Keep your dog calm with Scullcap & Valerian Tablets and Valerian Compound

Anxiety and nervous behaviour exhibited in dogs and cats can be due to several very different causes. For instance, lifestyle changes of us as owners such as more of us working at home for longer periods may prompt changes to routine, and in turn behavioural changes and issues within pets. Through these difficult times, medicinal quality herbs can be a natural and gentle way of relieving mentally straining symptoms in dogs and cats.

The active ingredients in both Scullcap & Valerian Tablets and Valerian Compound induce a calm and relaxed demeanour by calming the activity in the nervous system without causing drowsiness, relaxing muscles or sedating.

Pets can often be sensitive and change amongst other things may be causing them distress. Take a look below to discover ways in which our products can tackle these arising issues and help bring relief to both you and your pet.

Click on the section most relevant to your dog to help keep them calm.

Poor Travellers

Some dogs love the car, but others have had bad or limited experiences (or simply don’t like it). As well as the top behavioural tips below, Scullcap & Valerian Tablets and Valerian Compound can help reduce travelling anxiety.

If your dog is a poor traveller or in cases where the travel sickness is caused by anxiety Scullcap & Valerian Tablets can be given in two doses in the 12 hours prior to travelling. Give the recommended dose using the higher dosage rate 12 hours before the journey and then 2 hours before.

Top tips

1 . Go for a long walk before you drive, if possible, to tire your dog out. This will make them more likely to rest during the journey

2 . Pack their favourite toys and blanket to make them comfortable, a stuffed Kong is a good idea.

3 . Desensitise your dog to the car by making it a fun place to be and getting them used to getting in and rewarding them when the car is stationery and no journey is actually planned.

4 . Make sure you don’t feed your dog too close to when you are going in the car. Travel sickness on a full stomach is not a pretty picture.

5 . 30 minutes before the journey, top up with Valerian Compound for extra calming coverage. This will last for around two hours and can be given twice in a 24 hour period

Separation Anxiety

For most of us, leaving our dogs at home is necessary for at least some part of the day, whether you work, have a busy family life, or work for yourself. However, dogs who suffer from Separation Anxiety can find the experience of being left on their own, without any human companion, pretty traumatic.

It’s a good idea to start giving a daily dose of Scullcap & Valerian Tablets to calm and relax your dog and help them feel more comfortable in their surroundings. Building up enjoyment of solo activities is also a good way to get them used to you not directly engaging with them.

Suggestions:

• Try giving you dog chews (as long as they are safe), a lick-mat, food scatter or favourite dog toy in another room to allow them to engage in a calm activity, which can promote happy hormones in the brain.

• Exercise your dog well before you leave. Whether it’s a long walk or playing tug of war, this will tire them out for a snooze when you leave.

• Create an area for them with their favourite toys, blankets and chews. Familiarity around them may help them to feel less anxious.

• Leave the TV or Radio on as human voices help calm dogs and make them feel like they have not been left alone.

General Anxiety

Some dogs are generally anxious in their day to day life. In this case, a daily dose of Scullcap & Valerian Tablets will build up in the system to reduce anxiety and allow them to gain confidence in daily activities they once were fearful of.

The herbs are gentle yet effective and allow the body to assess situations and surroundings before automatically becoming fearful and anxious.

Many rescue or re-homed dogs are naturally anxious because of their past experiences, and as a result even simple things can cause anxiety.

Start your dog on the lower dose of 1 per 5kg of bodyweight, depending on the severity of the anxiety, and build up to the maximum dose if required.

For extreme anxiety it may be worth contacting a Dog Behaviourist for training exercises alongside the use of our tablets

Excitability & Hyperactivity

Some dogs can be hyperactive and over excited, of course puppy exuberance is completely normal and this comes hand to hand with owning a young dog. However there maybe times when you require them to be a little calmer and focussed, such as at a training or obedience class.

For one off occasions, you can use Valerian Compound before you leave home to help relax and reduce their exuberance a little.

For extremely excited dogs, it can be better to use Scullcap & Valerian Tablets on a daily basis and increase to the treatment dose on days when special events or outing make life even more excitable for your dog!

Epilepsy

Each case of epilepsy will have different levels of severity and so require individual treatment, which is why it is essential that veterinary advice be sought.

Our Scullcap & Valerian Tablets are licensed for use as an adjunct in the treatment of epilepsy and are usually given in conjunction with orthodox anti-spasmodic prescription medicines.

By combining the treatments, veterinary surgeons have found that it is often possible to avoid increasing the dose of prescription medication (and even reducing the dose in some cases) needed to control the condition, so limiting the side-effects that are associated with long term use of mainstream epileptic treatments.

Always consult your vet before giving Scullcap & Valerian Tablets for epilepsy.

One Off Occasions

In one off situations like vet visits, dog training or dog showing, Scullcap & Valerian Tablets can be useful to calm and relax while improving concentration and confidence.

Give the Scullcap & Valerian Tablets 12 and 2 hours before the event using the highest dosage rate.

In addition to the tablets, our fast-acting calming supplement Valerian Compound is useful as a top up for extra calming coverage and starts to work within half an hour.

You can give it 30 minutes before the event, and it will last for around two hours and can be given twice within a 24 hour period.

Should you wish to discuss your dog’s individual needs, why not chat to one of our expert advisors. Call us on 01308 897272 or connect with us on social media.