As some owners have now begun to return to work after several weeks of being at home, the likelihood of some of our pets showing separation anxiety may increase.

There are no quick fixes or one specific way to conquer separation anxiety, but we recommend a combination of the below to help your pet!

• Training and Behavioural Programs
• Environmental modification
• Pheromones
• Diet Management
• Pharmaceuticals
• Nutraceuticals and pheromone replacements

Training and the environment

This is especially important if you have been home more often than normal over the last few months as this is where your pet has spent most of their time with you! A few simple tips can help your pet stay calmer when you are out of the house and they do not require a lot of effort which is a bonus!

1. Increase the time away from your pet gradually
2. Give your pet a toy whilst you are away
3. Keep relaxed when returning home and greet your pet when they are calm
4. Leave out recently worn clothes that smell like you
5. Ensure your pet receives regular exercise when you are home
6. Create a cosy, calm space for your pet to relax in

Nutraceuticals and pheromone replacements

What are pheromone replacements?

They are synthetic copies of the dog appeasing pheromone naturally released by a mother dog to comfort and reassure her new puppies and in cats this is called the ‘feline facial pheromone’ or ‘happy marker’ that cats leave behind when they rub their face on people, furniture, doorways and other objects in the home.

We recommend the above steps alongside a pheromone such as Adaptil (for dogs) and Feliway (for cats).

Calmex is a Nutraceutical – it is an amino acid, L-tryptophan shown to have calming effects in clinical studies.  It also contains a number of other compounds which may have benefit. It is available as capsules for dogs that can be mixed in food and a tasty liquid for cats.

Zylkene is another alternative, containing casein, a milk protein, in a form which does not get digested in the stomach. This means the protein can cross the intestine in the way it would a newborn. It has been shown to have a calming effect in many dogs and cats.

A combination of gentle training, changes in the pet’s environment plus pheromones and/or nutraceuticals should smooth your pet’s transition from lockdown to the new normal. Maybe owners should be taking some of these too!?

These remedies are available over the counter so unless you have concerns over your pets behaviour, you do not need to see the vet before purchasing these products.

Furthermore, until the end of July we are offering 10% off Calmex cat and dog, Adaptil and Feliway!