Fluoxetine for horses

[TheChestnutThing]

Has anyone ever used Fluoxetine for their horse and did you find it worked?

It will be a last resort for my hugely anxiety driven show jumper (he is not in pain/everything fits/everything has been checked).
Unfortunately he is getting worse at shows to the point where I can no longer warm him up if we come with a friend and they are not with us in the warm up. On Monday we spent 5 minutes napping and spinning and resting to go to said friend. He does the same at home if even one stable mate goes out or one is left out.

We have tried everything and this really is a last resort.

 

[ihatework]

No I haven’t (or had any experience of anyone else) but it won’t be legal to compete on - so you’d have to use it with the aim of training in the off season then withdraw.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Is there actually a vet prepared to do this ?

 

[webble]

Have you discussed with the vet? It's normally a long term med rather than a one off

 

[smiggy]

I dread to think how much it would cost, it’s not cheap for dogs

 

[TheChestnutThing]

No I haven’t (or had any experience of anyone else) but it won’t be legal to compete on - so you’d have to use it with the aim of training in the off season then withdraw.

very aware, giving him a break until the spring

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Have you discussed with the vet? It's normally a long term med rather than a one off

would not be asking opinions if I had not . It’s really a last resort for him.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

I dread to think how much it would cost, it’s not cheap for dogs

Oh it’s far far from cheap, but his talent is worth it. So if it helps I’m ok with it.

 

[Birker2020]

There are lots of scholary articles (70% sucess rate) and a post on Chronicle of the horse about someone who used this on their horse for severe anxiety.

I'm currently on it myself but obviously not so common for equine use.