Most everyone knows that a female dog in heat is very attractive to all the male dogs in the neighborhood. Simply letting her out into her own fenced backyard is often enough to attract suitors. Male dogs just show up, even if they’ve never had the opportunity to see the female dog. Why does this happen and how do these male dogs know to come knocking? There’s a chemical that’s found in a female dog’s urine when she’s reproductively active. This chemical is known as a pheromone. Pheromones, which have specific scents, are substances that animals use to communicate with other animals of the same species.
But I Can’t Even Smell It!
Pheromones—whether they’re produced by a dog, cat or horse—are generally odorless to most people. But pheromones help animals tell other animals important information, such as when they’re reproductively receptive, where they are and where they’ve been, when there’s danger and when there isn’t.
Most pheromones only have meaning for members of the species who produce them. Of course, dogs can pick up cat scent and may be able to detect cat pheromones, and cats can detect dog scent. However, the effect of the pheromone on an animal of a different species isn’t the same as the effect the pheromone has on a member of the same species.
Do Animals Know What They’re Smelling?
It seems likely that animals know that they’re reacting to a pheromone the same way that humans know why they go into the kitchen when they smell fresh-baked cookies, but we don’t know this for certain. People react to human pheromones without being aware of them. For example, women who work together seem to synchronize their menstrual cycles because of pheromones—but the women aren’t aware that they’re detecting pheromones and can’t purposely adjust their menstrual cycles. There is evidence, however, that animals are aware of the detection of some pheromones and may purposely react to them. Most animals, including cats and horses, have a body part known as the vomeronasal organ, situated behind their nose. The organ looks like two small tubes. They’re lined with many special chemical-detection cells, including pheromone detectors. When an animal gets a scent into her nose that she doesn’t recognize or simply wants more information about, she lifts her lip to force the scent through her vomeronasal organ. This behavior is called the flehmen response, and it’s very obvious, particularly in horses. They look like they are making a face at a bad joke.
What Good Are Pheromones to Me and My Pet?
Certain pheromones secreted by dogs, cats and horses are calming. Some of these pheromones are the type secreted by lactating mothers. These pheromones help the babies feel content, secure and safe. In addition, some calming pheromones help animals recognize familiar places. As a group, pheromones that have a calming effect on animals are referred to as “appeasing” pheromones. Scientists have created synthetic versions of these appeasing pheromones for use as treatments to help pets deal with anxiety and fear. The advantages of using pheromones are that they’re not sedatives and haven’t been found to cause dangerous side effects. Pet guardians don’t need a prescription to obtain them for their pets. However, the use of any chemical affecting your pet should be approved by his veterinarian before you use it.
There have been a number of studies evaluating the effectiveness of synthetic pheromones in treating behavior problems in companion animals. The results of these studies indicate that commercially available synthetic pheromones can reduce anxiety in many pets.
Therapeutic Use of Pheromones in Pets
Unlike medicines that help animals relax, which are given directly as a pill or a liquid or spread on an animal’s skin, pheromones have to be inhaled to be effective. They’re most commonly diffused into the area where an animal is most likely to experience her stress. They can be sprayed directly onto bedding or furniture, or they can be released into the air by a diffuser that works like plug-in air fresheners. Pheromones for dogs can also be delivered through a commercially available collar.
Therapeutic Use of Pheromones in Dogs
The only pheromone commercially available for dogs is D.A.P.TM (Dog Appeasing Pheromone). D.A.P. has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety in dogs under many conditions. These include:
- Adaptation to a new home Studies indicate that puppies wearing D.A.P. collars are less likely to wake their pet parents by barking or whining, contact seeking and scratching the door than puppies without D.A.P. collars. The use of a D.A.P. collar also seems to reduce separation distress during the day.
- Socialization stress Puppies wearing D.A.P. collars may be less nervous when taking a puppy obedience class than puppies without D.A.P. collars. One study indicates that the D.A.P. collar may also help them socialize with other puppies and dogs.
- Separation problems Studies indicate that D.A.P. presented through a diffuser might help manage the fear reactions of dogs when they’re left alone.
- Thunderstorm phobia D.A.P. diffusers sometimes help dogs deal with anxiety problems related to noises, such as thunderstorm and fireworks phobias. Studies show that D.A.P. can sometimes reduce anxiety in dogs who are afraid of loud noises as effectively as anti-anxiety medication.
