A synthetic version of the pheromone that a mother releases to comfort and calm her newborn puppies is called adaptil. Adult dogs who are under stress can experience the same relaxing effects of these pheromones. Clinical studies show how Adaptil can help dogs that are distressed by separation in just one month.
Are there any negative effects of ADAPTIL?
Anxiety-relieving Adaptil DAP Collars (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) are a well-liked way to stop your dog from acting out inadvertently, such barking, biting, or marking. Synthetic dog appeasing pheromones are used in DAP collars to soothe dogs by affecting their physiology naturally. DAP collars are popular among users since they’re simple to use and quite effective, but as with any product, there is a possibility that using it will have unintended repercussions.
The DAP Collar offers a multitude of advantages.
One of these is the absence of any long-term negative effects that are known. This can be extremely comforting, making the collars a pleasant substitute for prescription regimes that include greater risk. All dogs can wear the DAP Collar without issue, with the exception of those with extensive skin sores or open wounds that the collar might bother.
Unexpected Effects and How to Handle Them
As already said, there are no known adverse effects of this dog soothing collar. However, incorrect collar usage or extenuating circumstances may lead to unanticipated outcomes. Despite the fact that research refutes the claim that DAP collars are to blame for skin irritation and flesh sores at the collar’s site, customers have complained about the collars in product reviews.
It is obvious that any adverse reaction to the collar is brought on by physical abrasions as the dog appeasing pheromone is its active component. Therefore, it is advised that you always make sure the collar fits your dog comfortably to avoid any negative consequences brought on by the collar. Even if it does not emit the pheromone that makes dogs feel comfortable, a collar that is too tight can damage your dog.
Even while using the collar properly should prevent any negative effects, not every person who wears a DAP collar enjoys all of its advantages. The effect of the collar on a dog’s behaviour will probably change between various individual dogs because the mechanism of pheromones depends on a dog’s pituitary response to the pheromone.
Alternatives to the DAP Collar
DAP Collars are effective enough to change the behaviour of the majority of dogs, but there are other ways to restrain your dog’s behaviour and calm him down if he happens to be the exception. Ingredients like chamomile are used in supplements, treats, and treatments to safely relax dogs. Many of these medications, including BONIES Calming Formula, Tranquil Chews, and Tranquil Tabs, solely include organic components.
For pets with serious behavioural issues, alternative methods like prescription drugs are also good choices. Some medical professionals even advocate giving your pet anti-depressants like Prozac. Many of these medications are either FDA-approved for use in animals or have been specially modified for them.
The DAP Collar works well for the majority of dogs and their owners, even though these alternatives are appropriate for animals that appear to be resistant to its effects. In fact, you may check out customer reviews or use the collar yourself to see how well it functions! How do you feel about DAP collars? Please tell us in the reviews!
How effective is ADAPTIL for dogs?
Any online search about dog anxiety will bring up Dog Appeasing Pheromone quite rapidly. You may discover a tonne of recommendations, a tonne of articles, and of course a tonne of advertisements for DAP, also known by its brand name Adaptil.
It seems unreal and unreal. Can anxiety be reduced by a safe procedure that neither you nor I can detect?
Naturally, the answer is that it depends. You can’t just take it out of the box and everything will be OK. What factors will largely determine how well it works for your dog are:
- what kind of issue you’re attempting to address, and
- other things you’re doing
What Is Dog Appeasing Pheromone?
During the first few weeks of a puppy’s life, nursing females emit DAP, one of the rare mammalian pheromones. It appears to enhance laid-back behaviour in the nest.
DAP is offered as Adaptil in three different forms:
- a plug-in diffuser that treats 90m2 for around a month
- a collar with a treatment that lasts for one month
- a spray bottle for usage around the house or on clothing on a regular basis
You’ll observe that several studies employed various items. I’ll do my best to explain this as I go.
Problems With The Evidence
I’ll list the supporting data under headings for each ailment or issue. The 20 studies that are accessible include some good ones, but there are also two significant issues:
- The business that owns the chemical directly funds numerous studies or researchers.
- Numerous studies lack placebo controls.
