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SILEO is a prescription medication that promises to calm our dogs during storms and fireworks. It sounds like a dream come true, but is SILEO safe for dogs?
What is SILEO?
Press Release about SILEO by Zoetis.
SILEO is a gel that is absorbed through the cheeks and gums (using a syringe) and after nearly an hour, your dog is feeling no stress. This is a way to dose your dog at home, helping him remain calm during thunderstorms, windstorms, and fireworks, without making your dog drowsy and completely out of it.
The press release doesn't list the ingredients in the gel, but when you scroll down you'll find the Safety Information:
Do not use SILEO in dogs with severe cardiovascular disease, respiratory, liver or kidney diseases, or in conditions of shock, severe debilitation or stress due to extreme heat, cold or fatigue or in dogs hypersensitive to dexmedetomidine or to any of the excipients. SILEO should not be administered in the presence of preexisting hypotension, hypoxia or bradycardia. Do not use in dogs sedated from previous dosing. SILEO has not been evaluated in dogs younger than 16 weeks of age or in dogs with dental or gingival disease that could have an effect on the absorption of SILEO. SILEO has not been evaluated for use in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs. Transient pale mucous membranes at the site of application may occur with SILEO use. Other uncommon adverse reactions included emesis, drowsiness or sedation. Handle gel-dosing syringes with caution to avoid direct exposure to skin, eyes or mouth.
I'm certain that the safety information isn't unusual, but what stood out to me is how different SILEO looks from the natural supplements I use that also alleviate fear and anxiety in dogs.
Side Effects of SILEO
SILEO has been on the market for several years and the possible side effects dogs can experience include:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- drowsiness/sleepiness
- decreased heart rate
- decreased respiratory rate
- pale gums
- loss of consciousness
- accidental overdose
Is SILEO Safe for My Dogs?
Based on what I've read about SILEO, I do not think that this drug is safe for dogs. Due to the growing number of reports of accidental overdoses, the FDA issued a warning about SILEO. An overdose may occur if the syringe isn't properly locked into place before the medication is given to a dog.
Although I didn't find any records of dogs dying, there are reports of dogs losing consciousness.
With so many natural supplements on the market, I will avoid SILEO.
5 Natural Alternatives to SILEO for Dogs
One of our dogs struggles with storm and firework phobias, and I've had great success with the following natural supplements:
1 – CBD Oil for Dogs
I use CBD oil to calm anxiety, alleviate pain, and slow/stop the spread of cancer. For years, I doubted the benefits until someone told me that CBD oil works best when it's always in the system. So I now give my dogs CBD oil daily, and this helps with arthritis and it keeps them ready for stressful events.
There are two brands that I like:
I've found that each of these is most effective when given daily. If you only want to give your dog CBD oil for fireworks, I've found that starting at least two weeks before the Fourth of July (or whenever folks in your town start shooting off fireworks) is best.
2 – Ewegurt Meal Topper
Ewegurt is a freeze-dried supplement made with sheep's milk and other natural ingredients. Sheep's milk has a naturally calming side effect, and I used to add Ewegurt to my dogs' meals in anticipation of a noisy event. There are three flavors available: sardine, beef heart, and emu. You can buy these individually or as a package deal.
Sheep's milk offers many benefits beyond calming…
- a great source of Vitamin A
- supports skin and coat health
- a great source of calcium and zinc
- easy to absorb despite the lactose
3 – Thundershirt
Thundershirts aren't the magical cure others have reported, but they help with my dog's anxiety. The theory is that the tightness of the Thundershirt hits pressure points that produce a calming effect by releasing calming hormones like oxytocin and endorphin. Thundershirt says their product works on 80% of dogs and cats.
I use the Thundershirt with CBD oil and essential oils.
4 – Essential Oils for Dogs
Essential oils are huge in our home. I diffuse them regularly to freshen the house and create a relaxing atmosphere. When it comes to stressful events, I have a list of calming essential oils that I diffuse and a few that I apply to my dogs (along their spine) and massage into their coat.
My favorite essential oils to diffuse in the house are:
- Bergamot
- Calm-a-Mile RTU by animalEO – this one can be used on dogs
- Calm-a-Mile NEAT by animalEO – I diffuse this one
- Clary Sage
- Frankincense
- Lavender
- Lavender + Cedarwood
- Roman Chamomile
- Sleep Tight by Plant Therapy
- Ylang Ylang
When applying essential oils, I dilute them with a carrier oil and then apply them using the Petting Method. The Petting Method involves adding a few drops of essential oil to the palms of your hands and then pet your dog. I do this when massaging my dogs and checking for lumps and bumps.
5 – Lots of Exercise Before the Noise Event
And finally, one way that has worked for my dogs is to get plenty of exercise. If a storm is expected in the evening, I'll take my dogs for a long walk earlier in the day. On the days before the Fourth of July, I take my dogs on long walks several times daily.
While exercise and subsequent exhaustion can help, they don't remove all of the anxiety. But exercise combined with CBD oil and essential oils works magic—as long as I can make a plan. If a storm hits us by surprise or when our neighbors start shooting off fireworks randomly, well, this step isn't as effective.
Other Prescription Medications to Calm Dogs
If you have a dog seriously disabled from fear of storms, fireworks, and other noise events, you might want to speak to your veterinarian about alternatives. I had to sedate one of my dogs for two years because the fireworks were too stressful. I'm not a fan of prescription medication unless I've exhausted all other solutions. Because I rarely sedate my dogs, a prescription lasts a long time.
