We understand how you and your pet can be impacted when they are feeling stressed or anxious. Sometimes, this anxiety is sparked by certain things happening around or to your pet, such as Fireworks or trips to the vet. Sometimes, pets just seem anxious all the time.
When there is serious issues, the best place to start is a behavioural consult, as genuine anxiety is not a problem that can be solved in 5 minutes and it will take some dedication and effort on your behalf to help your pet. In serious cases, referral to a behavioural consultant may be recommended as the best way to move forward.
At our clinic, we have a range of products that may help your pet as support whilst the behaviour is being modified, or can be used to prevent problems worsening in more mild cases. They each have a pros and cons, so we recommend they are used with advice/recommendation from our team.
Below is a list of products available, how they work and in what circumstances we would be likely to recommend them for your cat.
CALMEX: A liquid supplement that contains specific amino acids and B vitamins to support a healthy nervous system and calm demeanour. Best used daily for long term management, but can be used intermittently for short term stress such as visits to the vet clinic, moving house etc.
Recommended for: Generalised stress or in anticipation of a stressful event.
More information about this product can be found at https://www.vetexpress.co.nz/calmex-cat
CALMING CARE: A beef liver-flavoured probiotic powder in individual sachets. Contains Bifidobacterium longum BL999 which promotes a healthy emotional state and encourages calm behaviour.
Calming Care also promotes social and play behaviour. For daily use.
Recommended for: Generalised stress or as support through a stressful event or change in routine.
FELIWAY: When happy cats rub their face against furniture, people or other cats, they release pheromones which promote calm and reassurance. Feliway replicates these pheromones in a spray and diffuser to encourage relaxation, and reduce signs of stress such as urine spraying, scratching or hiding.
Recommended for: Feliway diffuser provides constant reassurance for your cat around the house hold. Each refill lasts for up to 30 days. Feliway spray is useful for travel or in new places, simply spray onto a blanket or towel to take with your pet. Each spray lasts up to 5 hours.
Some great resources for owners for more information about Feliway and anxiety in cats in general can be found at https://www.feliway.com/nz
BACH FLOWERS RESCUE REMEDY: These are a natural product which can be tailored to your individual pet’s behavioural needs, including anxiety. Rescue Remedy is the most well-known Bach Flower product but is it actually a combination of 4 of the 26 available Bach Flowers, The range can assist with; stress from change such as moving, hyperactivity, worry form past events, and grief. At VetsOne, Dr Sharon Marshall has a special interest in alternate therapies and she can design a Bach Flowers combination to suit your cat’s individual issues following on from a behavioural consultation.
ROYAL CANIN CALM: A high quality, nutritionally complete and balanced diet formulated to support emotional wellbeing in your dog. Contains specific amino acids and vitamins to support the nervous system, as well as nutrients to support healthy gastrointestinal and urinary systems, which may be compromised by stress.
Recommended for: long term stress and anxiety, generalised anxiety, or cats who tend to display stress behaviours such as hiding, excessive grooming, urine spraying, or scratching.
Nutraceuticals, such as those shown above, are designed for short-term reduction of stress and therefore they work best when used in conjunction with environmental or behavioural modification. Whilst all of these products are available in store or on our on-line shopping cart – https://shop.vetsone.co.nz/ without veterinary consultation, we strongly advise you talk to our team first so that we can guide you to the right product and how it can best be used. That’s what we are here for after all.
If you have any further questions about our products please contact our professional team at VetsOne on 06 878 8666.
