Dog appeasing pheromone

Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) is a chemical developed to calm dogs suffering from separation anxiety disorder, astraphobia (fear of thunder and lightning), fear of fireworks, or those with excessive barking problems.

The chemical is a synthetic analogue of a hormone produced by nursing canine mothers that is seen as 'promoting calm and secure behaviour and in establishing a bond with the mother.'[1]

Contents

Effectiveness

A randomized clinical study published in 2008 examined the effects of DAP on puppies enrolled in socialization classes.[2] The study found that puppies receiving the hormone exhibited less anxiety and more positive interactions with other puppies than those receiving placebos.[2] A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2007 analyzed its effects on newly-adopted puppies aged 6 to 10 weeks; it found that DAP treatment induced a statistically significant reduction in crying among gun dogs only, and did not influence soiling.[3]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Jon Bowen (BVetMed.), Jon Bowen, Sarah Heath (2005). Behaviour problems in small animals: practical advice for the veterinary team. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 58. http://books.google.com/books?id=aRpgViLvf1oC&pg=PA58&dq=Dog+Appeasing+Pheromone+marketed&hl=en&ei=oAb3S6aKBpP0NeChndoF&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Dog%20Appeasing%20Pheromone%20marketed&f=false. 
  2. ^ a b "Effects of dog-appeasing pheromones on anxiety and fear in puppies during training and on long-term socialization - sponsored by DAP maker Ceru". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.233.12.1874?select23=Choose&journalCode=javma. Retrieved 2010-05-23. 
  3. ^ "A placebo-controlled study to investigate the effect of Dog Appeasing Pheromone and other environmental and management factors on the reports of disturbance and house soiling during the night in recently adopted puppies (Canis familiaris)". Applied Animal Behaviour through Elsevier, July 2007. http://www.appliedanimalbehaviour.com/article/S0168-1591(06)00381-9/abstract. Retrieved 2010-05-23. 

References