HEALTH - ZenCrate Partners With Veterinary Behaviorist for Study on Anxiety-Reducing Dog Den

(ZenCrate)

When ZenCrate launched a kickstarter campaign last year for a crate designed to reduce anxiety in dogs, there was some question as to its effectiveness.

Designed with vibration-dampening technology and sound therapy, the crate sounded good to pet owners, but had limited data to back it up.

ZenCrate has now partnered with Dr. Lisa Radosta of Florida Veterinary Behavior Services to begin a series of clinical research studies that aim to determine the effect of ZenCrate’s anxiety-reducing abilities when it comes to noise and storm phobia in dogs.

“The ZenCrate holds promise as a part of a complete treatment plan for storm and noise aversion and phobias lowering fear, anxiety and stress in dogs afflicted with those disorders,” said Rodosta.

“I am excited to be a participant in upcoming research to assess the effect of the ZenCrate on fear, anxiety and stress in dogs afflicted with storm and noise aversions and phobias.”

Being one of the only 69 board certified veterinary behaviorists in the United States, Rodosta takes an innovative approach when it comes to her studies and use of medicine and has participated in tracking, obedience, herding and therapy dog work.

The crate includes an orthopedic memory foam bed, motion-activated music with a curated anti-anxiety playlist, sound insulation to reduce anxiety, motion-activated fan for improved ventilation and is WiFi enabled to view your pet from a smartphone.

Noise anxiety can be challenging to treat and historically has been managed through behaviour modification, anti-anxiety medicine, tranquilizers and gadgets like the ThunderShirt.

Last year, the FDA approved the first drug for noise anxiety in dogs - Sileo - which they recently released a warning about due to accidental overdoses.

HEALTH - New Medication for Dogs with Noise Anxiety

It’s a common sight - Fido panting, trembling or running for cover when he hears loud noises like thunder or fireworks.

Noise aversion or anxiety has been treated with anti-anxiety medicine, tranquilizers and behaviour modification with mixed results.

Now pet owners have a new option - a gel medication that can be safely administered at home to help calm dogs without sedation. This allows dogs with noise aversion to remain calm yet fully functional.

Manufactured by Zoetis, SILEO is a gel formulation of dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist that blocks norepinephrine release, a chemical in the brain that is involved with the development of fear and anxiety.

“We know that noise aversion has been difficult to treat, is stressful for pet owners and can be traumatic for their dogs. SILEO works the way veterinarians and pet owners need it to work, calming dogs while allowing them to interact normally with the family,” said Shelley L. Stanford, DVM, MS, MBA, group director, Companion Animal Veterinary Professional Services at Zoetis.

“It has rapid speed of onset, is easy to administer at home and works ‘in the moment,’ without any other treatments or training.”

SIELO is the first and only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of noise aversion in dogs.

Each dose lasts two to three hours and takes effect within 30-60 minutes after application.

The first dose can be given as soon as the dog shows signs of anxiety and fear, or approximately 30–60 minutes before a known anxiety- or fear-causing noise stimulus, such as fireworks.