Dogs, cats, and horses have all been shown to react favorably to pheromone sprays and diffusers.  The basis for a pheromone spray is the pheromones that each of these animals naturally produces daily in order to give important information to others of their species.  Particularly useful has been the pheromones produced by lactating mothers of these species during the first five days after their babies are born.  The mothers naturally produce a pheromone that helps to transition the newborn into a world full of surprises, so that they can remain calm and slowly adjust to the new world.

Types of Sprays and Diffusers

The most development and research on this issue has been put into pheromone sprays and diffusers for dogs, cats and humans, so those are the ones focused on in this article.  Diffusers for dog pheromones are the most varied at this point, because those are the first pheromone sprays and diffusers to become popular.

Dog pheromone sprays and diffusers can be bought according to the needs of each dog.  The most common is the diffuser that plugs into an outlet in the house.  This type of a diffuser emits the spray into the house on a regular basis so that the environment is kept in at a constant pheromone level.  This type of diffuser usually lasts about four weeks before needing a re-fill, which is fairly cost effective, as the refills are around twelve dollars.  These diffusers are also used in a cat’s environment and cost and work the same way.

Another type of pheromone spray and diffuser that is used for both cats and dogs is a small spray bottle.  This type costs about twenty dollars for a sixty ounce bottle, which seems expensive, however, a few squirts of the spray goes a long way.  This type of diffuser is handy for when a pet owner needs to take her cat or dog to the vet, so that she can spray the car and the carrier about fifteen minutes beforehand so that the environment is saturated before the pet enters it.  That way, the pet continues its feeling of calm established in the home environment, and easily makes the car trip in peace.

For dogs, there is also one other type of pheromone spray and diffuser which comes in a special collar.  This collar is perfect for dogs inside or outside the house.  This diffuser works the same way the plug in diffuser works, emitting the pheromones on a regular basis.  That way the dog is constantly in the calm essence of the pheromones not matter what the environment change or experience.

Appeasing pheromone spray is used to help a variety of different animals, from dogs and cats to horses and even birds.  The idea behind pheromone sprays is to take the pheromones already produced by the animals and use them to create a ’safe’ environment by smell for each creature.  Animals naturally secrete pheromones on a daily basis which gives other animals of their species important information about them.

Dogs, cats and horses each have their own sets of issue to deal with in regards to anxiety and fear.  Dogs tend to be afraid of being left on their own, whereas cats and horses do not seem to mind that as much.  Dogs and horses tend to be afraid of thunderstorms, which in some, cause a blind fear where the animal reacts in a violent way to itself or to others based on that fear.  Cats have anxiety when other animals, especially other cats are introduced into their environment, causing them to scratch and spray in order to show dominance.

Appeasing pheromone spray uses the pheromones produced by the mothers of these species when lactating.  Early in motherhood, usually within the first week, the mother secretes soothing pheromones that help to calm their babies during their transition into the world from the womb.  Scientists have harnessed this pheromone so that it can be emitted into the air and sprayed onto bedding and the inside of cars so that the animal is soothed not matter what the environment.

Research

Appeasing pheromone sprays have been tested most thoroughly on dogs and cats, but studies have also been done on horses and birds.  One study with dogs was done at a shelter.  The test group was exposed to the appeasing pheromone spray through a diffuser so that their entire environment was exposed.  The control group was not exposed to the appeasing pheromone spray.  The results showed that the test group was calmer overall than the control group.  The test group was more open to human contact and its barking volume levels were decreased by twenty percent.

Research also shows that cats are calmer when a pheromone spray and diffuser are used in their environment.  Cats that normally claw and spray reduced or stopped the habits completely once the pheromones were introduced into their environment.  The same holds true for horses and birds that showed a reduced anxiety level in regard to formerly high stress situations, such as thunderstorms when appeasing pheromone spray was introduced.