Calming Dog Food to Help Your Anxious Dog
Animal behavior is picking up momentum in the veterinary world, and it’s about time. Vets and their staff want to create a friendly, fun environment for clients and their pets. They’re finally addressing the huge elephant in the room: dogs hiding under the exam table. While reading an article by leading veterinary behaviorists, I learned that a new prescription calming dog food has hit the market that promises to calm a stressed, anxious and nervous dog.
Hum, does calming dog food actually work? Well, it looks like it.
What is Calming Dog Food?
While many veterinary practices are incorporating force-free veterinary exams now, they’re also addressing anxiety, stress, fearfulness, separation anxiety and aggression in dogs and cats. One way to address these issues is by prescribing calming dog food. Calming dog food contains ingredients, such as hydrolyzed casein and L-tryptophan, which promote calmness in dogs.
Over the last five years, several companies have created supplements to reduce dog anxiety and stress. One such company that began offering dog calming products is Royal Canin Veterinary Diet. Its Canine Calm dry dog food, which is only available through your veterinarian, is chicken-based and contains dried hydrolyzed casein and L-tryptophan.
You’re probably scratching your head and wondering if this calming dog food and its special ingredients really work. It seems, per the research and high reviews, that this dog food is very promising for anxious dogs.
Which Dogs Would Benefit From Calming Dog Food?
If your dog is anxious, fearful, afraid of loud sounds and/or constantly stressed, then I’d ask your veterinarian about calming dog food. From my understanding, it’ll take a few weeks to see results, but some pet owners claim results only within a few days.
Do understand, this calming food isn’t a magic potion. It won’t completely cure your dog’s fearful and anxious behavior, but it may reduce it quite a bit. I’m a firm believer in some help is better than no help, so I recommend you give this food a try. In addition to a food change, your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary behaviorist for prescription medication and a professional dog trainer to begin behavior modification protocols.
How Much Does It Cost?
Unfortunately, calming dog food is outrageously expensive. A 4.4lb bag will cost you around $27 and an 8.8lb bag costs $51. It’s completely affordable if you share your home with small dogs. For large dogs, it’ll probably cost $100-$200 per month to feed them this prescription dog food. If price is a concern, ask your vet about Solliquin supplements. They have the same calming ingredients plus a few extra ones too.
I’d love to hear from pet owners who have used this calming dog food! Please drop me a note in the comment section below. I’m extremely interested in hearing your personal experiences. ;o)