Little Nelson, our 17 year old mongrel, is becoming increasingly anxious in his old age; he’s increasingly clingy, much more vocal (just little noises when he’s sitting on his cushion of an evening) and it was topped off today by a neighbour coming round and telling us (nicely) that, whenever we’re out, he cries in the back garden (a ‘lonely moan’ she called it, not barking/howling). He’s also becoming much more panty and moany when in the car.

Having read up on it a bit it seems that increased anxiety is not uncommon in older dogs, especially when they start to lose their sight/hearing, and Nelson’s eyes aren’t what they were, and he is deaf to anything other than a shrill whistle from a couple of feet away.

So, we’re thinking of trying Adaptil and/or a Thundershirt, both of which seem to get good reviews. Anyone used either, especially in a similar nervous-old-doggie situation?

An adaptil collar has helped with our young dog’s anxiety since we had a baby. She’s still hyper but she’s (touch wood) stopped chewing up furniture / carpet etc.

On our second collar now – cheapest place to get them is online from Waitrose bizarrely.

Parents use Adaptil every time it looks like thunder to great effect as the dog will shiver uncontrollably without.
I was surprised how well it worked.

Adaptil in the plug in diffuser didn’t do much for our pooch, I didn’t know about the collar, might give it a go. We have a Thundershirt, and that works pretty well, like a portable hug.

Anyway, you know the rules, no pet threads without pics.

I’m sure a friend used plug in adaptil for a new rescue dog to help him chill and settle in. Worked so well he called it doggy smack…. Poor thing was a bit too chilled out 🙂

Think we’ll be trying an adaptil collar again, now that ours is a little older. He’s calmed a bit, but is still super anxious.
We have a thundershirt which works very well, kinda freaks him out at first, he just stands there, wondering who’s hugging him, but will then just lie down and go to sleep.