How to Cope With Dog Stress and Separation Anxiety?

by Loretta Chatelier
(Bangkok, Thailand)

I love dogs and I have six of them at home. One is a crocker spaniel( 10 years old,has no problems, except overweight due to spaying), one terrier( very stressed out and has a low immune system-he's now about 8 years old and spayed)), I do not know his exact breed since he was left with me by a student, then I have one tiny pappion(not pure though,about 3 years old now and gets a bit stressed out, but otherwise healthy and very active)) and two shitzus( the female , nutured and about 8 years old , the male, spayed , and 4 years old...both very stressed during thunder storms and indicate separation anxiety to the extent of throwing up when I have to go out anywhere) and one shitzu mixed with poodle(he's okay, about 9 years old now and also spayed). Originally I just had one little female shitzu always getting stressed out during thunder storms which happen very often out here. But since of late, the terrier , the youngest shitzu and the pappion also get very stressed out . I have asked the vets out here for some help, and they gave me some pills to calm them down, but I do not feel that is the solution. I have read that this stress could be caused by the levels of cortisol, and I would like to know how to help them . Maybe their diet? I give them some commercial dog food( Pedigree, Cesar,) and then some boiled chicken, sometimes chicken liver, sometimes beef liver(boiled) Can you advise me please as I am very stressed out these days, since they don't let me sleep at night and it rains all the time!!!I really want to be able to help them the right way. I would really appreciate your advice.
Thank you for bearing with me
Loretta

My Comment:

Hi Loretta

Well this may help you, if possible to bye in Thailand.

I have tried to find out if "Royal Canin Calm" dog food is sold in your country. Sorry, but i haven't been able to give you any information about this.

This food is quite new here in Sweden. It is based on the fact that some special milk proteins have a relaxing effect on the central nerve system.

Please don't be worried about possible side effect from this - its not about drinking milk. Only the milk protein isolate alfa-casozepin (and some others)
is ingested, no diarrhea should be seen because of this.

Try to ask your local veterinarian if he can get this dog food.

Other possible solution is "Zylkene" tablets. Sorry as I am not aware if sold in Thailand as well. These tablets are based on milk as well.

You might say that this is the same type as the previous, just as tablets.

The last one has been around for a long time and called "DAP".

This is not based on milk but on pheromones. All mammals are communication though the species specific "smell hormones", enters the body though the nose and affects the CNS system or other parts of our body.

Female dogs give the litter a sense of security from these type of hormones from glands near the mammary glands. When the puppies eat, the "inhale" this stress reducing hormone from the mother dog.

This type of pheromone can be used in the stress seen in your case. Different products can be bought here in Sweden having this ability.

I think if you can find out more here from this link - www.dap-pheromone.com (clip and paste)

Hope this can make life a little better for you and all your wonderful dogs.

Kindly

DVM Per Schonbeck