rescue remedy - Answered by Dr. Van Lienden

[meb999]

does anyone know anything about rescue remedy - it's a product with:

-Impatiens glandulifera (for impatience and agitation that may be associated with pain) ;
-Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem - for shock, grief, or fright) ;
-Prunus serasife (Cherry Plum- for hysteria or loss of control) ;
-Helianthemum nummularium (Rock Rose- for terror and panic)
-Clematis vitalba (Clematis- for faintness and bemused, stunned, ungrounded feelings)

It is used in animals to decrease stress. It's apparently all natural.

I was thinking about buying some for my little foster pooch, Buster (see: http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=13713)
He's a really sweet dog, very affectionate -- but he's got serious seperation anxiety. It's to the point where I'm afraid he'll hurt himself if I leave. I'm meeting some behaviourists tomorow, so I'll know more about what I can do to ease his anxiety.

I've read up on this product and haven't really found any counter indications. Does anyone use it? Has it worked in reducing stress?

[CyberKitten]

I use it often with Yin Yin. It is perfectly safe - not so much herbal as homepathic. The cheapest place to buy it is SuperStore - Provigo in Quebec or Loblaws in Ont (all same company). You can pay extra few dollars and get the identical product at a health food store.

I also like cocculine which a vet told me about - helps animals sleep while travelling and since it is not an anti anxiety drug like valium, will not affect the pet's metabolismnor make them groggy.

I'd go with Rescue Remedy first tho.

[BMDLuver]

We had a rescue come in a while ago that was extremely anxious. We used the rescue remedy with him and it took the edge off. He was still anxious but not in such a frenetic manner.

[CyberKitten]

YY is not an anxious kitty at all but it helps as preventitive medicine (if I can call it that, lol) prior to a vet visit or trip.

[Cactus Flower]

Rescue Remedy didn't do much for Raj, but I've heard good things about it. I gave it to my Mom, and it helps her sleep!

[maddoxies]

I add it to the drinking water when I have a new foster come in, helps if the rescue or Valentin is stressed and does not affect them if not stressed.

Can also be administered directly into the mouth. For situations I know are going to stress Valentin, I put a few drops on his head and rub in beforehand. Works anywhere the blood vessels come close to the surface, Ear flaps are good too. It also comes in a cream form, which I find useful for delayed release.

[petdr]

Rescue remedy has been used by a few of my clients for their pets. The report is inconsistent, some love the product, some don't think it is useful at all. Something to remember as a toxicological principle is that every substance in a high enough dose is dangerous, even something as common as water.

The ingredients of Rescue Remedy can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory and hepatic (liver)problems in prone individuals. If you use this preparation, then do so at published dose (should be on the bottle) and monitor your little guy over a two week period. Any unexplained problems, then stop the preparation.

It is important to take any concurrent medication into account when adding Rescue Remedy to the mix. I realize that it is popular to attempt what some call "holistic treatment", but one must be careful with any substance ingested. Know what the active ingredients are, what the tested strength is, what interactions can be problematic, any contraindications within that invidual, and the source of the product (contamination with heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, adulteration, etc. has been a problem in the past).

As for the seperation anxiety, your behaviourist should be able to give you guide lines. Usually I advocate a medication and training approach (both you and the little fellow are trained). I use a large array of meds, no two dogs are the same. Good luck.

Dr. Van Lienden

Dr. Raymond Van Lienden DVM
The Animal Clinic of Clifton
12702 Chapel Road, Clifton
Virginia, U.S.A. 20124
703-802-0490

[JessieEla]

The bottle says 4 drops in water or 4 drops on the tongue for an adult. Can anyone tell me how much to give a dog weighing under 50 lbs.??
I am currently dogsitting for someone who has just discovered this and brought me up a bottle for him as he goes totally ballistic with any loud noises. We may have a thunderstorm.

[RUSTYcat]

CyberKitten -

You have experience using RR with a cat....I would like to know how much you use and the weight of the cat you use it with.

(I was going to PM you, but there may be others wondering the same.)

You also mentioned "cocculine"....is that a Rx item or...where is it to be found. Again, for cats? Dosage?

Are there any contraindications for either Rescue Remedy or cocculine...the resident Vet mentioned concurrent medications....any conditions which might contraindicate the use of either one?

[CyberKitten]

I wish I knew about contraindications but I am afraid I do not. I would think given that it is based in brandy, that anything that is contraindicated with alcohol should not be used. I have only ever used small amts and never heard if Rescue remedy until my vet told me about it. Until then, I used cocculine - which has been suggested by another vet for an older cat who was not a good traveller and would sometimes be ill in the car. Cocculine is a homeopathic substance that is found in health food stores or the pharmacy section of some grocery stores. Whether it works - as Dr. V has suggested I suspect very much depends on the animal. There are some independent studies of cocculine being done in France - where it is made - with good results. I would not give much credence to studies done by its manufacturer. (They cannot be unbiased.) I know of no studies offhand of Rescue remedy.

The scientist in me was VERY skeptical of these products - even when a vet I respect very much recommended them - but much to my amazement, both have worked for me with different cats. I have never tried them with dogs or bunnies! And I have only ever used a very small amount - with cocculine, when my younger Siamese was a kitten, I would give her half a cocculine tab before a trip - and she would sleep. (It seems to be a side effect in some animals but that is personal and anecdotal experience - and I loathe anecdotal experience and hate to provide it!).

