Calming aids to keep pets stress-free during the festivities

Stay Calm & Carry On

We all know how full-on Christmas festivities can be and if your clients’ pets suffer from fear, phobia, or any one of the several types of anxiety, you may wonder what advice you can give or products you can retail that can help calm an anxious dog.

There are many different calming products that can help relieve the stress & anxiety that our pets can experience. Everything from wearables to audio & visual stimulation to treats & supplements. These natural remedies are a safe alternative to prescription medications.

Here is a selection of 10 natural remedies on the market for anxious dogs.

Under The Weather - Calming Soft Chews

Not all dogs are okay with wearing shirts or collars to calm them, so it can be nice to have a form of anxiety relief that all pets can enjoy. These calming chews help to support relaxation & balanced behavior in pets. The chews contain Ginger to help settle the stomach, Chamomile & L-Theanine to help promote relaxation and restful sleep, and L-Tryptophan, which is converted to serotonin (the happiness neurotransmitter in our brains) once absorbed.

I Heart Dogs - When You’re Away Comfort Cuddler

Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety miss their person when they are left alone even for a short time. This makes them anxious and nervous. Your dog loves your scent, because they associate it with your presence, so leaving something of you behind when you leave can help. The Comfort Cuddler has a pouch that opens up where you can stuff an item of clothing that smells like you inside. It then

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becomes a pillow for your pooch that they can cuddle up to, and be relaxed & comforted with your scent.

Pet Releaf - CBD/Hemp Oil

One of the biggest products & additives on the market for pets right now is CBD & hemp oils. But what exactly are they and how can they help your anxious pet? Simply put, CBD acts as a 5HT1A (a very important serotonin receptor) agonist, which in turn helps our brain transmit more serotonin, reducing stress and improving our overall mood & function. Pet Releaf offers some of the highest quality CBD Hemp Oil on the market for pets.

ZenCrate - Smart Anxiety Relief Crate

During scary & stressful times like storms or fireworks, or even when you leave for work, it can really help your four legged friends to have a safe space they can retreat to. The ZenCrate provides that in a way no other company has. The ZenCrate works by playing soothing music & creating a gentle air flow once it detects your pet inside. When your pet is calm and exits the crate, it automatically turns off.

Dog TV - DogTV

When your pet gets anxious or scared, a lot of times talking to them or keeping them entertained can help to ease those nervous nillys. This is because dogs often react positively to the right kinds of audio & visual stimulation. DogTV has created a one-stop-shop full of programming for dogs. All of the content they provide is scientifically developed to provide the right type of stimulation for your dog in different scenarios. The result is a happier, calmer, less stressed pup.

Pet Acoustics - Pet Tunes

Not all dogs experience anxiety while just at home, so wouldn’t it be nice to have a portable form of comfort for your dog when you go on road trips or they are staying with someone else? Pet Acoustics has developed Pet Tunes, a portable speaker pre-loaded with frequency modified music that has been clinically proven to help reduce stress & anxiety in dogs. This rechargeable speaker is small and can be taken anywhere with your pup to help keep them happy anywhere life may take them.

Smart Pet Love - Snuggle Puppy

Dogs are pack animals, and they are instinctively drawn to stick with their “pack”. This is why they become so attached to their owners; you are their new pack once they leave their mom & siblings. The Snuggle Puppy plays to those instincts by recreating that pack intimacy with a real-feel heartbeat & warmth. Your dog can cuddle up to the Snuggle Puppy in times of loneliness or fear, and feel the comfort of a “real” companion.

EarthHeart - Canine Calm Spray

Earth Heart essential oil remedies for dogs come in different options to fit your lifestyle and pet’s needs. Canine Calm with lavender creates a serene experience for you and your dog. Available in spray mists, wipes, oil diffuser blend and roll-on, this special formula of essential oils helps dogs stay calm during thunderstorms, fireworks, boarding, grooming, training and competition, adoptions, holidays, bath time, crating, separation, hospice and clinic visits.

Surgi Snuggly - Anxiety Buster

Sometimes when our pets get anxious or scared, they want to be in our laps and held by us. The Surgi Snuggly Anxiety Buster is a full body suit that applies constant gentle pressure to your pet to help calm them. This works by manually stimulating their parasympathetic nervous system, which can help slow their heart rate & bring them to a calmer and more relaxed state.

Calm Paws - Calmz

There are many different types of stimulation that can help to calm our furry family members when they are stressed or anxious. Many products utilise just one of these, but combining several can be even more effective. Calmz has found a way to incorporate audio stimulation, gentle pressure, and acupressure points into their product. The Calmz Anxiety Relief system has an adjustable vest that fits your dog and cradles a device over certain acupressure spots on your dog. It then plays therapeutic music accompanied by relaxing vibrations to calm & comfort your pet.

How about a homemade, healthy snack for your dog (and for you)?

Jitka Krizova shares some of her favourite recipes for dogs which would also make ideal handmade Christmas gifts for friends with dogs:

Jitka Krizova

At this time of year, I often feel like making some treats for my dogs. These are some of my favourites:

Apple and Peanut Butter Bites

One of my favourite treats to make is Apple and Peanut Butter Bites. They’re easy to make, healthy and my dogs LOVE them.

