Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring

If it's not working, with a clean conscience, I think it's fine to use the medications. And another thing that comes to my mind when I think about dogs is the very real possibility that the behavior could lead to the dog being euthanized or to the dog being rehomed or something like that.

If it's not working, with a clean conscience, I think it's fine to use the medications. And another thing that comes to my mind when I think about dogs is the very real possibility that the behavior could lead to the dog being euthanized or to the dog being rehomed or something like that.

And so I actually start thinking about children with autism or parents with dementia because sometimes that's what we're looking at. with families that are caring for these people. And it's the same for them. You want to make them as healthy as possible. You want to do everything you can. But sometimes, especially with adults who have dementia, who are just getting worse,

And so I actually start thinking about children with autism or parents with dementia because sometimes that's what we're looking at. with families that are caring for these people. And it's the same for them. You want to make them as healthy as possible. You want to do everything you can. But sometimes, especially with adults who have dementia, who are just getting worse,

the most humane thing you can do might be putting them on an antipsychotic medication or some antidepressants because it allows you to control their behavior better. It allows them to stay in the home with you longer.

the most humane thing you can do might be putting them on an antipsychotic medication or some antidepressants because it allows you to control their behavior better. It allows them to stay in the home with you longer.

And if that means that your grandparent or your parent can stay with you and you can look after them and you don't have to send them to a nursing home, these aren't easy decisions to make. I mean, these are ones that are very complicated and they're challenging. But there's never a right answer. It's never right or wrong to use a medication. You look at the individual circumstances for the person.

And if that means that your grandparent or your parent can stay with you and you can look after them and you don't have to send them to a nursing home, these aren't easy decisions to make. I mean, these are ones that are very complicated and they're challenging. But there's never a right answer. It's never right or wrong to use a medication. You look at the individual circumstances for the person.

You try everything you can. And if that's just the way it needs to be, then that's okay.

You try everything you can. And if that's just the way it needs to be, then that's okay.

Yes, yeah, you're definitely creating, you're making things easier for the person who runs the kennel, but making things more complicated for the dog and the next owner, when they're going to have to deal with a dog that's developed a physical dependency to a medication and has to go through withdrawal.

Yes, yeah, you're definitely creating, you're making things easier for the person who runs the kennel, but making things more complicated for the dog and the next owner, when they're going to have to deal with a dog that's developed a physical dependency to a medication and has to go through withdrawal.

Yeah, and I also imagine it could be very... It might be very... for the person who adopts the dog because some people may say, I actually want a very docile dog. I want one that's kind of, you know, doesn't, you know, is very mellow. And if you go and adopt a dog from a shelter who's on SSRIs, And, you know, it's very mellow, it's very calm. And he said, Oh, this is a good fit for me.

Yeah, and I also imagine it could be very... It might be very... for the person who adopts the dog because some people may say, I actually want a very docile dog. I want one that's kind of, you know, doesn't, you know, is very mellow. And if you go and adopt a dog from a shelter who's on SSRIs, And, you know, it's very mellow, it's very calm. And he said, Oh, this is a good fit for me.

And then you bring it home and you take it off the medications. And then it's real personality comes out. And all of a sudden, it's like, I want you to interact with me. I want you to take me out. I want to move my body. I mean, that's also I mean, that could also be very confusing for an owner.

And then you bring it home and you take it off the medications. And then it's real personality comes out. And all of a sudden, it's like, I want you to interact with me. I want you to take me out. I want to move my body. I mean, that's also I mean, that could also be very confusing for an owner.

So what I would love to see is not that we get rid of any of the medications, is that at least for the humans, the doctors really emphasize getting to the root cause of why people are unhappy and being honest with them, you know, and helping them do that. You know, I would love to see us Help people more with their relationships, with their work, with their physical health.

So what I would love to see is not that we get rid of any of the medications, is that at least for the humans, the doctors really emphasize getting to the root cause of why people are unhappy and being honest with them, you know, and helping them do that. You know, I would love to see us Help people more with their relationships, with their work, with their physical health.

And set realistic expectations and say, listen, this could take you a couple decades to figure out. You have to cultivate these things in your life. Good relationships, work that you love. These aren't shortcuts. There is natural pain along the way. And to set those expectations.

And set realistic expectations and say, listen, this could take you a couple decades to figure out. You have to cultivate these things in your life. Good relationships, work that you love. These aren't shortcuts. There is natural pain along the way. And to set those expectations.