The maker of the antidepressant medication Prozac is close to coming out with a version for dogs.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration indicated on Feb. 9, 2007, that Prozac maker Eli Lilly & Co. could soon receive approval to begin selling a canine version of Prozac called Reconcile.
The tablets would be for use in dogs and puppies 6 months of age or older and 8.8 pounds or heavier, according to FDA-established guidelines. The flavored, chewable pill is designed to help quell panic attacks and the bad behavior that sometimes comes when dogs are separated from their owners.
If approved, the drug, which would be available by prescription only, should be used in conjunction with a behavior modification plan, the FDA said in a notice posted on its website.
Such behavior modification could include counseling, such as rewards for good behavior, and training the dog to be content alone, according to the drug’s prescribing information.
Reconcile would not be the first anti-anxiety medication for dogs on the market, however; the drug Clomicalm was approved by the FDA in 1999.
FDA approval is expected to come as soon as the week of Feb. 12. Reconcile is expected to be available to the public within the next several weeks.