Kakuda T, et al. Inhibition by theanine of binding of [3H]AMPA, [3H]Kainate, and [3H]MDL 105,519 to glutamate receptors. BiosciBiotechnol Biochem. 2002;66:2683–6. ThunderShirt Anxiety Shirt for Dogs is an effective and safe solution for calming fearful and anxious dogs. It is ideal for fear of fireworks, thunderstorms, separation anxiety, cars or travelling. The Thundershirt is easy to put on and ensures a consistent pressure on the core of the dog. This pressure has a calming effect for most dogs. In a recent survey of over a 1000 users, 85% of dogs were less anxious when wearing the shirt (The Journal of Veterinary Science). Mills DS, Redgate SE, Landsberg GM. A meta-analysis of studies of treatments for feline urine spraying. PLoS One. 2011;6(4):e18448.

Many pets suffer with stress and anxiety, whether it’s caused by holidays, kennel or cattery stays, trips to the vet, new additions to the household, or fireworks. It can be tough to see your pet display the signs of stress, but there is a range of calming products for dogs and cats available. These products are specially designed to help your pet cope better.Anxitane is a flavoured, nutritional supplement that has a calming effect on dogs and cats. Anxitane is ideal to help your pet deal with stressful situations! Neurovegetative signs (9 parameters): polypnea; shivering; mydriasis; piloerection; rolling skin syndrome; vomiting; diarrhoea; hypersalivation; fear-induced urination or defecation; ANXITANE ®(L-Theanine) Chewable Tablets help pets keep calm and relaxed.Containing a pure synthetic form of L-Theanine, an amino acid naturally found in green tea leaves, ANXITANE Tablets are a palatable option that both cats and dogs will enjoy and a great option to use in conjunction with a behavior modification program. Use Anxitane S - 50 mg tablets. Long-term administration: 1/2 tablet twice daily. Episodic administration: 1/2 tablet 12 hours and 2 hours before the event and tablet every 6 hours during the event. In 4 published studies ANXITANE Chewable Tablets administration produced significant reductions in anxiety scores in cats and dogs

L-theanine (found in Composure and Anxitane) is a type of amino acid with some evidence to show it is effective at reducing anxiety in dogs. Because of its safety, and the low risk of side effects, it is a popular remedy for owners who don’t want to give their dog medicines like Xanax. It is thought to increase levels of dopamine and GABA in the brain, though there is differing opinions on how the substance affects serotonin levels. These chemicals play a role in mood, and can affect how anxious a dog feels. Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Ohira H. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007;74(1):39–45. Yoto A, Motoki M, Murao S, Yokogoshi H. Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012;31:28.

Amat M, Camps T, Manteca X. Stress in owned cats: behavioural changes and welfare implications. J Feline Med Surg. 2016;18(8):577–86. Anxitane™ is a tasty tablet containing L-Theanine, a natural ingredient which is proven to help calm, and reduce anxiety in cats and dogs. Tried and trusted across the globe and supported by extensive scientific studies, Anxitane helps to maintain calm and relaxation naturally, without causing drowsiness.

Use Anxitane M & L 100 mg tablets. Long-term administration: 1/2 tablet twice daily. Episodic administration: 1/2 tablet 12 hours and 2 hours before the event and tablet every 6 hours during the event. In humans, L-theanine has been shown to facilitate the generation of alpha waves in the brain that are indicative of a relaxed, awake and alert state, without promoting drowsiness [ 2, 7, 8, 9]. L-theanine would also help regulate the physiological parameters usually increased during stressful events (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol secretion), which further contributes to the stress-reducing effects [ 9, 10, 11, 12]. L-theanine’s relaxing effect has also been shown in dogs with fear of humans [ 13] or storms [ 14]. After 1 or 2 months of L-theanine administration (twice a day), fearful reactions were reduced. Finally, L-theanine would enable the increase of learning capacities [ 15, 16]. Of the 12 cats with sleeping issues at D0 (score > 0), 9/12 (75%) were judged normal at the end of the study (significant reduction of scores, Friedman test, p< 0.05). Similarly, of the 16 cats described as sad or unhappy (score > 0 for mood), 12/16 (75%) were normal/happy at the end of L-theanine administration (significant reduction in scores, Friedman test, p< 0.001). Appetite and drinking behaviours also improved in some cats but not significantly. 2/9 (22%) and 1/2 (50%) of the cats with appetite or drinking issues at baseline became normal (score of 0) at the end of the study. Ease of administration, tolerance and owner’s satisfaction Remember, every pet is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. If you’re unsure about which product is right for your pet, oryou have any concerns about using any of these products in combination with your pet’s medication, don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet for guidance .

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The investigators and the owners also had to rate, on a 0% (complete improvement) to 100% (no improvement) scale, their perception of the evolution in the 4 dominant signs as compared to baseline evaluation; these signs were considered stress manifestations: inappropriate elimination; aggressiveness; stress-related signs (hypervigilance, nervousness, fear) and stress-induced functional/organic signs (digestive signs, disturbed eating and drinking behaviours, overgrooming and scratching). Why not share with us your top tips? Which products have worked well for you? Let us know in the comments below.

Although the relaxing activity of L-theanine has been shown in humans, laboratory animals and dogs, it has not been published in cats. Cats can show undesirable behaviours when experiencing stressful events, such as urinary marking of furnitures and household structures, excessive scratching, aggressiveness and overgrooming. In addition to these behavioural changes, stress can also lead to recurring physical conditions such as emotional (often qualified as idiopathic) cystitis, chronic digestive signs (vomiting, diarrhoea) and disturbed eating behaviours [ 22, 23, 24]. From the pet owner’s stand point, the most unwanted behaviours are urinary marking [ 25, 26] and excessive scratching [ 27], which are usually the first signs of discomfort. Before the situation worsens and requires medication, it would be useful to determine if an oral supplement containing L-theanine can reduce stress-related behaviours as in the other species studied so far.

Li C, Tong H, Yan Q, Tang S, Han X, Xiao W, Tan Z. L-Theanine improves immunity by altering TH2/TH1 cytokine balance, brain neurotransmitters, and expression of phospholipase C in rat hearts. Med Sci Monit. 2016;22:662–9. Yamada T, Terashima T, Honma H, Nagata S, Okubo T, Juneja LR, Yokogoshi H. Effects of theanine, a unique amino acid in tea leaves, on memory in a rat behavioral test. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008;72(5):1356–9. Pryor PA, Hart BL, Bain MJ, Cliff KD. Causes of urine marking in cats and effects of environmental management on frequency of marking. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001;219(12):1709–13.