These Apple and Peanut Butter bites have only four ingredients!

Apples

Apple is a delicious fruit for us as well as our pets. You can give this fruit to your pets in various forms but there are, however, certain things to keep in mind. A commonly asked question is, ‘can dogs can eat apples?’ Dogs can, for sure. Only a large amount of seeds can be toxic to your dog. But to be sure, remove the pips!

Apple is a nutritious fruit packed with dietary fibre, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and antioxidants. It’s a wonderful idea to give your dog apples as a treat and dogs who have apples in their diet rarely suffer from stomach issues.

Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter – I use Poochbutter from Nuts for Pets. This peanut butter is made in the UK without palm oil and it contains no added salt, sugar, xylitol or additives but contains very beneficial extra virgin coconut oil and Yorkshire honey instead. This makes it deliciously, extra sticky.

In general, peanut butter is safe for dogs (unless they have a peanut allergy) and it has lots of health benefits too: • Peanuts are a great source of healthy fats or monounsaturated fats. • They promote heart function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. • They contain vitamin E which helps in maintaining your dog’s coat and keeps the skin healthy and shiny. • They contain Niacin which is effective in keeping proper blood flow, brain circulation and improves brain health. • Peanuts are also rich in protein, manganese, and folate which will keep your dog healthy and able to fight off diseases. • They contain fibre which sustains better digestion. • Peanuts also contain calcium, which is very beneficial for ageing dogs as it can lower their risk of bone-related problems. • Peanuts contain resveratrol, a compound known for its anti-aging properties and which helps fight memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease. • They also contain coenzyme Q10, which maintains oxygen flow in the dog’s heart.

Despite all these beneficial qualities, peanut butter and peanuts should

be given, just like everything else, in moderation.

How about Flax Seeds ?

Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are also known to be beneficial for dogs. They help to… • Reduce inflammation and itchiness • Lower blood pressure • Boost the immune system • Strengthen cardiovascular health And Pumpkin Seeds?

They’re rich in protein and contain…

Vitamin K • Phosphorous • Manganese • Magnesium • Iron • Zinc • Copper

Pumpkin seeds are also very high in fibre and can help to improve digestion in dogs. With a very high content of magnesium they can help maintain dogs’ healthy bones, regulate their blood sugar and pressure and reduce the risk of heart diseases. Pumpkin seeds have also been shown to help with certain diseases, infections and reduce worms in dogs. Pooch butter, chopped apples, milled pumpkin & flaxseeds Apple & Peanut Butter Bites 2 apples – cored, peeled and chopped 1 jar of Nuts for Pets Poochbutter ½ cup milled flaxseeds ½ cup milled pumpkin seeds ¼ cup pumpkin seeds for coating

• Peel, core and remove the seeds from the apples, and chop them into small chunks in a food processor. • Finally mix the apples, peanut butter, flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds and stir until a dough forms which is slightly sticky. • Take small pieces and roll them into balls and coat the outside with the remaining pumpkin seeds

Storage

Store in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 7 days.

Another yummy snack that you can enjoy with your dog (even if you’re vegan). The bonus is that it’s a healthy treat for both of you!

Introducing… Breakfast bars!

Ingredients: 1 cup peanut butter 4 cups quinoa flakes 6-7 medium mashed bananas

Preheat the oven to 175oC and line an 8×8 inch tray with baking paper and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well. Transfer the batter to the lined tray and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden on top. A knife or skewer should come out of the centre, clean.

Allow the bars to cool down for at least 10 minutes or until firmed up enough to move and transfer to a wire rack.

Allow to cool down completely, before you and your dog enjoy these lovely breakfast bars.

These bars will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days or when refrigerated, up to a week. Frozen they’ll keep up to two months.

What about quinoa..

Even though it’s consumed like a cereal grain, it’s not technically a grain and is often referred to as a pseudo cereal.

Quinoa is high in protein and essential amino acids as well as being a good source of fibre. It’s also a great source of alpha-linolenic acid, an essential Omega-3 fatty acid with potentially anti-inflammatory benefits. Quinoa contains vitamins and minerals and is rich in Vitamin B Complex (niacin, folate, thiamin) as well as vitamin E. The minerals include iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese and zinc, just to name a few.

There are no known risks of using quinoa in the food of normally healthy dogs, in case any of you were wondering, and did you know that half a cup of cooked quinoa has about four grams of protein?

And then the trusted banana…

I LOVE BANANAS AND SO DO MY DOGS! Bananas are safe for dogs as long as they eat them in moderation and only as an occasional treat. They’re a wholesome source of nutrients and provide health benefits that can improve a dog’s general wellbeing.

The following vitamins and minerals found in bananas are of most use to dogs: Vitamin B6 Vitamin C Magnesium Potassium Biotin (Vitamin B7)

Don’t forget that bananas are high in natural sugars, in the form of fructose, but most importantly, they are NOT a substitute for your dog’s diet and only an occasional treat. ENJOY!!