Is SSRI antidepressants toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: fluoxetine / sertraline / antidepressants
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Emergency with the packaging; serotonin syndrome needs aggressive cooling and antagonists.
Toxicity notes
Pet ingestion of human antidepressants (fluoxetine, sertraline) causes serotonin syndrome — tremors, hyperthermia, seizures; combination products add other risks.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Tremors
- • Vomiting
- • Dilated pupils
- • High fever
- • Seizures
Symptoms can be delayed (e.g. onion/garlic-induced hemolysis may take days) — a pet looking fine right now is no reason to relax.
FAQ
How much causes poisoning?
Pet ingestion of human antidepressants (fluoxetine, sertraline) causes serotonin syndrome — tremors, hyperthermia, seizures; combination products add other risks.
Can I make my pet vomit at home?
Home-induced vomiting is not advised: corrosive cleaners, sharp bones or existing neurological signs make it dangerous, and improper technique risks aspiration pneumonia. Vomiting should be induced by a vet with proper drugs at the right moment — most effective within 1-2 hours. So “head to the clinic as soon as you know” beats “try to induce vomiting first”.
Even without symptoms, use the symptom checker to review what to watch for
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