Pet owners may not recognize all signs of fear and anxiety, or may only reach out once the problem has escalated to the point of crisis

Up to 70% of behavioral disorders in dogs can be attributed to some form of anxiety, and behavioral disorders are key reasons given for relinquishing pets to shelters.

Anxiety can result in physiological and behavioral effects, such as increased susceptibility to illness higher heart rates, gastrointestinal disturbances, pacing or circling, or changes in appetite.

Stress can also affect the pet’s mental and social well-being, leading to the development of chronic frustration and social phobias.

In a blinded, crossover study,  scientists discovered that dogs supplemented with Bovine Colostrm6 showed significant reductions in displaying anxious behaviors, when compared with dogs fed a placebo. A majority of the dogs studied also showed lower heart rates and salivary cortisol levels. 

From both a behavioral and physiological standpoint, B. longum had anxiety-reducing effects on anxious dogs.

• The gut microbiota are essential to the constant bidirectional communication between the gut and brain via the nervous system, immune system, neuroendocrine pathways and metabolites.
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• Accruing evidence suggests that gut microbiota help shape normal neural development, brain biochemistry and behavior.
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• Nutritional interventions that can influence the gut microbiota composition have the potential to alter behavior and mood.
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• Anxiety plays a part in many behavioral disorders of dogs and can negatively affect the physical and mental health of the pet, and the bond between owners and their pets. 
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