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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
In humans, stress and anxiety can be resolved—or at least helped—by a variety of well-known techniques: breathing exercises, physical exercise, talk therapy, and even medication, to name a few. But good luck getting an anxious German Shepherd to breathe in and out for four counts at a time. To make matters worse, dogs can’t tell us what they’re feeling or why. It’s up to pet parents to identify when our dogs are anxious and soothe their distress in a dog-friendly way.
One method to address anxiety in pets is the use of dog calming treats. These products claim to offer a soothing antidote to pet stress. But do they work? I recently had the opportunity to test Purina ProPlan Calming Care Probiotic supplements with my anxious dog to find out.
When You Might Want To Consider Calming Treats or Supplements
My house has two dogs: a high-strung Terrier mix (Miss Bennet) and a laid-back Labrador Retriever (Logan). Everything bothers the Terrier, and nothing bothers the Labrador. Some breeds just tend to be more chill.
But the experience of anxiety in our pets isn’t all—or perhaps even mostly—due to genetic factors. Dogs can become acutely stressed in response to past experiences, the energy around them (meaning that if you’re anxious, your dog may be too), and current situations, such as being exposed to a new environment.
Signs of stress and anxiety in dogs can include:
- Increased barking or whining
- Changes in body posture, ear position, or eyes
- Increased shedding
- Hiding from or avoiding the situation, sometimes by diverting focus to something unexpected
- Increased yawning, drooling, or panting
- Excessive licking
- Reduced appetite, diarrhea, and increased peeing
Active anxiety can also include obvious signs of fear or panic: shaking, pacing, and tail-tucking. It can also turn an otherwise pleasant pup reactive, aggressive, or destructive. Many dog owners have seen this in action, finding a destroyed pillow and a guilty dog when they come home after a long day at work. These behaviors don’t mean that the dog is bad but do mean that something is going on.
georgeclerk via iStock
How Dog Calming Treats and Supplements Work to Reduce Dog Anxiety
To better understand dog calming treats and supplements and what pet parents should know before using them, I spoke with Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, a Toronto veterinarian and member of the The Dog People Panel.
According to Dr. Greenstein, the COVID-19 pandemic has been beneficial to the study of pet anxiety. While efforts to manage pet anxiety aren’t new, increased attention has led to innovation in this area, particularly as pet parents are leaving their pets at home alone again.
Dr. Greenstein says that calming dog treats like supplements have shown particular promise, especially when used along with behavior modification through training. Probiotics like Purina ProPlan Calming Care are just one type of dog calming treats and supplements that may help. Probiotics rely on the connection of the gut and the mind, the theory being that improving one will positively impact the other. It’s something that we’re only beginning to understand in dogs and in humans too.
Other anxiety treatments include calming pheromones or synthetic scent hormones released through diffusers or collars. Certain diets may also help reduce anxiety, as well as chemicals like tryptophan (the thing in turkey that makes you sleepy) and melatonin (a common sleep aid). However, she points out that anxiety isn’t a straightforward issue, and no one solution is usually enough.
“Behavior issues are multifactorial,” she explains. “This is not a cut or a limp with just one cause and an immediate solution. When we’re talking about management, we’re talking about something that can take weeks to months to work. It’s not a quick fix.”
Dr. Greenstein encourages pet parents to talk to their vet about their dog’s mental health, in part because behavioral issues can stem from medical issues. In fact, she encourages vets and pet parents to make that conversation a part of every visit.
Vets can help pet parents identify the cause of their dog’s anxiety and recommend particular products or techniques to address it. Unlike pharmaceuticals, dog calming treats and supplements are not proactively regulated, so it’s important to choose carefully. Dr. Greenstein tells me that Purina’s Calming Care was tested in a study of 24 anxious Labrador Retrievers. Not all supplements can claim the same.
Our Experience with Purina ProPlan Calming Care
For Miss Bennet, anxiety often looks like a withdrawal. This winter, she all but stopped eating and playing. She’s 12 years old, with some age-related health problems, so we whisked her to the vet after her lack of appetite spanned more than a couple of days. She had lost weight, but our veterinarian couldn’t find anything else new or notable to report.
Without clear answers, we didn’t know if the issue was physical, mental, or both, so we took a two-part approach. We began adding a dollop of canned food to Bennet’s usual kibble to get her to eat. Then we introduced Calming Care from Purina ProPlan Veterinary Supplements.
While some dog calming treats work to address momentary anxiety, Calming Care is intended as a long-term aid. The box includes a six-week supply and says it can take that long to see results.
When I called my veterinarian’s office, they confirmed this timeline. As a senior dog, Bennet is already on supplements for her liver and joint health. Getting the vet’s approval was especially important for us. The vet technician I spoke with not only gave us the green light to start the supplement but sang its praises. She told me she had seen Calming Care specifically work miracles on a traumatized rescue pup.
Every evening, we sprinkle one packet of Calming Care powder on Bennet’s dinner. Alone, the supplement wouldn’t have done much good—she would have ignored it along with her kibble. The addition of wet food has helped, and she seems to like the taste of the powder.
Two weeks into our experiment, my husband observed that Bennet seemed happier and more relaxed. After eight weeks of nightly Calming Care supplements, she’s no longer the sad, depressed dog we saw this winter. She’s playing again, trotting around the house with her favorite toys, and devouring every meal. She even licks her bowl clean afterward.
Miss Bennet, back to her usual self.
Because of the simultaneous changes to Bennet’s diet, I can’t wholly credit the Calming Care for the difference. Adequate nutrition may have been just as essential in restoring her energy and spirits.
I should note that the supplement hasn’t resolved every potentially related issue, either. Miss Bennet is still reactive to people outside our house, barking at delivery people and anyone she sees walking down the street. She also responds—loudly—to the beep of our new oven’s control panel (I’m hoping she’ll get used to it) and retreats when she hears the standard iPhone notification sound. This doesn’t mean that the supplement isn’t working, but that dogs are complicated, just as Dr. Greenstein said.
Backing off the supplements and observing the results could offer us more clarity about their impact. However, I suspect that Miss Bennet’s improved mood is due to a combination of good nutrition and the Calming Care probiotics. My girl is back to her usual, goofy self, and if the supplements are even a tiny part of that, I’ll continue them for as long as necessary.
Purina ProPlan Calming Care
