Pleased with ADAPTIL Collar

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

After Finn exhibited signs of severe stress on a recent weekend away (and I declined the vet's suggestion to put him on prozac since he seemed to return to normal once at home), the vet suggested I try the Adaptil collar. He said he had seen great results with some dogs but not others. Since I was having house guests over the holidays (which can also stress my silly boy) I figured we'd try it. The collar emits a pheromone similar to a lactating mother dog.  It's suggested for new puppies and older dogs with separation anxiety, thunderstorm anxiety, or generalized anxiety.  I was pretty skeptical, but figured I was only wasting $20.  Well, I have to say, I was surprised.  My velcro dog was completely happy and relaxed with our house guests from the moment they arrived.  Several times, I noticed my shadow was gone, and I found him happily playing with his toys in another room (that has never happened) or curled up on my DIL's lap watching tv.  This may not sound like much, but it's huge. Despite my warnings, my son came into my bedroom after I had gone to bed - and Finn, laying at the foot of the bed just wagged his tail -- no barking.  Overall, he seemed more relaxed.  My only complaint is that the collar says it lasts 30 days but after 2 1/2 weeks it seems to be wearing off.  This may be because the collar got wet during 10 days of rain when I forgot to take it off. Just thought I'd share. Has anyone else used the Adaptil calming collar?   

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so glad you found something to help Finn feel less stressed, and this sounds pretty harmless, too. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Yep, I think it's harmless.To be honest, there were a few times over the holidays that I thought I could use one of those collars :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Interesting.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

We used the Adaptil collar when Winnie was a puppy and again when we took her with on a trip last summer. I can't say enough good things about it!

Her first 3 nights home with us she cried nearly non stop. The next day at her first Vet visit, he suggested we try the collar, and she immediately slept through the night. It was like a miracle! We used it for another month or 2 after that. 

And then this past summer we used it to help keep her calm in the motel (on the 4th of July!) and it really seemed to help. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks for sharing your experience Lori.  I think it would be especially helpful for new puppies.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This is excellent news!  I may give it a try for Murph....where did you get yours?

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Jane, I got it from my vet but you can get it cheaper from chewy.com or 1-800-PetMeds. Here's the website.  

http://www.adaptil.com/us/#redirected

One thing -- they cite clinical data but I was unable to find it online. I relied on my vet's experience. You'll see that for certain problems, they urge you to use Adaptil with behavioral training.  I would describe our experience as "relaxed confidence" or being a normal dog :)  instead of stressing because he had to control everything going on in the house (you know what I'm talking about). Will be interested in hearing about your experience if you try it on Murph.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We tried this with our Springer but we never saw any positive changes.  Even if it only lasts a week at a time. it sounds like it helped Finn.  I call that a positive. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Sorry it didn't work.  I had tried Rescue previously which as far as i could tell, had no effect -- though others have had good results with it.  

[Carol and Banjo]

Wow Cheryl, it sounds like you found a wonderful solution.     I'm so glad it seems to have worked.    Glad Finn and you had a good holiday visit!

[Nancy & Echo]

I'm so glad that you found something that will help Finn.

I obviously have no dog experience, but did find this review abstract in Pubmed.  I don't know if these studies were actually looking at the Adaptil pheronome, or if there are different types. In short, one study (2010) found

11 of the 14 reports reviewed provided insufficient evidence and 1 provided lack of support for effectiveness of pheromones for the treatment of undesirable behavior in cats and dogs.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20550445

I am guessing that this means that 2 out of 14 reports were positive?

That doesn't mean that it doesn't help Finn, of course.  We and our dogs are all individual.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I think it would be helpful to know what was actually studied, but that said, the caveat I stated was that the results were not consistent across dogs. Some people have found anxiety relieving results with Rescue but we found none.  Adaptil is not going to address aggression or medical issues.  It's not going to train your puppy. I also think you have to know an individual dog's personality quite well to evaluate some changes in behavior because the changes, based on our experience, can be subtle.

I also tried the spray on a bandana (before getting the collar) with good results when visiting the vet.  Over the past 2 years, FInn has become very nervous sitting in the vet's waiting room. I have no idea why because for 3 years it was just another happy outing.  He has started to shake so badly and drool that the receptionists can see him trembling from across the room and try to comfort him.  Silly doodle (maybe he's just playing all of us).  But with the Adaptil, no shaking, no drooling. He wasn't about to lay down and sleep -- but he was calm. The problem with the spray is it only lasts a couple of hours.  I can only share our experience with others and if it helps--great.