I wanted to revisit an earlier post I made about various items I have tried to alleviate Gracie's anxiety. I have added an update about the Thundershirt at the end.
Before our visit with the trainer, I had tried several different techniques and remedies. I have created a list of some of them so that you can consider them for your anxious pet.
Disclaimer: Before you try any technique/remedy/et cetera, please consult with your veterinarian. Your pet may have a medical reason for his or her anxiety, may be using a medicine that could cause an adverse reaction with the remedy, or have a medical condition that would be exacerbated by alternative medicines.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s review:
Bach Rescue Remedy: It is a homeopathic remedy that contains herbal ingredients. It is advertised as a natural way to relive stress for your pet. It can be used on both cats and dogs. You administer 4 drops of the remedy in whatever way you can get your pet to consume it – on a treat, mixed in water, et cetera. (TIP: A colleague of mine uses chicken broth.)
I have heard some people say it works well for them. I suppose it depends upon how stressed your pet is. In Gracie’s case, I noticed zero improvement.
Lavender essential oil. This scent is soothing to both humans and animals. You put a few drops in water and mix well. You can then apply it to the underside of bedding, spritz it in the air, et cetera. It made Gracie sneeze.
NutriCalm for Dogs by Rx Vitamins. I purchased this through my vet’s office. It is a natural supplement that contains tryptophan, the substance that makes us snooze after Thanksgiving turkey. (Honestly, Uncle Bud, it is the turkey, not your boring conversation, that made me fall asleep.)
The capsules are HUGE for a little dog. I broke open a capsule and shoveled the powder into a treat. Then, Gracie and I wrestled a bit before she finally ate the treat.
I saw very, very little change in Gracie. I first gave it to her at home. She yawned a bit more frequently than normal. I then gave it to her before a long car ride, which causes the highest level of stress for her. I did not see an appreciable improvement. She could have been so overwrought, though, that it did not have a chance to work.
A colleague of mine gives this supplement to her arthritic dog. She swears by it. She said her dog used to be extremely restless at bedtime and did not sleep well. Since her dog has been taking NutriCalm, she rests much better at night.
UltraCalm tablets by Drs. Foster and Smith. These supplements are similar to NutriCalm. They had no effect on Gracie.
Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP). The concept behind DAP is mother dogs secrete pheromones that calm their puppies. DAP mimics those pheromones. It is available in travel wipes, sprays, and a plug-in device (similar to those stinky air fresheners you see on TV).
I tried the wipes. They had a strong alcohol smell that faded after a few minutes. I saw no change at all. I have since learned that I may have picked the wrong delivery system.
The trainer said you must use the appropriate dosage, or it may not work well. She used the spray. She applied 10 sprays to a bandana and tied it around Gracie’s neck. Gracie was also wearing a Thundershirt (more on that in a bit). I saw a gradual calming effect on Gracie. She did not completely chill, but you could see the anxiety easing.
Thundershirt. It looks like a simple jersey shirt. You almost expect to see a cute message to be printed on the back.
The Thundershirt swaddles your dog. It applies pressure that is meant to have a calming effect. I had read about it but was hesitant to try yet another thing that might not work.
The trainer and I wrestled Gracie into the shirt. With both DAP and the Thundershirt, I noticed an improvement. Again, I want to emphasize that she did not completely relax. However, she began to relax. That is the first step in addressing the problem. She began to respond to training, which was my ultimate goal. I could work with her now.
You can get more information about the Thundershirt at their website – http://www.thundershirt.com/. Pay close attention to the chest measurements. The shirt is meant to fit snugly.
I know now that it sometimes takes a combination of things to ease tension in highly-stressed pets. Yes, I realize that I could ask the vet for the doggy equivalent of Prozac. I prefer to use natural methods whenever possible, though. Gracie’s anxiety is not so intense or life threatening that strong drugs are necessary.
We plan to use DAP and the Thundershirt whenever we approach situations that traditionally create stress. Tomorrow, we will discuss how training is used in the next component of our behavior modification project.
Rescue Mommy
Update about the Thundershirt: It is hit-and-miss with this product. She shakes violently whenever I bring it out. She now associates the Thundershirt with the car ride. However, the last time she wore it, her anxiety seemed to lessen a little. I am not sure if it was the Thundershirt, the TTouch massage I gave her, the DAP, or the position of the moon that day. It is tough to say with Gracie.
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