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Pheromone - anyone used it?


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Has anyone here used pheromone products? As far as I know, there is a spray, a collar and a diffuser that plugs in.

 

Since Nelson has been very anxious the past few weeks and I can't figure out the source of his anxiety (believe me, I tried) I am considering one of those products. Just wondering how good they actually work - and what brand (if it matters). I have seen Adaptil and Goodbehaviour products at my local pet store. Would love to hear someone who has tried it and if / what behaviour changes they saw.

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No exprience with phermerones.

 

BUT I do use this product called Rescue (by Bach) which is all natural and contains the essence of five flowers. It really does help with anxiety. My Berners get it every time they have to go to the vet because that makes them very anxious.

 

I have a friend who uses it somewhat regularly on her JRT to help deal with his anxiety issues.

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I haven't tried pheromones. I was told that for the collar to be effective all of the dogs in the household have to wear one and I was unwilling to put one on the puppy, who does not have anxiety issues.

 

Tessa and Dean have been dealing with anxiety ever since we lost the old boys last winter/spring. I just started them two weeks ago on a supplement called "Composure" and I have my dogs back. Both are doing noticeably better.

 

If you want to check it out, try Drs. Foster and Smith. They have the best price I could find.

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The kitty version, Feliway, worked very well for my departed Evil Orange Cat. He'd get noticeably more aggressive when the dispenser ran out, or if I forgot to spritz his favorite sleeping spot a few days in a row.

 

Tried it for Shoshone, our very quirky bc, didn't do anything. If you decide to buy it, check around, as prices vary quite a bit.

 

Ruth and SuperGibbs

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I haven't tried pheromones. I was told that for the collar to be effective all of the dogs in the household have to wear one and I was unwilling to put one on the puppy, who does not have anxiety issues.

 

Tessa and Dean have been dealing with anxiety ever since we lost the old boys last winter/spring. I just started them two weeks ago on a supplement called "Composure" and I have my dogs back. Both are doing noticeably better.

 

If you want to check it out, try Drs. Foster and Smith. They have the best price I could find.

 

I use Pet Naturals treats with Tess which I believe are similar to Composure, they help her a lot.

 

I tried to sentry calming collar and it didn't really seem to have an effect.

 

I've heard very good things about the diffuser and spray, but I don't have any personal experience.

 

I second Drs Foster and Smith.

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I have used Rescue Remedy and DAP plug ins early on with our greyhound and they did seem to have a good effect. We coupled this with some desensitizing of alone time, doing short periods of time alone followed by rewards for good behavior and building up after that for his separation anxiety.

 

Doesn't hurt to try. I was also advised to use a food with a lower protein content--kibbles, if you feed them, with a higher protein content can cause what looks like a higher level of anxiety in some dogs. Worked wonders for my grey.

 

Good luck.

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Lizabeth I don't think so. Fireworks are very sudden and unpredictable. The pheromone stuff is a low-level treatment for general anxiety, not the really loud and frightening stuff.

 

FWIW, I used generic benedryl as a mild sedative for my dogs that have been afraid of fireworks, it's cheap and non-prescription. I keep some in the house, and gave Gibbs one when he stepped on a wasp. A poultice of baking soda took care of the immediate pain, and the benedryl helped him sleep through the night.

 

Ruth and SuperGibbs

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As urge to herd says, phermerones are really for chronic situations or specific times when one is aware there will be a lot of stress.

 

The rescue remedy might - it has variable results from "meh" to "OMG MY DOG WAS REBORN". I did use it for a dog that was very unhappy about being around live music of the school band variety and had to take part in a parades and events as part of his SaR team. He was, in fact, much happier.

 

As with all such remedies - responses will vary from dog to dog and from application to application.

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I have tried the pheromones and haven't seen a big difference when used with dogs but have with cats, but it falls into the "can't hurt and might help" camp.

 

I am very skeptical of the Bach flower essences. Yes, I know people say anecdotally that they have helped, but there is not any evidence that they should.

