Ipromea, a leading pet probiotic company, has offered a solution for the millions of dogs and cats in Australia suffering from separation anxiety.

Dr Claire Stevens, resident veterinarian at Gold Coast based Ipromea, recommends probiotics as an excellent additional therapy without any adverse side effects unlike Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline, Trazodone for dogs, and Gabapentin for dogs and cats, which can be problematic when it comes to ensuring good overall health.

“We see a lot of pet owners come to the clinic desperate to help their pets cope with separation anxiety, believing the only option is to medicate their pets with antidepressants.”

Dr Stevens says that separation anxiety in dogs has increased by 700 per cent over the past two years, with many owners transitioning from working full-time at home back to the office.

Supplementing the pet’s diet with natural products that regulate their stress levels will help them cope with this change.

“There are more natural ways to support your pets’ nervous system rather than turning to medication. Pet owners need to start taking extra care of their pets’ gut health, especially now that scientific studies have shown probiotics can also help to reduce the signs of anxiety in dogs.

“A good and easy way to boost your pet’s gut health is using high-quality probiotic meal toppers or clean treats that contain probiotic strains like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium or Prevotella copri (P. copri).”

Pet probiotics, according to Dr. Stevens, with useful natural components like hemp powder, camomile, or valerian extract will help pets relax and assist with their anxious behaviour by working from the inside out.

“While vet advice should always be sought before taking any action, helping your pets cheer up again with a balanced diet, exercise and natural supplements is a great way to kickstart their mental health.”

This article originally appeared in Pet Industry News magazine.

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