Your questions answered
How does this medication work?
Reconcile® chewable tablets work by making your dog more receptive to the behavioural modification. Reconcile® is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI. Chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters communicate information between nerve cells, known as neurons. These neurotransmitters are released into the space between two cells, called a synapse, and are then reabsorbed back into the neuron that released them. One such neurotransmitter, called serotonin, is responsible for many functions within the brain, including the control of anxiety. Low levels of serotonin in a dog’s brain may result in impaired communication between nerves, producing an increased level of anxiety. Reconcile® can help correct this chemical imbalance by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and temporarily increase its level in the brain. Veterinary experts believe that higher levels of serotonin improve communication and strengthen circuits in the brain that act to decrease anxiety.
How do I give Reconcile® chewable tablets to my dog?
Reconcile® is a chewable flavoured tablet that is readily consumed by most dogs. If your dog does not readily accept the Reconcile® chewable tablet, it may be offered in food or administered like other tablet medications. Follow your vet’s directions regarding how much medication to administer. Reconcile® is given once a day and can be given with or without food. If a dose is missed, the next scheduled dose should be given as prescribed. Do not increase or double the dose, unless your vet has advised to do so. If more than the prescribed amount of Reconcile® chewable tablets are given, contact your vet, who is the healthcare expert for your dog.
Can I just use the behaviour modification plan without Reconcile®?
Some cases of separation-related anxiety can be improved using the behaviour modification plan alone. However, in some cases the anxiety disorder is so significant that medication is necessary. The combined use of behaviour modification with Reconcile® chewable tablets has also been proven to work faster than behaviour modification alone for the management of separation-related anxiety. Results of clinical trials have shown that after 8 weeks 73% of dogs receiving Reconcile® and behaviour modification had significant behavioural improvement, compared with only 51% of dogs receiving behaviour modification alone. Reconcile® has been shown to accelerate your dog’s response to behaviour modification, thereby reducing detrimental behaviours.
How long should I expect it to take before the behaviour improves? Will the behaviours completely go away?
Some dogs may show improvement within 1 to 2 weeks of starting treatment with Reconcile® chewable tablets. Your vet will monitor the response to Reconcile® chewable tablets and the behaviour modification plan. If no improvement is noted within 4 weeks (and behavioural modification is being consistently and appropriately undertaken) your vet should re-evaluate case management for your dog. Some dogs may take as long as 8 weeks to show improvement.
Do I have to give Reconcile® chewable tablets forever?
This is a long-term medication as it takes time for it to take effect and your dog will then need time to respond to the behaviour modification plan while the medication is supporting them. You are therefore going to be administering medication for a few months and sometimes longer. Each dog has a unique response to treatment. Your vet will monitor your dog’s progress and work with you to determine the appropriate length of treatment for your dog.
What side effects might occur while my dog is taking Reconcile® chewable tablets?
As with all medications, side effects may occur. Your vet can best describe these for you and discuss what to do if you observe any unexpected effects or unusual behaviour in your dog. Some animals may appear more calm or lethargic, but it is important to remember that reducing anxiety can improve quality of sleep and your dog may be able to rest for longer and be more relaxed. If you are concerned speak to your vet so they can determine if it is a positive change in sleep or something to be concerned about. One of the other more commonly recognised side effects is decreased appetite and if you have concerns about this speak to your vet as a slight temporary adjustment of the dose regime will usually resolve this. Additional side effects that may be observed include urinary tract disorders, incoordination, disorientation, weight loss, eye pupil dilation, vomiting or panting. The most serious side effect is seizures (convulsions), which is rare.
What sort of camera should I get to observe my dog at home?
As by definition, separation-related problems occur when a dog is left alone, video footage is essential to allow your vet or behaviourist to properly understand what is going on and therefore decide on the most appropriate treatment plan. It is also very important for assessing the success of any treatments introduced.
There are lots of different types of cameras available on the market. Thankfully these are now very affordable and readily available, particularly online. However, when considering investing in a camera, there are a few important things to look out for:
- Wide angle lens. We want to make sure that the lens is sufficiently wide to capture all (or as much as possible) of the area in question. Positioning of the camera will also be critical in this as we need to avoid as many blind spots as possible. If your dog has access to more than one area of the house multiple cameras may be needed to capture all their movements during the period they are left alone.
- Sound recording. A colour camera is not essential, and it would be more advisable to invest in a camera that is capable of recording sound. A lot of separation related behaviours involve vocalisation and the timing and pattern of these can assist in making an appropriate diagnosis (rather than relying on the neighbour’s reports!).
