Clomicalm vs Reconcile for dog separation anxiety
Clomicalm (clomipramine) and Reconcile (fluoxetine) are the two FDA-approved medicines for separation anxiety in dogs, both meant to be used with behavior training. Both take weeks to work; they differ in how they act, how often they are given, and their side effects.
Updated October 4, 2026
At a glance
- Medicine type
- Clomicalm
- Tricyclic antidepressant
- Reconcile
- SSRI
- How often
- Clomicalm
- Once or twice a day
- Reconcile
- Once a day
- Time to work
- Clomicalm
- Several weeks
- Reconcile
- Several weeks
- Common side effects
- Clomicalm
- Sleepiness, vomiting, thirst
- Reconcile
- Reduced appetite, sleepiness
- Human generic
- Clomicalm
- Yes, clomipramine
- Reconcile
- Yes, fluoxetine
Clomicalm clomipramine | Reconcile fluoxetine | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine type | Tricyclic antidepressant | SSRI |
| How often | Once or twice a day | Once a day |
| Time to work | Several weeks | Several weeks |
| Common side effects | Sleepiness, vomiting, thirst | Reduced appetite, sleepiness |
| Human generic | Yes, clomipramine | Yes, fluoxetine |
Medicine plus training
Both are approved to be used alongside behavior modification, such as gradual practice with being alone, and they work best that way. Medicine lowers anxiety enough for training to take hold; it is not a substitute for it.
Choosing
Both work for many dogs. Fluoxetine’s once-daily chewable is convenient, and its side effects are usually mild, with reduced appetite the most common. Clomipramine can cause sleepiness, vomiting and increased thirst, and needs care in dogs with heart rhythm problems.
Interactions
Neither is combined with selegiline, amitraz tick collars or dips, or other MAOIs, and both risk serotonin syndrome with tramadol and other serotonin-affecting medicines. Both need care in dogs with a history of seizures.
Patience and stopping
Expect several weeks before judging results, and keep training going. When it is time to stop, both are tapered over weeks under your vet’s direction rather than stopped suddenly.
Cost
Human generic clomipramine and fluoxetine can be filled at a regular pharmacy with your vet’s prescription, which often costs less than the branded veterinary products. Your vet will tell you the dose and form to use.
Signs it is working
Improvement usually shows as less destruction, less barking or howling when alone, and calmer departures, judged over weeks rather than days. Short videos of your dog while you are out help you and your vet see progress objectively. Daily exercise and food puzzles help too, and any increase in anxiety or aggression should be reported promptly.
Questions for your vet
- Which medicine suits my dog’s health and routine?
- What training plan should go with it?
- How will we judge whether it is working?
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Sources
Written by the Script Unlock editorial team from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for you or your pet; your vet decides which medicine is right.
Script Unlock is a marketplace that lets licensed pharmacies quote a cash price on your prescription. It does not prescribe, dispense or sell medication, does not process patient payments, and does not give medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your prescriber and pharmacist and read the medication guide supplied with your medicine.