At VetsOne, 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.
We have a range of products that may help your pet with anxiety. They each have a pros and cons, so they are best used following a recommendation from our team. In fact, when there are serious anxiety issues, we strongly recommend a behaviour consult with or consultant nurse team as helping your pet in these circumstances takes a multi-modal approach, which will include products such as these but, may also involve; training, desensitisation, environmental changes. In some cases, your pet may even need referral to a specialist behavioural consultant.
Below is a list of products available, how they work and in what circumstances we would be likely to recommend them for your dog.
CALMEX for Dogs: A capsule that contains specific amino acids and vitamins that are essential for a healthy nervous system and for managing stress. Also contains a plant extract (commonly known as Kava) which has quick-acting sedative effects, and is therefore useful for short term stressful events. The capsule can be given whole, or opened and sprinkled over food, approximately one hour prior to anticipated stressful events.
Recommended for: short term events such as noise phobias (e.g. Fireworks, thunder), travelling, veterinary visits, grooming appointments, and staying in kennels.
For more information on this product you can click on the link here https://www.vetexpress.co.nz/calmex
GRAND TRANQUILLITY: A tasty wafer treat, containing amino acids and vitamins to support a healthy nervous system and stress response. For daily use.
Recommended for: mild generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, excessive barking, destructive behaviour in the home, veterinary and grooming visits.
CALMING CARE: A beef liver flavoured probiotic powder in individual sachets. Contains Bifidobacterium longum BL999 which acts on the gut-brain axis to promote a healthy emotional state and encourages calm behaviour. For daily use.
Recommended for: generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, excessive barking, or in preparation for stressful events such as going into kennels, travelling, or vet visits.
ADAPTIL: Dog appeasing pheromones that replicate those naturally produced by mother dogs to reassure and calm their pups. Pheromones are silent messages that are only perceived by dogs. Encourages socialisation, relaxation and calm behaviour. Adaptil comes in three different applications: Collar, Spray and Plug-in Diffuser.
Recommended for: for dogs that are stressed when out and about, for general anxiety, or for medium-term stressful events such as going into kennels or changes in routine such as moving house. Effective for up to 4 weeks.
For more information on this product, as well as additional resources on behaviour in dogs, you can view the Adaptil Resource page here https://www.adaptil.com/nz
ROYAL CANIN CALM DOG FOOD: 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, prevent stress responses, as well as supporting a healthy gastrointestinal and urinary systems, which may be compromised by stress.
Recommended for: long term stress and anxiety including mild generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, hyperactivity, destructive behaviours in the home.
RESCUE REMEDY/BACH FLOWERS: 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 from 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 dog’s individual issues following on from a behavioural consultation.
THUNDER SHIRT: A vest that provides constant gentle pressure to reassure and calm your dog. Most useful for short term or recurring stressful events.
Recommended for: short term use for example; thunder, fireworks, separation anxiety, travel, veterinary visits.
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.
We are here to help, so if you have any further questions you can contact our friendly team on 06 878 866 or have a behavioural consult with our Nurse Consultant.
