Owner-Perception of the Effects of Two Long-Lasting Dog-Appeasing Pheromone Analog Devices on Situational Stress in Dogs

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Previous studies have found that an analog of the canine-appeasing pheromone can help dogs to relax during stressful situations. Devices diffusing this analog exist but usually last for only one month. Here, two new devices were tested: Zenidog™ collar and Zenidog™ diffusing gel (plug in-free, Virbac, Carros, France), which last for three and two months, respectively. These were compared with existing reference products whose period of effectiveness is one month. The devices were given to owners of dogs showing signs of stress or anxiety in a range of everyday situations. Owners were asked to regularly evaluate and score several parameters that were used to assess changes in a range of behaviors, sources of fear, and specific signs of stress during the three- or two-month studies. A significant improvement in global scores was found for the behaviors and sources of fear and for the stress signs with all the tested devices. There was no difference in effect between the devices. The new collar also seemed effective in puppies and dogs that were wearing an antiparasitic collar. These studies show that the new devices are as effective as the reference products but last longer. ABSTRACT: Devices that release a synthetic analog of the canine-appeasing pheromone can help to relax dogs during stressful situations, but they usually last for only one month. Two new devices with this analog were tested by owners of dogs showing signs of stress in a range of everyday situations: Zenidog™ collar, lasting three months, and Zenidog™ diffusing gel, lasting two months (Virbac, Carros, France). They were compared against reference products that last for one month. In the three-month study with collars, one group received Zenidog™ collar, one received the reference collar, and one group of dogs wore an antiparasitic collar alongside a Zenidog™ collar. In the two-month study with diffusers, groups received either the unpowered Zenidog™ gel diffuser or the reference electric diffuser. Owners regularly completed a questionnaire that assessed seventeen general behaviors and sources of fear and eleven specific signs of stress. Global scores for these two main scales were calculated, and the evolution of scores was compared between groups. Non-parametric tests with a Bonferroni correction were used for statistical analysis. An improvement of all global scores was observed in all groups (p < 0.001), including in puppies, and there was no difference between groups. Zenidog™ devices were as effective as the reference devices and lasted longer.