 

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/bach-flower-remedies/

 

Re: meds for things like fireworks - as fear can escalate and things like fireworks and thunderstorms are unpredictable and phobias can get worse over time, I believe that the benefits from pharmaceuticals far outweigh the risk for isolated things. Some people do get good results with melatonin and its OTC so worth a try, and I guess if a little sedation is enough to relax your dog then try benadryl. However, anti-anxiety meds like Xanax and trazadone have been shown to be very good for these and don't sedate the dog as much as they make them relaxed and less concerned about the fear inducing thing. I often hear that people are uncomfortable giving their dog drugs because they want to try a more natural approach, and I get that, but anxiety is hard on a dog. Seeing the difference in my own fireworks terrified dog after I got him the meds I could kick myself for not trying them sooner.

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You don't have to put one on every dog in the house for it to be effective. They do work, but aren't a miracle cure. I use them in conjunction with training, management, supplements and drugs to treat anxiety. My anxious dog wears one through the summer storm season (new one every 3 to 4 weeks). He generally doesn't need it during the winter.

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Rushdoggie, thanks for expanding on my post. I can also add that I keep Benedryl currently for very occasional use with Gibbs. I've used it for him about 4 times in 3 years, once was the wasp sting. I take it myself for occasional insomnia.

 

Squirrelly Girly Shoshone was on clomipramine, a prescription medication for anxiety. Her anxiety was constant, not situational, and the medication made a big difference.

 

I never liked using acepromazine for fear of fireworks. All it did was paralyze the dog and make them more nervous. Hence the use of Benedryl for once a year fireworks if Gibbs needs it. He was fine this last July 4th.

 

Ruth and SuperGibbs

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You don't have to put one on every dog in the house for it to be effective. They do work, but aren't a miracle cure. I use them in conjunction with training, management, supplements and drugs to treat anxiety. My anxious dog wears one through the summer storm season (new one every 3 to 4 weeks). He generally doesn't need it during the winter.

 

That's good to know in case either of them need some extra help with anxiety in the future.

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I never liked using acepromazine for fear of fireworks. All it did was paralyze the dog and make them more nervous. Hence the use of Benedryl for once a year fireworks if Gibbs needs it. He was fine this last July 4th.

 

Yes, I once gave to a severely thunderphobic dog and she freaked out so bad that I had to lock her in a closet because she was snapping at invisible things.

 

Nowadays they have so many better options!

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Excommunicated Jedi I wonder if something like this would help our heeler with fireworks? He is terrified of them.

 

 

I suspect you'd be better off using something like melatonin, which helps my thunder- and fireworks-phobic dog a lot, or the Pet Naturals calming treats, which contain L-theanine.

 

AFAIK, they work better for short term issues.

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There is another product called Canine Tranquil Formula by Vetalogica and it is mostly B group vitamins but helps with anxiety, nervousness & other scary situations. Ive known lots of people to swear by it for their troubled dogs and it is readily available over the counter

 

http://www.vetalogica.com.au/dog-products/canine-tranquil-formula

 

Has anyone tried thunder shirts for storms and fireworks? They are a very tight fitting jacket/coat much like a big supportive cuddle that are becoming more and more popular with anxious & nervous dogs

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As others have said, different remedies work for different dogs.

 

My noise phobic dog does great with Xanax.

 

My old gal with generalized anxiety and mild noise phobia is doing CRAZY AMAZING on melatonin. 3mg tab every night and she is like a different dog. Wish I had discovered this sooner for her.

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I use melatonin just when there are fireworks or thunderstorms, not all the time. Takes about 30 min. to kick in though.

 

For my dog, it's not 100%, but it definitely takes the edge off so that he's nervous rather than terrified. And it's helped alleviate the anxiety enough that I don't even have to use it all the time now. It calmed him enough that he seems to understand now that it's not so bad. He still wants to cuddle or be close, but he doesn't shake or pant anymore, just wants to be close.

 

Regular dose for medium size dogs is 3 mg., but you can use 6 without problems.

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Some people get great results with short term use of melatonin for sever anxiety. There's actually been some study on it and the results were positive (I am actually not at home today so I don't have easy access to look and post here but the studies are out there).

 

Where I live its seriously loud with fireworks sounding like WW3 for 3 or 4 days..at dusk the fireworks are non stop for a few hours.

 

I have one dog who is very fearful and takes Trazodone, but I went ahead and dosed my other 2 with melatonin because even they would get edgy after a few hours of the noise and they all mostly slept through it. They still don't want to pee outside after dark around that time.

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