Medication
SSRI and Other Antidepressant Medications
Contact a vet or poison line straight away, even for a single tablet, as small doses can cause serotonin syndrome.
SevereDogsCats
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What to do right now
- 1.Identify the exact medication and strength from the packaging
- 2.Note how many tablets are missing and when they were likely taken
- 3.Phone your veterinary practice or a poison control service immediately
- 4.Do not attempt to make the animal vomit unless instructed
Symptoms
- Agitation and vocalising
- Tremors
- Dilated pupils
- Rapid heart rate
- Seizures in severe cases
Details
- Category
- Medication
- Toxicity
- Severe
- Species affected
- Dogs, Cats
- Routes of exposure
- Chewing through a pill bottle or eating dropped tablets, most often from a person's bedside table or handbag
- Urgency
- Contact a vet or poison line straight away, even for a single tablet, as small doses can cause serotonin syndrome.
Veterinary notes and prevention
Excess serotonin can cause serotonin syndrome with hyperthermia, tremors and seizures. Treatment may include decontamination, sedation and active cooling.
Prepare the information your vet needs
- For SSRI and Other Antidepressant Medications, report the exposure route: Chewing through a pill bottle or eating dropped tablets, most often from a person's bedside table or handbag. Tell the clinic the time, possible amount and your pet's species and approximate weight.
- Photograph the packaging, ingredient list or plant if safe. Do not handle contaminated material without protection or delay the call to identify it perfectly.
- Keep other animals away from the source. An animal may appear normal before signs develop; do not wait for symptoms or calculate a home 'safe dose'.
- Follow the clinic's transport instructions. Do not give food, medicines or home remedies unless instructed, and take packaging with you if available.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.