Purina’s Calming Care product is a probiotic supplement that helps your dog deal with stressors and stay in a healthy, happy state of mind.
When you purchase this product, you receive a box that contains 45 pouches and will last for 6 weeks. Each pouch contains one serving of Calming Care.
To use, you simply sprinkle one packet into your dog’s food bowl once a day. The powder is easy to spread and mix into your dog’s food.
Contents
The powder is very fine, which allows for an easy application on your dog’s food.
It may take up to six weeks to see any changes in your dog’s behavior, so don’t expect to see any progress right away.
The Calming Care powder coats the food pieces to ensure your dog will eat it.
Who needs it?
There are many different situations that may make supplementing your dog’s diet with Purina’s Calming Care a good idea. Here are just a few:
- Separation anxiety
- A recent move to a new home
- New people or animals in the household
- A change in your dog’s routine
- Boarding your dog
- Loss of a family member
- Children going back to school after summer vacation
- Fear of loud noises
- Diet change
- Weaning
- Anxiety
- Pacing
- Panting
- Urinating/defecating in improper locations
- Barking or whining
- Licking more than normal
- Trembling or shaking
Calming Care is the perfect addition to your dog’s daily food routine to keep them healthy and help them deal with stressors.
This product can only be given with a prescription from your veterinarian, so if you feel like your dog could benefit from this product, make sure you take him/her into your veterinarian to get an expert opinion.
Benefits
Probiotics are essentially good bacteria that can be supplemented in the diet to improve your dog’s intestinal microflora. The intestines contain millions and millions of bacteria, so it is important that your dog maintains a healthy set of bacteria to avoid digestive problems. Supplementing probiotics in your dog’s diet helps them increase the amount of good bacteria in their gut and also helps decrease the amount of bad bacteria found in their intestines.
With a balanced amount of good and bad bacteria in your dog’s gut, you may start to see many improvements in your dog’s behavior. You may see a decreased anxiety level and an enhanced attitude. You might also see an improvement in your dog’s stool, with a change from diarrhea or loose stool to a more solid stool.
The specific probiotic found in Purina’s Calming Care supplement is Bifidobacterium longum (BL999). Before Purina released the product, they did a 15 week trial with this probiotic in Labrador Retrievers who were showing anxious behaviors. At the end of the trial, about 90% of the dogs showed behavioral improvement and decreased anxiety.
I have been using Purina’s Calming Care supplement in my own dog’s food every day for the last 6 months. I have a Siberian Husky, Aspen, who has separation anxiety when she is left home alone. When we were gone, she would chew things up and vocalize. She has chewed up highlighters, my husband’s tools, plastic water bowls, a clothes rack, tupperware, and I’m sure I am forgetting other things. Aspen would howl and whine, and because we lived in an apartment and were close to our neighbors, I am sure they could hear her.
Since she has been receiving the Calming Care, I have definitely seen an improvement in her anxiety, however, I don’t think it is 100% gone. There are still times where I will come home and Aspen will have chewed something up, but it doesn’t happen as often as it did before. I have noticed that her stool is solid and she is a very happy and energetic dog. This might not all be from Purina’s Calming Care product, but I do believe that it definitely plays a big part.
Aspen gets Purina’s Calming Care with every meal and really enjoys how it tastes. She has been experiencing less separation anxiety and is happy and healthy!
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Other Options
Exercise
Just like in humans, exercise is important and can be a great stress reliever for your dog. It is an inexpensive and fun way to relieve anxiety and other stressors.
There are many different ways to exercise your dog. You could go for a walk or run, take your dog to the dog park, or go swimming with them! You can even perform mental exercises with your dog rather than physical exercises if you would rather. No matter which way you choose, exercise can help your dog reduce anxiety and live a healthy life.
Check out this video for some tips and tricks on how to safely play with your dog or puppy:
FortiFlora
Purina has another supplemental product that contains probiotics, called Canine FortiFlora. This product has a different microorganism in it and was not made to help manage anxiety in dogs. It was instead made to help the digestive system, increase the numbers of good bacteria in the gut, and reduce diarrhea.
If you are looking for a supplement with probiotics, this might be a good option. However, if you also want the benefit of anxiety reduction, a better option would be Purina’s Calming Care.
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Medications Prescribed by Veterinarian
There are many products both online and in stores that claim they can help your dog and decrease their level of anxiety. Most of these products have not had trials and experiments done with their products and don’t have the science to back up their words.
It is very important to go to your local veterinarian for help in deciding the right way to help your dog’s anxiety. Your veterinarian can prescribe medications that have been proven to help. They can work with you to find just the right plan for both your dog and for you.
Aspen is always so excited to eat when Calming Care is added to her food.
Overall Thoughts
Purina’s Calming Care supplement is backed by science and has undergone extensive trials to determine its safety, value, and effectiveness. If your dog is experiencing anything that is causing them anxiety, it may be worth taking them to the local vet clinic to see what your veterinarian thinks about supplementing your dog’s diet with Calming Care.
This supplement has helped Aspen with her separation anxiety and I would recommend this product to anyone else who thinks their dog could benefit from it. Of course, it may not work for every dog, but it is a safe and healthy way to try to reduce anxious behavior in your dog.
The packets are so easy to use and are perfect for everyday use!
Jen Jones is a professional dog trainer and behavior specialist with more than 25 years of experience. As the founder of ‘Your Dog Advisor’ and the ‘Canine Connection’ rehabilitation center, she applies a holistic, empathetic approach, aiming to address root causes rather than merely treating symptoms.
Well known for her intuitive and compassionate approach, Jen adopts scientifically-proven, reward-based methods, encouraging positive reinforcement over punishment. Jen specializes in obedience training, behavior modification, and puppy socialization. Her innovative methods, particularly in addressing anxiety and aggression issues, have been widely recognized. Jen has worked with many of the world’s leading dog behaviorists and in her free time volunteers with local animal shelters and rescue groups.