When YY was older, I gave her a tablet and she was fine with that. I have used Rescue remedy when she seems to know we are going to the vet (I do not know why, she just knows, lol- and meows loudly as Siamese tend to do when they want to express their displeasure with something). When she was a tiny kitten (maybe 4-7 lbs), I would give her half the recommended dosage which was 5 drops and gave her maybe 2. I would either give it to her in her mouth or put some on her paw and she'd lick it off. When she was older - and she looks big in her pictures but she is still a svelte small Siamese - weighing about 11-12 lbs give or take a few ounces here and there. Beau - who weights less is also a meezer and I have not given him RR since he has a heart murmur and other medical issues and while it is likely safe, if it not necessary - he is quite laid back and never gets too upset about too much. He is not as demanding as YY - who is the alpha kitty, lol I have given it to my Sphynx cats who also are also both about 9-10 lbs. With fur, they might weigh more. (and I would gather if one discounts fur in other animals, you might get the actual weight!)

I do not use these products and I do use them only for my pets - frequently - they are very occasional use - and I am ironically not sold on homeopathic products and would never recommend them to my patients and comment on them only if asked. (Tho my own oncologist once recommended rooibus tea to help sleeping - it is South African and he has a theory that this is why SAfricans are so laid back - I don't know, lol). I am however allergic to almost any kind of tea so it did not work out.

Needless to say, neither product requires an Rx.

[B Worgan]

Hi There,
I just adopted a rescue dog and he seems to be quite anxious when we leave. I am going to try using Rescue Remedy with him and I was just wondering how long I should use it for before I can be sure his anxiety has died down a little.
Thanks,
Brie

[Ladyofcats]

There is a Rescue Remedy for Pets which I use on my cats. It has no alcohol in it .

[RUSTYcat]

Originally Posted by Ladyofcats

There is a Rescue Remedy for Pets which I use on my cats. It has no alcohol in it .

What's the brand name, where do you get it and, do you have a link?

[ancientgirl]

Originally Posted by RUSTYcat

What's the brand name, where do you get it and, do you have a link?

Rescue Remedy is the brand name. It's sold at most health food stores or vitamin stores. If you have an organic market around you they might sell it there. The one for pets is usually in the same spot as the regular one, although I've used the regular one on my pets now and then and I've never had any issue nor have ever heard of any issue using this one.

[Lili]

I was wondering if it was safe and if the effect would be the same if I used the "human" version on my Aussie... I'm having trouble finding the "pet" version, but I'm thinking the pet variation seems to be sort of new, so from the look of it, people were using the regular kind before on their pets - and with success? (Give or take of course!)

[ancientgirl]

I've used the regular one before and I know of others who have used the regular one as well. The pet one is relatively new I believe.

[Pat in NH]

I had a crazy aggressive cat. The Rescue Remedy would calm him down, but after about 4 hours he'd get crazy again, only worse. I would swear he was having withdrawal symptoms from the Rescue Remedy. I stopped using it with this cat.

[Longblades]

So this comes in a drop not a pill is this right?

Rescue Remedy does also come in pill form. The manufacturer calls it a candy.

DO NOT USE THE CANDY ON YOUR PET.

The candy contains xylitol which is toxic in small amounts to dogs. I could not find conclusive evidence of toxicity in cats but better safe than sorry.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/toxi...ylitol_tox.htm

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that you might find in many human food products, like yoghurt and gum.

[Etown_Chick]

I haven't been able to find the pet version of RR anywhere locally. The vet pharmacy where I buy it hadn't even heard of it.
I have a bottle at home for Scruffy for car rides and a bottle at work for me. It really helped in my new job, when I was being hit with anxiety attacks.
HIghly recommend it, tho I understand it doesn't work for everyone.

[Longblades]

I think I'll post again for anyone who hasn't heard yet. DON'T use the rescue remedy candies for your pet. They contain xylitol.

[SherrieB]

Originally Posted by Etown_Chick

I haven't been able to find the pet version of RR anywhere locally. The vet pharmacy where I buy it hadn't even heard of it.
I have a bottle at home for Scruffy for car rides and a bottle at work for me. It really helped in my new job, when I was being hit with anxiety attacks.
HIghly recommend it, tho I understand it doesn't work for everyone.

Hi Etown Chick,

I know this thread is probably as dead a a dodo by now, but just in case you, or anyone else is still looking for Rescue Remedy for Pets, you can get it from Amazon if you can't find it anywhere else.

Edited by Admin - link did not work - here is a fresh one. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...=rescue+remedy

[Ladyofcats]

Originally Posted by meb999

does anyone know anything about rescue remedy - it's a product with:

-Impatiens glandulifera (for impatience and agitation that may be associated with pain) ;
-Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem - for shock, grief, or fright) ;
-Prunus serasife (Cherry Plum- for hysteria or loss of control) ;
-Helianthemum nummularium (Rock Rose- for terror and panic)
-Clematis vitalba (Clematis- for faintness and bemused, stunned, ungrounded feelings)

It is used in animals to decrease stress. It's apparently all natural.

I was thinking about buying some for my little foster pooch, Buster (see: http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=13713)
He's a really sweet dog, very affectionate -- but he's got serious seperation anxiety. It's to the point where I'm afraid he'll hurt himself if I leave. I'm meeting some behaviourists tomorow, so I'll know more about what I can do to ease his anxiety.

I've read up on this product and haven't really found any counter indications. Does anyone use it? Has it worked in reducing stress?

I use Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets, which has no alcohol in it.

[maymay2327]

When I leave my dog alone he has major anxiety isues! He normaly has someone to watch him but he doesnt today and with no one he freaks out.. I got the rescue remedy to try calm him down when I leave so he isnt barking all day and stressing him self out.. but it doesnt say anything about weight. My dog is 5 lbs 2 yrs old.. should I still give him the 4 drops?