Prescription-free solutions to help reduce anxiety in pets

Print full article Anxiety is pervasive in our 24-7 society, and dealing with its consequences can be a frequent source of frustration. It’s not just us—our pets also are affected by stress and anxiousness. Both clinicians and pet owners are actively seeking prescription-free solutions to help minimize inappropriate behavior, phobias, fear, and anxiety that impact their pets. Fear and anxiety can manifest in many ways. Dogs may demonstrate excessive vocalization, destructive behavior, hiding, shaking, or drooling. Cats may hide, act aggressively, and urinate or defecate inappropriately. Cats’ bladders appear to be the target organ for stress, which means relieving stress may have physical as well as behavioral benefits. The increased demand for prescription-free supplements is apparent in the Fear Free movement. Veterinary medicine is actively working toward making veterinary visits easier by giving pets and their owners a more relaxed and positive experience. Clients get stressed when their pets behave poorly and may fear being judged as a bad pet parent. Now, we have more opportunities to provide guidance and recommend prescription-free supplements that help reduce anxiety in pets. Supplements also may be key to implementing training and behavior modification therapy by facilitating a calm and receptive attitude. Increasingly, veterinarians are counseling their clients about using supplements to help with their pets’ training and behavioral issues. Since behavior is usually relegated to a lower priority than physical illness, it’s critical for veterinary professionals to discuss behavioral issues with their clients. According to a recent study, 90 percent of pet owners are looking to us for help with their pet’s behavioral issues. 1 Fear and anxiety disorders affect an estimated 23 million dogs in the U.S. alone. 2 Another study noted 37 percent of dogs are surrendered in the first three months of ownership due to behavioral issues. Behavioral issues […]

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