One of the more common behavior
problems for which I am consulted involves anxiety-related issues in dogs
and cats. The problems range from simply being anxious when going to the
doctor’s office or grooming shop, and thunderstorm phobias, all the way to
severe separation anxiety. While behavior modification is very important
in dealing with any type of anxiety and phobia (and should not be replaced
by medications or supplements,) there are situations where various natural
therapies may be helpful in dealing with these issues. While conventional
tranquilizers such as acepromazine can immobilize pets, these drugs do not
relieve the terrible anxiety the poor pets experience. Therefore, they really
should not be used as the sole therapy for anxiety disorders in dogs and
cats. This article will briefly review some of the more commonly recommended
supplements for dealing with anxiety in pets.
Flower essences are alcohol extracts of various plants. Flower therapy was
developed by Dr. Edward Bach during the 1930's. Dr. Bach was a conventionally
trained physician who studied immunology and was involved in the development
of a number of vaccines. However, he desired to find a less invasive way of
treating patients that would have the same favorable results as he saw with
conventional medicine.
During his studies he learned about homeopathy and was attracted to Dr.
Hahnemann's philosophy of treating the individual patient. As a result Dr.
Bach began preparing homeopathic preparations of the vaccines he had created.
During this time Dr. Bach began to notice that people could be grouped based
upon their emotional states. For example, he noticed that some individuals
seemed lonely, some were distracted, some were fearful, and some were more
outgoing. Dr. Bach further noticed that people that fell into these groupings
responded best to the same type of homeopathic vaccine. By matching the homeopathic
vaccine with a person's emotional "grouping," Dr. Bach achieved even better
results in his patients.
Dr. Bach then began searching for harmless plant-derived materials for his
vaccines (rather than relying on the bacterial products used at the time to
prepare the vaccines.) He desired to find plants that would have a healing
effect on what he thought were the negative emotions that were at the root
of many diseases he saw in his patients. This would allow him not just to
heal the immediate illness but also heal the root cause of the disorder. By
freeing the body from its negative emotional states, the body would be free
to heal itself.
The system Dr. Bach discovered during his research led to the creation of
the flower essences. The flower essences (flower therapy) are extracts of
flowers; each essence addresses a specific trait of mind or personality type.
These flower remedies are used to improve the attitude, personality, and
mood of the patient, which Dr. Bach felt was the key to many disorders seen
in his patients. According to Dr. Bach, "Health is our heritage...and is the
complete and full union between the soul, mind, and body. True healing can
be obtained by right replacing wrong, good replacing evil, and light replacing
dark." Dr. Bach felt that the action of the remedies was to open the patient
to healing from within by replacing bad virtue (fear) with good virtue (calm.)
Since mental and emotional state can determine health or disease, the flower
remedies are used to achieve harmony in the patient. According to practitioners
of flower essence therapy, harmonious patients are healthier as harmony precludes
disease.
Rescue Remedy is the best known essence and produces a calming in many nervous
pets. It is composed of the essences of 5 flowers: cherry plum, clematis,
impatiens, rock rose and Star of Bethlehem.
While I prefer combination products instead of simply choosing 1 or 2 herbs
for anxiety, it’s important to understand which herbs may be indicated for
anxiety-related problems.
Valerian is an herb that promotes restfulness, and has not been reported
to interact negatively with other medications commonly used in pets. The active
ingredients in valerian bind to the same receptors in the brain as the drug
diazepam. Kava is a well known anti-anxiety herb. The active ingredients cause
mild sedation, relief from anxiety, and muscle relaxation. While safe in
pets, there have been a few reports of liver failure in people with preexisting
severe liver disorders. In my practice, I have not seen any problems but would
exercise caution in pets with liver problems. Catnip is a well known herb
used for its calming properties. In some cats, it can cause excitement (similar
to a mild “high” seen in some people using illegal drugs.) However, when
combined with the other herbs in this formula, its sedative and calming properties
predominate. Finally, L-tryptophan, being a precursor to serotonin, reduces
aggression and anxiety.
Finally, keep in mind that your pet can pick up on your own stress level.
Whenever I remove a pet from its owner during the examination, and bring it
to our treatment area to perform a procedure, I notice that most pets calm
down since they are not sensing the stress the owner also experiences during
the visit. And don’t forget the importance of a strong immune system. Using
antioxidants, feeding the pet a healthy natural diet, and reducing the amount
of vaccines given, can relieve extra stress on the pet’s immune system.
Each pet is different, and there is no cookie-cutter approach that works
on every case. For owners interested in avoiding conventional medications
(which are usually expensive and often have the potential for undesirable
side effects,) I encourage readers to consider these safe natural options
before resorting to stronger conventional medications. Make sure to work with
your veterinarian before using herbs, as even these natural “medicines” can
have side effects in certain pets.
The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not
to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis
of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of
any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
