Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Fluoxetine is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg PO q24h in guinea pigs, per Jepson L. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, WB Saunders, New York, NY; 2009. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.800 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake at the presynaptic membrane, increasing serotonergic neurotransmission.
Side effects & warnings
Reconcile FDA-approved for canine separation anxiety. 4-6 weeks for full effect. Serotonin syndrome risk with tramadol, MAOIs, TCAs. Reduced appetite, lethargy initially. Long half-life.
Species with Fluoxetine dosing data (14 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 14 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 13 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, printed p.341, Fluoxetine Hydrochloride > Small Animal Dosage > Cats — EDITION CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named the 5th edition, which is not held. The page locator resolves in the 4th ed (2016), the copy actually consulted, and that page names the drug; the reference is to the 4th.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 221. Desmarchelier MR. Clinical psychopharmacology for the exotic animal practitioner. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2021;24:17-35. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.472 doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2020.08.003 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.10 (Psychotropic and Antiepileptic Agents Used in Birds.a,b).
· 221. Desmarchelier MR. Clinical psychopharmacology for the exotic animal practitioner. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2021;24:17-35. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.472 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.10 (Psychotropic and Antiepileptic Agents Used in Birds.a,b).
· 850. Seibert LM. Animal behavior case of the month. A cockatiel was examined because of repetitive chewing of the third digit of the right foot. J Am Vet Med Assoc. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.472 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.10 (Psychotropic and Antiepileptic Agents Used in Birds.a,b).
Upgrade for Full Details
Upgrade to Pro or Student to unlock the full dose ranges and frequency for every species. The drug's mechanism, warnings, indications, and cited sources are free to read.
Desmarchelier MR. Clinical psychopharmacology for the exotic animal practitioner. Vet Clin Exot Anim. 2021;24:17-35. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.956 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Ferrets.a).
· Galeano MG, Ruiz RD, Cuneo MF de, et al. Effectiveness of fluoxetine to control fur-chewing behaviour in the chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera). Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2013;146:112-117. — Source: Quesenberry et al., Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, 4th Ed, p.317
· Jepson L. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, WB Saunders, New York, NY; 2009. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.800 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).
· Johnson-Delaney CA. Practical marsupial medicine. Annu Conf Assoc Exot Mam Vet; 2006:51-60. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.711 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.5 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).
· Kubiak M. Sugar gliders. In: Kubiak M, eds. Handbook of Exotic Pet Medicine; Wiley Blackwell, Oxford, UK; 2021:125-139. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.711 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.5 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).
· Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.800 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).
· Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, printed p.341, Fluoxetine Hydrochloride > Small Animal Dosage > Cats — EDITION CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named the 5th edition, which is not held. The page locator resolves in the 4th ed (2016), the copy actually consulted, and that page names the drug; the reference is to the 4th.