Dog Pheromone Products

Dog pheromones are naturally produced by canines during the mating season and other instances and will transmit signals to the other dogs. However, the pheromones can also be created synthetically and administered in dogs that are stressed or display various behavior problems such as urinating in the home, chewing or excessive barking. The pheromones may also offer immune system support.

Canine Pheromones

Pheromones are chemicals that are released by dogs and will be used to communicate various signals such as sexual availability. The pheromones are sensed by the vomeronasal organ, which is situated between the mouth and the nose of the dog.

The canine pheromones may be synthetically recreated and can be used in various pets that have a behavioral issue, a phobia or are stressed. There are also a number of herbs that can mimic the scent of canine pheromones and may also be used for calming purposes. Valerian is a plant that is commonly used to create herbal canine pheromones.

Pheromone Products and Use

There are several pheromone containing products on the market, including spays, creams, wipes, collars and diffusers. These products contain synthetic hormones and can be used in pets with various problems such as:

  • Territorial aggressiveness
  • Spraying
  • Chewing
  • Digging
  • Leg humping
  • Excessive barking

These behaviors may be caused by stress or boredom and may be difficult to fix with other more traditional treatments. Dogs that have various phobias (e.g. fear of noises of fireworks) may also benefit of the pheromone therapy. The pheromone products may also be used in senior dogs and dogs that are ill or recovering from an illness, as the pheromones may boost immunity in certain pets. 

The use of these products will not be effective if the behavior problem is caused by an underlying medical problem.

How Pheromones Work

The pheromone products will soothe the dog that displays the behavior problems. The pheromones will create a state of comfort that is similar to the comfort felt when the dog was with his mother and brothers. Typically, vets recommend the use of pheromone products in conjunction with other types of treatment such as counseling or behavioral training to increase the chances of succeeding to eliminate the unwanted behaviors.

Additional studies are necessary to demonstrate the efficiency and the mechanism of action of pheromone products.

Pheromone Products Side Effects

There are no side effects reported for the use of pheromone products in dogs. Some dog owners that have tried using these products have reported that the dogs become more lethargic after such as therapy, but this may be the calming effect of the pheromones.

Pheromone Product Safety

The available pheromone products on the market are considered safe and will not affect the owners in any ways. If you use pheromone diffusers in your home, the substances released by the diffusers will only appeal to the dog and will not affect you.

 

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