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We give Pet Remedy a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
In a world where we are increasingly concerned with not just the physical wellbeing of our pets, but their mental and emotional wellbeing as well, there are solutions to suit just about every problem you can think of. And in the wake of Covid, more and more people are living with dogs that are exhibiting varying degrees of separation anxiety, phobias, and other behavioral issues that stem from surviving two years of restricted social interaction.
We are also becoming more aware that canine and feline behavior is not simply a result of genetics, environment, and training. Factors such as the amount and type of proteins in the diet, pheromones, and phytotherapic remedies, can all contribute to how a dog feels and interacts with the world around them.
Pet Remedy falls under the phytotherapic branch of anxiety management, using substances found in nature to simulate GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), a natural calming agent present in all mammals, reptiles, and birds. It contains a blend of Valerian, Vetiver, Sweet Basil & Clary Sage to produce a relaxing, non-sedating effect.
About Pet Remedy
Who Makes Pet Remedy and Where Is It Produced?
Pet Remedy Ltd is a UK company, and its products are all developed and produced in Devon, UK. The products are widely available from their own website, as well as most online and high street pet shops, and are used and sold by many veterinary practices.
Who Is Pet Remedy Best Suited For?
Pet Remedy is an ideal solution for pet owners looking for a phytotherapic option to treat stress and anxiety in their pets, or assist with other behavioral problems. Due to its natural ingredients, it is a safe option for households with multiple pets and pet species, and can have positive effects on both dogs and cats, as well as smaller mammals, birds, and reptiles.
It can help with bonding between humans and their pocket pets and horses, as well as generate an overall calming environment, so if you are wanting to treat more than one pet, or one species, this is a more cost effective method than medicating each individual pet.
Who Won’t It Work For?
Pet Remedy is not a magic cure for aggression, learned behaviors, or dominance issues. It works by triggering calming receptors in the brain that can help with working on these issues, but it will not suddenly stop your rowdy dog from jumping up on people, or stop them barking at the doorbell. Customers looking for a quick fix for problem behaviors will be disappointed.
What this product can do, however, is help hyperactive or overstimulated dogs feel more settled and at ease, which can make training more successful.
Compared with several of their competitors, the Pet Remedy website is fantastic. In stark contrast to the muted tones of their packaging, their website is engaging, user friendly, and contains loads of information for pet owners, not just limited to the products they sell. There are links to the various clinical trials and research into the products and ingredients they use, and have a helpful list of FAQs.
In Summary
Is Pet Remedy A Good Value?
A search for “dog anxiety products” on the internet will generate millions of possible solutions, and even if you narrow this down to a search of pet shop supplies, you still have hundreds of possibilities to sift through. Tablets, supplements, oils, training courses, pharmaceuticals; even the sub categories have subcategories.
Pet Remedy Natural Calming is a UK-based company that focuses on using phytotherapic products that can be applied topically to your pet or inhaled.
In a market that is largely dominated by pheromone analogues, Pet Remedy offers a phytotherapic formulation that treats cats and dogs with the one product, as well as a range for horses, birds, reptiles, and pocket pets; something most of their competitors do not offer. Pheromone-based products will only affect the target species, which may not be a problem, but can be limiting.
This is a huge selling point for multi pet households wanting to provide anxiety relief to more than one species, without the worry of having any problematic effects on any other pets in the home. Valerian oil, the primary active ingredient in Pet Remedy, has been used for centuries to help anxiety and insomnia in humans. Although the scientific evidence of its efficacy is still inconclusive, studies have shown valerian and sage to have measurable effects on GABA pathways, and menopausal symptoms in women.
What Is The Pet Remedy Natural Calming Atomiser?
The Calming Atomiser Overview
The Pet Remedy offers a wide range of products but the one I was most interested in trying was the Calming Atomiser. Instead of a constant release of the product, as you would see in a diffuser, it operates with small bursts of calming spray. The portability of the atomiser means that you can take it with you. You can also combine the environmental dispersal products with the topical sprays or wipes if needed.
The Battery Operated Atomiser
I personally don’t like using plug-in diffusers for three reasons; I have a habit of forgetting to check on the levels and they often run dry, I feel that the effectiveness seems to dissipate over time, and I find that the units get warm, which makes me a bit nervous about fire risk, although the diffusers are all safety tested.
For me, the atomiser is the perfect solution to all three of my concerns.
The way the atomiser works is similar to automatic air fresheners, but it’s not an aerosol can that needs to be replaced. You keep the same bottle, and top it up, which does make it more cost effective in the long run. Plus, the refill bottles can be used to top up your atomiser or spray bottles (but not the diffusers). The simple unit is quite unobtrusive, and even the brand label is removable if you’d prefer to keep it completely plain.
