Do any of these sound like your dog - all or some of the time?

Gets terrified when there's a storm? Follows you around like a shadow, and doesn't have lots of periods of independence? Barks, scratches, chews things, or makes an escape, while you're away? Cowers, growls, avoids or even attacks other dogs? Gets freaked out or startled (more than you'd expect) by loud household sounds? Frightened meeting new people, at first?

And how do they go at the vet? Do they get scared when they get looked at? Act really excited and jumps up and down? Need a muzzle to be looked at? Cowers and hides under the chair in the waiting room? Tries to escape out the door of the vet? Squirms madly when they get an injection?

These are all signs of anxiety. And you can help reduce this anxious behaviour with dietary supplements.

Our research-based, vet-formulated daily health jellies, support your dog’s health, from pup to senior, right from your own kitchen. Here's a summary of the research The Om is based on.

This study, involving 24 dogs of different ages and breeds, is based on a clinical evaluation of behavioural disturbances mainly ascribed to generalised anxiety. The typical clinical symptoms of this disorder include constant or increasing reactivity, body and environmental exploration, activation, alertness, and excessive barking; it also often affects the social interactions between dog and owner.

What they found

The results showed that the dogs treated with the supplemented diet showed significant improvement in the times spent active and at rest after 10 days and an overall significant improvement in clinical and behavioural symptoms. The researchers hypothesise that the mean score intensity reduction of all clinical symptoms was a consequence of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of the nutraceutical substances present within the diet.

Did you know?

Generalised anxiety behaviour and clinical symptoms, include marking, anxiety, diffidence, irregular biorhythm, reactivity, activation, irritability, alertness, environmental exploration, body exploration, attention requirement, dandruff, itchiness, flush, seborrhoea, changes in fur, vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, tearing, and anal sac issues. As a result, dogs tend to spend more time awake and active, rather than at rest or asleep.

Di Cerbo, Alessandro & Sechi, Sara & Canello, Sergio & Guidetti, Gianandrea & Fiore, Filippo & Cocco, Raffaella. (2016). Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 2017. 10.3791/54878.

This study involved 69 dogs (38 males and 31 females), of different breeds, with behavioural disorders related to anxiety and chronic stress. The objectives were, in a controlled study, to evaluate for the first time the oxidative stress and neuroendocrine parameters in dogs with behavioural problems, administered a specific nutraceutical-based diet.

The researchers noted that the biological effects of oxidative stress are often related to the production of free radicals, rapidly reacting with other molecules, and triggering the oxidation process. Free radicals are physiologically produced in cells and released during inflammatory processes. They can also be generated by drug metabolism, following exposure to environmental pollutants and when fear and anxiety-related behaviours are present. Once homeostasis is compromised, a progressive oxidation of biological substrates including lipids, DNA and proteins occurs, followed by the production of reactive oxygen metabolites. As a consequence, this cascade mechanism progressively increases the biological damage.

What they found

This study demonstrated the positive effects of a nutraceutical diet on neuroendocrine parameters associated with stress, anxiety, aggression and numerous behavioural disorders. The researchers explain that normal behaviour is characterised by a stable neurotransmitter and hormone balance; however, it is easily affected by stress, anxiety or any behavioural disorders. Low serotonin plasma concentrations have been associated with aggressive behaviour and impulsivity, defined as an abnormal over-reactivity to normal stimuli, has been usually associated with reduced monoaminergic (dopamine and serotonin) circulating levels.

In this study, serotonin and others, used as behavioural markers, significantly increased while cortisol and others, used as stress markers, decreased: all returning to values expected in normal animals demonstrating the positive and beneficial effects of the nutraceutical diet on overall homeostasis balance.

Other parts of this diet may be responsible for the positive and significant observations made in the study including L-tryptophan known to affect general mood and behaviour. Similarly, cortisol reduction is also observed after administration of L-theanine; it’s known to have beneficial clinical effects in stress and anxiety management.

Sechi S, Di Cerbo A, Canello S, et al. Effects in dogs with behavioural disorders of a commercial nutraceutical diet on stress and neuroendocrine parameters. Vet Rec. 2017;180(1):18. doi:10.1136/vr.103865

Holistic vet, Dr Kathy Cornack, is the vet behind our bestie health jelly formulations, and assessment quiz.

Dr Cornack's work on our bestie health jelly formulations draws on her 35 years in complementary medicine for dogs, cats and other small animals, and a range of peer-reviewed scientific research papers into the effect of functional and nutraceutical supplements for dogs.

Dr Cornack BVSc (hons), MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour), M.Agr. Sc (Animal Nutrition), Cert. Vet. acupuncture (IVAS) is still practising as a registered vet working primarily in clinical small animal practice. These days her work is exclusively with clients choosing natural (integrative) medicine as part of their treatment protocols, as well as in referral behavioural practice. Dr Cornack is a founding member and current President of the Integrated Vets Australia group. (IVA is a special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association, for vets with a special interest in complementary/ holistic/ natural/ integrative veterinary medicine.)