Home › Can my pet eat this? › Antidepressants (SSRIs/TCAs)
🧠 Are antidepressants poisonous to dogs and cats?
🔴 Yes. It's dangerous.
👉 What to do right now
- EMERGENCY.
- TCAs particularly dangerous — death within 1–2 hours from cardiac arrhythmias.
- Bring packaging.
⛔ Don't
- Delay — TCAs can cause fatal arrhythmias within 2 hours
⚖️ How much is too much?
Harmful amounts depend on your pet's body weight.
🐶 DogsSSRIs: toxic >10-20mg/kg; TCAs: lethal >15mg/kg
🐱 CatsMore sensitive than dogs
👀 Signs to watch for
- Tremors
- Mydriasis
- Agitation
- Hyperthermia
- Rapid heart rate
- Seizures
- Cardiac arrhythmias (TCAs)
- Coma
⏱️ When do signs show up?
30–60 minutes
🔬 Why is it harmful?
SSRIs block presynaptic serotonin reuptake causing serotonin syndrome. TCAs (amitriptyline) additionally block norepinephrine/dopamine with anticholinergic effects. TCA lethal dose: 15mg/kg for amitriptyline.
Related
Informational triage only. Does not replace professional veterinary diagnosis. When in doubt, always call your vet.