If you are familiar with automatic air fresheners, then you are also familiar with the sound they make. When the atomiser first went off, my two chihuahuas were a bit perturbed, but by the second pump, they lost interest.
It’s not a loud or overly intrusive sound, but if you are sensitive to noises, you might find it annoying. If you are a light sleeper, you will want to position it away from your bedroom, or deactivate it at night. It’s actually a bit quieter than the aerosol atomisers, and I only notice it when I’m in the room with it.
Our Experience with Pet Remedy
I ordered the Battery Operated Atomiser because I was wanting to try something that would create a calm environment in the house, without needing to be plugged into an electrical socket. I paid a little extra for next day delivery, and it arrived less than 24 hours later.
With the order, I received six free Pet Remedy Wipes, which is a nice little bonus, plus an extra one inside the actual atomiser box! One thing that some people may object to (or love!) is the scent. Valerian root does have a distinctive odor in concentrated form, but I haven’t really noticed the smell when the atomiser is working. But it is something to be aware of if you have a particularly sensitive olfactory system.
I have used a variety of homeopathic and pheromone based products, both at home, and in veterinary practice. In my experience, pheromone-based products were more effective at dealing with feline territorial and stress behaviors like inappropriate urination, but found they needed time to take effect.
Pet Remedy uses plant therapy also known as phytotherapy. Their active ingredients from the valerian root absolute oil and the other essential oils, are very much present in the formulation which is why the indirect mode of action via the olfactory pathway is so effective and instant.
In veterinary practice, we commonly used towels and blankets sprayed with Pet Remedy to place over cat carriers in the waiting room, or in cages in the hospital, with noticeable effects. Owners often commented on the improvement in their cat’s apparent stress levels, and our inpatients were more settled and calm when we used the spray, than on days we neglected to do so.
It Caters To All Of My Pets
To say that I have a lot of pets is an understatement. I have 5 dogs (2 Labradors, 2 Chihuahuas and 1 German Malinois) and 5 cats, all of whom get along reasonably well; we are really quite fortunate. Even so, I like the idea of using a calming product that may help everyone feel a bit more chilled, rather than just one species, or one individual, and I like knowing that it is safe to use around them all.
How It Managed Anxiety
The main concern I was hoping to address with the Pet Remedy Atomiser was my Labrador, Bailey’s, progressive anxiety. For over a year, she has been having panic attack type episodes, and wants to go outside and hide in the corner by the gate. When she’s inside, she pants and trembles. She is ten years old, and has always been a relaxed, happy girl, and we have not been able to find a cause or trigger for these episodes.
We have tried a range of things to help her, including thunder shirts, oral supplements, SSRIs, pheromone diffusers and pheromone collars. To date, the pheromone products are the only things that seem to have helped, but both wear off after 3–4 weeks, so need regular replacing. Although Bailey did gravitate toward the corner where the plug-in diffuser was located, it gets really hot, so I am reluctant to continue with it.
I was a bit skeptical about whether Pet Remedy would be strong enough to overcome Bailey’s panic attacks, but within 3–4 hours of having the atomiser set at 30 minute intervals, she was sleeping soundly next to the table I had placed it on. Big thumbs up.
Effects On Energy Levels
Now for the unintended consequences of using a product that treats an area, not just an individual. Firstly, there is Cyril, my chunky Tabby, who is already a pretty chilled out dude. He now spends most evenings lying on his back next to the table with the atomiser unit; and we didn’t think he could get any more relaxed!
The other big winner is my 2-year-old German Malinois, Kodah, who has quite an exuberant personality (putting it politely), loves to jump, and gets super, over-the-top excited whenever anyone (including us) comes to the door; even if we have just been outside for 5 minutes.
When Kodah gets into “the zone”, it is very difficult to get him to listen or follow commands. Since the atomiser has been in the house, I feel like we are finally making progress with him! So much so, that I will be utilizing more Pet Remedy products at home and on the go to see if we can finally get him to walk on a lead without excitedly screaming at everyone and everything! Wish us luck!
Conclusion
Pet Remedy is not a miracle elixir, nor does it claim to be. If your pet has significant behavioral issues, this product is not going to fix them. What it can do, is help your pet feel more settled, and therefore be more responsive to training.
The atomiser is the perfect option if you want something that provides multiple animals, and multiple species, with a regular dose of serenity. You don’t have to worry about any issues with power points, or that you’ve gone away on holidays and left it plugged in.
Using natural ingredients, Pet Remedy is a product that is not just safe around virtually all animals, but can also be effective for them. The scientific data isn’t quite there in terms of solid evidence that these phytotherapic products work, but we do know for certain that they are safe. If the worst that can happen is that they don’t work for you, then it’s a risk worth taking. I was surprised by how well it worked in my household, so you might be surprised as well.