If your dog has behavior problems related to stress and anxiety, you might benefit from reading some of our other articles, like Socializing Your Puppy, Fear of the Veterinary Clinic, Fear of Noises, Separation Anxiety, Fear of Animals, Fear of Objects, Fear of Specific Places and Fear of People. You’ll find further treatment suggestions in these articles.
Therapeutic Use of Pheromones in Cats
Cats often rub their faces against familiar or accepted people, animals and objects by pressing their cheeks and forehead against them. Cats tend to do this when they’re feeling relaxed and comfortable. The rubbing action deposits pheromone scent, which other cats pay special attention to. In recognition of this somewhat unique behavior of cats, the synthetic pheromone commercially available to treat behavior problems in cats, called Feliway®, is modeled after the pheromone that cats use when they bunt against things with their face. The pheromone is used to help cats overcome problems associated with stress resulting from adjustment to a new environment or to other cats. Its uses include treatment for the following problems:
- Urine marking The most common use of Feliway is to reduce urine spraying. Cats urine mark to advertise for a mating partner, and the use of the pheromone seems to reduce this urge. Cats also often urine spray when their environment changes—for instance, if they move, if someone leaves home, if the family adopts a new cat or an existing cat leaves the home—and Feliway® has been found to reduce marking in these situations. To be most effective as a treatment for spraying, the pheromone should be either sprayed in areas where a cat has marked in the past or presented through a diffuser.
- Multi-cat conflict Cats don’t have the same social make-up as dogs. Given the opportunity, cats live most of their lives alone and will create territories that are separate from other cats’ territories. However, many people have multiple cats sharing their home together. Because of their naturally antisocial behavior, cats can’t always easily tolerate living in such close proximity to each other. Sometimes disputes arise. Feliway has been found to reduce behaviors associated with multi-cat stress, particularly if dispensed through a diffuser.
- Hospitalization stress Studies indicate that Feliway can reduce the stress of hospitalization in cats. The pheromone can be dispersed through a diffuser or by spraying the cat’s bedding.
If your cat is exhibiting behavior problems related to stress and anxiety, you might benefit from reading some of our other articles, like Urine Marking in Cats, Meowing and Yowling, Aggression Between Cats in Your Household, Introducing Your Cat to a New House, Fear of Visitors and Fear of Places and Objects. You’ll find further treatment suggestions in these articles.
Therapeutic Use of Pheromones in Horses
The use of synthetic pheromones to treat behavior problems in horses is relatively new. Horses are a prey species who live in groups (herds), and they often react poorly to the appearance of unexpected or unusual things. They also don’t tolerate being alone well. Most behavior problems that develop in horses are related to fear and anxiety or to isolation stress. Horses are also difficult and expensive to medicate because of their size. A product that produces a calming effect simply by diffusing it through the air is very beneficial to the management of horses.
There is one equine appeasing pheromone (E.A.P.), which is based on the pheromones secreted by a lactating mare. It’s sold under two different names depending on the distributor: Modified EQTM and Pherocalm®.
As of yet, studies evaluating the effectiveness of E.A.P. are few and the results are mixed. An effective method of administration is still under review, although one recommendation is to spray two spurts of the product directly into a horse’s nostrils at least 20 minutes before a stressful event.
If your horse is exhibiting behavior problems related to stress and anxiety, you might benefit from reading some of our other articles, like Horses Who Are Sensitive to Handling, Horses Who Are Head Shy, Bringing Home a New Horse, Horses Who Are Afraid of Noises, Horses Who Are Herd Bound and Buddy Sour and Spooking Under Saddle. You’ll find further treatment suggestions in these articles.
Seek the Advice of an Experienced Professional
This article is intended to familiarize pet parents with the benefits and use of pheromones as treatment for stress and anxiety in pets. It’s not intended as a guide to treatment for stress and anxiety. If your pet suffers from fear, anxiety or behavior problems related to conflict between animals, please consult a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB). If you have a dog and can’t find a behaviorist in your area, you can seek help from a qualified Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT). However, make sure that the trainer you employ has specialized education and extensive experience successfully treating anxiety and fear in dogs. One of these animal behavior experts can evaluate your pet’s behavior problem, help you develop a treatment plan and work with you to maximize success. To locate a behavior expert, please see our article Finding Professional Help.