Of fact, a study’s or career’s dependence on the whims of a pharmaceutical firm does not automatically indicate that the science will be poor. It only increases the possibility of bias. Particularly when I talk about puppies later, this will come up.
Publishing studies that don’t provide the anticipated results is one thing that businesses do not do very frequently. This is a subtle sort of prejudice since it can give the appearance of certainty if we ignore studies that show something doesn’t work.
The larger issue is the absence of placebo control. I’ll just say that it’s quite likely that the medicine works, whether it does or not, in any behavioural trial without a control group. Why is explained here.
Due to the lack of comparison to a placebo, I have disregarded 8 research (mentioned below), all of which reported benefits. These are frequently the same studies that are cited to support Adaptil’s efficacy. What’s left might surprise you.
Adaptil For Separation Anxiety
There is no solid proof that Adaptil helps dogs with separation anxiety. A DAP diffuser did not reduce canine behaviours such barking, scratching, whining, howling, shaking, heart rate, eye or ear temperature, according to the one reliable study13.
In a lab environment, regular dogs were removed from their owners and watched for indications of anxiety.
In my opinion, the outcomes might have been different if separation-anxious dogs had been utilised instead. But by the time a veterinarian is contacted, separation anxiety is typically rather high, so I am not surprised that a gentle remedy like DAP had no discernible impact. As long as a more potent cure is not substituted, it is obviously safe to attempt.
Adaptil For Barking
Indirect proof that Adaptil can lessen barking intensity comes from one study11 on dogs in a shelter. Compared to dogs exposed to a placebo, dogs exposed to people passing by or being nice barked less frequently and on average louder. Peak volume remained constant.
In my opinion, even though the study contains some statistical flaws2, the effect is probably real. Just a word of caution: barking is a complicated issue, and Adaptil would probably only benefit dogs for whom anxiety is the underlying cause.
Adaptil For Firework & Thunder Phobia
There is scant evidence that Adaptil relieves dogs’ anxiety and fear caused by noise. There are two very troubling papers that are frequently cited (discarded 5, 8), but neither is a placebo-controlled study, and both employ additional medications concurrently.
A more effective study exposed healthy canines to 83.9 dB thunder noises (thunder itself can be up to 130dB). They discovered that wearing a DAP collar boosted utilisation of a den and decreased overall anxiety measurements and active anxiety signals. Look at their schedule for experimentation, though.
My opinion: Considering that all of the control dogs and all of the treatment dogs were evaluated simultaneously, I wouldn’t be shocked if the researchers were able to determine which dogs were receiving DAP treatment and which weren’t. An example of this is a detection bias. I will state that the researchers’ motives were honourable, and they are regarded highly in their profession.
The impact, in my opinion, would have vanished if dogs with noise phobias had been utilised (which is not allowed for welfare reasons), and the noise level had been the same as thunder. Find out how to treat dogs who are afraid of thunder and fireworks here.
Adaptil For Puppies Crying At Night
The use of Adaptil collars on freshly adopted puppies has been demonstrated to be beneficial in two studies. Only Gundogs benefited from the first 12’s application of collars on purebred puppies (mainly Labrador retrievers, Weimeraners and Spaniels). Gundogs in the placebo group cried for an average of nine nights compared to three for those receiving Adaptil.
In the second study3, puppies were fitted with Adaptil collars before being purchased from pet stores. A startling result was that all 32 of the treated puppies found homes within three days. In two weeks, two-thirds of the 34 puppies who received the placebo either continued to bother their owners or only ceased when let inside the owner’s bedroom or to share a bed with another dog.
Although the effect was not as pronounced, the same scientists reported a later research of the same puppies4 that revealed reduced indicators of avoidance and unease when meeting unexpected persons and new situations.
How long does ADAPTIL take to start working?
Within the first seven days, many dog owners start to notice results. But each dog is different. It could take longer to observe recovery depending on how long the symptoms have been present and how severe they may be. For at least one month, we advise utilising the ADAPTIL Calm On-The-Go Collar.
Canines detect ADAPTIL?
The unique aroma used by Adaptil is a copy of the pheromone that mother dogs naturally release to their puppies shortly after birth to reassure them and strengthen the bond between the mother and her progeny.
