Owners give Prozac to depressed pets

Increasing numbers of British pets are being given Prozac to help them battle against depression, a leading veterinary expert has revealed.

Tropical birds such as parrots are the worst affected by depression, according to vet Romain Pizzi.

Mr Pizzi is a specialist in zoo and wildlife medicine for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, said pets are affected when owners leave them alone for hours on end.

Mr Pizzi, the director of Edinburgh-based consultancy Zoological Medicine, said that the number of tropical birds requiring anti-depressants such as Prozac was rising.