The FDA has recently approved two new prescription medications for use in dogs. These products are Reconcile (fluoxetine) and Vetmedin (pimobendan). Let me discuss Reconcile today and I'll discuss Vetmedin next time.
Reconcile is the first SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) approved by the FDA for the treatment of separation anxiety in dogs in conjunction with a behavior modification program. Reconcile is a chewable, flavored tablet that is given once a day and is available in four tablet sizes (8, 16, 32, and 64mg) for convenient dosing. Data show that 42% of dogs receiving Reconcile and behavior modification showed improvement within 1 week. Within 8 weeks, 73% of dogs showed significant improvement when combined with behavior modification.
Symptoms of separation anxiety often go unnoticed by the pet owner, or may be misunderstood as bad behavior. Separation anxiety causes distress for the pet as well as the pet owner. Symptoms that may be associated with separation anxiety include: destruction, inappropriate elimination, vocalization (both loud and/or soft), licking, salivation, anorexia, pacing, and withdrawal.
Factors that are associated with an increased risk of separation anxiety include: traumatic separation, previous inexperience with isolation, excessive greetings or prolonged owner departures, abrupt changes to the owner's routines, relocation to a new home, exposure to a new pet sitter, and death in the family.
Reconcile reduces inappropriate behaviors, minimizes the pet's distress and increases receptiveness of the at home behavior modification program. Because the medication is given once a day, treating the pet is easier, less time consuming, and increases patient compliance.
The most common side effects include calmness or lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, shaking, diarrhea, restlessness, excessive vocalization, aggression and in infrequent cases, seizures.
If your veterinarinarian prescribes Reconcile, make sure you discuss with your veterinarian or pharmacist any other medications your pet may be taking before starting your pet on this medication.
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My dog has been on Reconcile for thirteen days and her anxiety has progressively gotten worse since starting the medication. The only reason that I've continued to give her the Reconcile this long is because of the exorbitant amount of money it cost to purchase it. The video and companion paperwork state that Reconcile is "a chewable, flavored tablet" and that "many dogs will take the Reconcile as a treat"...I doubt it. It's a hard tablet not unlike a vitamin and my dog, as I suspect most others, will not take it voluntarily. Since being on the Reconcile my dog has destroyed an entry mat, urinated on the carpet twice, urinated on the hard wood floor three times, urinated on my bed, broken out of her crate multiple times, destroyed a set of mini-blinds, eaten a pair of pajamas, partially eaten a pillow and now has to be forced into the crate; prior to taking Reconcile the only issue she had was barking and chewing while in the crate (she would enter it without being forced.)
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