can't speak
for the vocalization problem, though.

S.

"Mary" wrote in message
...

"Janet B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 May 2005 00:32:23 -0400, "Mary" wrote:


Prozac does not produce noticable effects in humans until 4-6 weeks
from first dose. Is there a reason you expect your cat to show results
in less than a week? I don't know if it is different with cats, but
think
the question is valid.

It's not so much a question of showing results in less than a week.
It's more that her vocalziation was controlled on the Elavil, and as
soon as we switched, it returned.

I see. But you have to expect that since Prozac takes 4-6 weeks
to begin working (the seratonin must pool in the brain for a while)
that there will be a period of vocalization until it begins to work.

Which leads me to believe that the
Prozac will not be affecting the vocalization. I may be wrong. That
would be nice!

Given that it really does take Prozac 4-6 weeks to work (I checked
for cats, just did a Google search and the action seems to be the same)
I think you need to wait that long to see if it will help with your mouthy
critter! I have a nephew on the stuff for anxiety, and I was the one
who
had to do the research as his mom could not be bothered. I also wanted
to mention that if you decide to keep him on it, the generic is Fluoxetine
and much cheaper.


If not, it's just one of her quirks that I will
continue to live wit.


Well it can drive you insane, so I hope not.

Janet B wrote:
Carey has been on Prozac since last Wednesday (Baytril too, as a
"what
the hell"). Switched from Elavil for inappropriate urination (Elavil
had worked at 1/2 pill from August-March, and she's been on a whole
pill from April-last week with minor improvement, but the ACL thing
and blood in her urine). Elavil had stopped her weird yowling as
well. Now that she's on Prozac, it's baaaaaaack. The urination
seems
to be going ok though. Maybe it's a trade off? I need to
accept/deal
with yowling in order to not have urine everywhere? ACK, but ok!


Ok, maybe I'm missing something. Why did they take her off Elavil and
onto Prozac? Is there any reason she can't be on Elavil?

Also have they x-rayed her legs/hindquarters to rule out other things
besides ACL? The reason I ask is because my old dog was diagnosed with
a sprained knee, when in fact, she had a tumor growing underneath her
spine that was affecting the nerves into her leg. I eventually took
her to a different vet and by the time she was properly diagnosed, it
was too late to operate on the tumor.

So I would seek a second opinion if the treatment she has received
isn't working.

Thanks for any clarification,
-L.

-L. wrote:
Janet B wrote:
Carey has been on Prozac since last Wednesday (Baytril too, as a
"what
the hell"). Switched from Elavil for inappropriate urination (Elavil
had worked at 1/2 pill from August-March, and she's been on a whole
pill from April-last week with minor improvement, but the ACL thing
and blood in her urine). Elavil had stopped her weird yowling as
well. Now that she's on Prozac, it's baaaaaaack. The urination
seems
to be going ok though. Maybe it's a trade off? I need to
accept/deal
with yowling in order to not have urine everywhere? ACK, but ok!


Ok, maybe I'm missing something. Why did they take her off Elavil and
onto Prozac? Is there any reason she can't be on Elavil?

Also have they x-rayed her legs/hindquarters to rule out other things
besides ACL? The reason I ask is because my old dog was diagnosed
with a sprained knee, when in fact, she had a tumor growing
underneath her spine that was affecting the nerves into her leg. I
eventually took her to a different vet and by the time she was
properly diagnosed, it was too late to operate on the tumor.

So I would seek a second opinion if the treatment she has received
isn't working.

Thanks for any clarification,
-L.

Using Prozac on a cat. Fer Gawdsake! Maybe Ritalin on weekends? Gad ...
how did cats and owners survive centuries of cohabitation without drugging
the cat? Good Freekin' Grief.

"Philip"
Using Prozac on a cat. Fer Gawdsake! Maybe Ritalin on weekends? Gad ...
how did cats and owners survive centuries of cohabitation without drugging
the cat? Good Freekin' Grief.



I think it's ok, it's not like we dealing in perfection. Sooo many factors.

It's like there are retarded people for various reasons, so makes me wonder
if there are any retarded cats, see.., and I agree with you, on the surface
yes, people should not be so quick to chill a cat out (thier missing all the
fun)...

I think the key is; realizing that we are not dealing with perfection. If we
were dealing with perfection, I would say...do no sorcery, but this is not
the case.

I wonder if some of this outlandish behavoir is from retardation.

LOGISTICS
Even nature does not allow mothers and sons to breed, in animals or people,
it just strikes the consCience oddly - - well I'm sure in animals, there are
mothers and sons who have either accidently or through neccesity have
inbred. You got 2nd generation grandkids cutting the grandma, then you have
merchandise (kitten) who is defective from the factory. (if not from the
first gen, then by the 3rd or 4th, then the nuts don't fall far from the
tree...thus "Physco Kitty". Then you got phycos cutting phycos...wow

Sooo, we try to offset that kittens im-balance or directly affect the
ill-behavior...
through drugs.


--
Barry


.... Women and cats are both black at night. - Bosnia ...