Eli Lilly launches Reconcile to combat separation anxiety in the home-alone dogs
Most pet dogs are not at ease when left alone at home. Such dogs can become very restless, bark excessively, whine, howl, urinate and defecate abnormally, chew and destroy anything . . .and therefore inflict a lot of misery on themselves and their owners. To combat this problem, Eli Lilly and Company have launched Reconcile, a new antidepressant. The company announced recently that the drug has gained approval from the FDA and is available in the US subject to a vet's prescription.
Reconcile (fluoxetine hydrochloride) is believed to be the first drug of this kind, [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressants] to be approved by the FDA for this kind of a treatment. Studies have proven that the drug will work best when combined with the BOND behavior modification training, which incidentally has been developed by the company with the aid of a team of veterinary behaviorists and doctors.
The BOND behavior modification training package includes a DVD, printed instructions, and in-home reminders and is given by the vet along with the Reconcile prescription. The training is believed to be easy and should be imparted at home by the dog owners themselves with all the members of the family playing an active role.
A confident Steve Connell, D.V.M., manager of technical, academic and consumer services for companion animal health at Lilly, said:
Lilly research shows that 10.7 million, or up to 17 percent of U.S. dogs suffer from separation anxiety. We're thrilled that our first product for dogs can help restore the human-pet bond, which can be compromised when dogs suffer from separation anxiety.
Your family veterinarian may recommend certain tests before diagnosing separation anxiety. Such tests are used to rule out other potential physiological causes of inappropriate behavior.
Reconcile is a flavored and chewable tablet that should be given to the pet once daily (dosage is weight-specific). The drug has been proven to be safe for dogs 6 months and older. But there can be side effects too - during trials some of the side-effects included calm or lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, shaking, diarrhea, restlessness, excessive vocalization, aggression and - in rare cases - seizures.
For more information you can visit www.lillypet.com.
Via: Business Wire