- Adequate storage. You need to ensure that the camera that has the ability to record for the full length of time that your dog is left alone. Motion sensor cameras are not suitable as they will only record part of the data so the camera should be one with continuous recording capability. So, either recording via Wi-Fi straight to the cloud or ensuring adequate internal/external storage (e.g., an SD card) is important to ensure all footage is safely stored.
- Long battery life. Like the consideration of storage capacity, the battery needs to be capable of lasting the whole period of time the dog is left alone (if not plugged in). The battery life becomes an issue if the position of the camera is not near a plug. The last thing we want are lengthy cables that could potentially be chewed or pulled by the stressed dog!
Finally, when deciding upon a camera, it is not essential that it is “dog” specific. Baby monitors or home security cameras are good alternatives and can be more cost effective. It is also important to ensure that the camera is positioned out of reach of the dog as we do not want them to chew or play with the camera!
How does this medication work?
Reconcile® chewable tablets work by making your dog more receptive to the behavioural modification. Reconcile® is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI. Chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters communicate information between nerve cells, known as neurons. These neurotransmitters are released into the space between two cells, called a synapse, and are then reabsorbed back into the neuron that released them. One such neurotransmitter, called serotonin, is responsible for many functions within the brain, including the control of anxiety. Low levels of serotonin in a dog’s brain may result in impaired communication between nerves, producing an increased level of anxiety. Reconcile® can help correct this chemical imbalance by blocking the reuptake of serotonin and temporarily increase its level in the brain. Veterinary experts believe that higher levels of serotonin improve communication and strengthen circuits in the brain that act to decrease anxiety.
How do I give Reconcile® chewable tablets to my dog?
Reconcile® is a chewable flavoured tablet that is readily consumed by most dogs. If your dog does not readily accept the Reconcile® chewable tablet, it may be offered in food or administered like other tablet medications. Follow your vet’s directions regarding how much medication to administer. Reconcile® is given once a day and can be given with or without food. If a dose is missed, the next scheduled dose should be given as prescribed. Do not increase or double the dose, unless your vet has advised to do so. If more than the prescribed amount of Reconcile® chewable tablets are given, contact your vet, who is the healthcare expert for your dog.
Can I just use the behaviour modification plan without Reconcile®?
Some cases of separation-related anxiety can be improved using the behaviour modification plan alone. However, in some cases the anxiety disorder is so significant that medication is necessary. The combined use of behaviour modification with Reconcile® chewable tablets has also been proven to work faster than behaviour modification alone for the management of separation-related anxiety. Results of clinical trials have shown that after 8 weeks 73% of dogs receiving Reconcile® and behaviour modification had significant behavioural improvement, compared with only 51% of dogs receiving behaviour modification alone. Reconcile® has been shown to accelerate your dog’s response to behaviour modification, thereby reducing detrimental behaviours.
How long should I expect it to take before the behaviour improves? Will the behaviours completely go away?
Some dogs may show improvement within 1 to 2 weeks of starting treatment with Reconcile® chewable tablets. Your vet will monitor the response to Reconcile® chewable tablets and the behaviour modification plan. If no improvement is noted within 4 weeks (and behavioural modification is being consistently and appropriately undertaken) your vet should re-evaluate case management for your dog. Some dogs may take as long as 8 weeks to show improvement.
Do I have to give Reconcile® chewable tablets forever?
This is a long-term medication as it takes time for it to take effect and your dog will then need time to respond to the behaviour modification plan while the medication is supporting them. You are therefore going to be administering medication for a few months and sometimes longer. Each dog has a unique response to treatment. Your vet will monitor your dog’s progress and work with you to determine the appropriate length of treatment for your dog.
What side effects might occur while my dog is taking Reconcile® chewable tablets?
As with all medications, side effects may occur. Your vet can best describe these for you and discuss what to do if you observe any unexpected effects or unusual behaviour in your dog. Some animals may appear more calm or lethargic, but it is important to remember that reducing anxiety can improve quality of sleep and your dog may be able to rest for longer and be more relaxed. If you are concerned speak to your vet so they can determine if it is a positive change in sleep or something to be concerned about. One of the other more commonly recognised side effects is decreased appetite and if you have concerns about this speak to your vet as a slight temporary adjustment of the dose regime will usually resolve this. Additional side effects that may be observed include urinary tract disorders, incoordination, disorientation, weight loss, eye pupil dilation, vomiting or panting. The most serious side effect is seizures (convulsions), which is rare.
If you have any other questions about Reconcile or your dog’s health please direct these to
your veterinary practice who are the experts on your dog’s health.