Although I prefer natural, I won't allow my dog to suffer, and if the natural options don't work, then I reach for the prescription medication.
If this is where you're now, speak to your veterinarian about your concerns.
Thank you for the recommendation of Calming Care, Lynn
Friends have had remarkable success using Calming Care for their dogs with noise phobia. Takes a couple of weeks to work but they tell me it’s worth every penny.
My dog has noise phobias too. So much stuff does not work and it gives you false hope.
Sometimes you need to depend on a prescription from your Vet. Actually, insist on it.
A lot of the supplements and holistic stuff just does not work.
Xanax is a very, good drug if used properly. It does not stay in the system too long and you can use as needed.
It is much better than other drugs because it’s not stick around long term.
Go to your vet and discuss this option and do not abuse it.
Very true. I had the same experience.
Agreed.
how severe is her anxiety? my boy is on multiple anti anxiety meds. He urinates and defecates himself breaks through/eats through things, He FREAKS out.
My dog has severe, severe anxiety and thundershirts don’t help. I’ve tried the pheromone diffusers, essential oils and Sileo. My dog is a danger to herself when she’s this anxious she needs something other than a thundershirt to relax her
I don’t know. However I found Canine Cannabinoid Oil from Over the Moon Dogs that so far has worked on my thunderstorm sensitive Kelli. I truly think she has PTSD from the fireworks. http://overthemoondogs.com/canine-cannabinoid-oil/
Why can’t it be used after two weeks? What happens if it is used past the two weeks? Is it less effective? Is it stronger? I can’t find anything about this anywhere on line.
I don’t know what we would do without Sileo. It has been a miracle for us. We only have to dose one time and it takes about 20- 30 minutes for her shaking to stop. She is an Australian Shepherd and has terrible thunder phobia and hates Fireworks. I wish there was a place we could take her on the 4th of July but there is none.
In the past, I used Ace for German shepherd, Charlotte, and it made her a zombie. I used Sileo last night as people were lighting off fireworks. It worked like a dream! This morning she is her normal, energetic self!
I would agree that Sileo is worth a trial. We tried it. As a Health Care Provider I read all the information on this medication and trialed it cautiously. I used half the dose that was recommended and Brodie’s heart rate dropped to forty and his respiratory rate dropped significantly. He became significantly sedated within a few minutes and I sat, watched and monitored him until he came up out of sedation. It terrified me. There is a line in the prescribing information that states if the animal becomes significantly sedated – do not use again. I didn’t and I wouldn’t. I think it may work well for some other dogs – I would suggest using 50% of the recommended dose as a trial first to see how the dog responds.
Hi,
My Irish setter, Singer, is 10 years old and recently developed severe thunder phobia. I bought some of the Ewegurt at a dog event here in Madison, thinking I’d give it a try. Unfortunately, she vomited every time I tried to give it to her. The company owner was nice enough to give me my money back. But something did not agree with her. She is on a trial of Prozac, but we are weaning her off this with Trazadone. She is a little more anxious with Prozac during the day, so that’s why we decided to take her off it. Trazadone helps, but only if I am body-to-body with her on the bed, petting her. If I stop, she starts panting. If we left her alone, she would destroy the house. She has swiped bowls and smashed them on the floor (didn’t get home fast enough) and tries to get into cupboards and scratches doors. But I will speak to my vet about Sileo, something to try. We will also be working with a behaviorist next month.
Thanks for commenting, Kandace
You missed an important statement in my blog post. I said that I don’t think these medicines are safe for my dogs. Not all dogs. In the blog post, I said that my dogs don’t have severe anxiety and natural supplements work for them. I also state that there is room for laboratory created products that can help dogs with severe anxiety.
~ Kimberly
I know you don’t think that these medicines are safe but I have a 12 year old golden retriever that has BEYOND SEVERE anxiety during storms, gun firing and fireworks. If left alone she will dig and chew through walls, mattresses, furniture, anything to try and get to “safety.” I tried all natural remedies, aromatherapy oils, prescription drugs, NOTHING worked. The only other option was a tranquilizer but we didn’t want that. So I started taking her to the vet when I worked to stay during the day to be safe. Today it stormed really hard for several hours and while at the vet, she began digging in the concrete and ripped out most of the nails on her front 2 paws. She now has to wear rubber booties and dressings for the next few days. They gave me this Sileo to try at home and I plan on it. If I can’t take her to the vet or get her anxiety under control, my only option is to find her another home with someone who can be with her 24/7. It’s devastating for her and our family.
There is a hotline for Sileo? Can someone please share it – it is nowhere on our package insert, and our dog just accidentally received a double dose because the vet didn’t properly lock the syringe when he was demonstrating how to use it.
I also fed it to him right after dinner, left him with a little cream cheese in a Kong-type toy, and he didn’t have any stomach problems. That may have helped.
I used Sileo this weekend for my dog’s severe separation anxiety and it was a miracle. I haven’t been able to leave him by himself in the evening in over a year (and I’m talking being gone for 1-3 hours). He usually barks, wets the bed (he’s crate trained), and is frantic when I leave him alone after dark. I gave him Sileo 30-60 minutes before we went out and when it was time to leave, he hopped into his crate happily and didn’t even fuss to be let out when we walked in the door. His reaction used to be “OMG YOU’RE HOME, YOU’RE BACK, I NEED YOU, OMGOMGOMG.” This time it was more “Oh you’re back already, how lovely.”
I ended up trying Sileo on my 12 pound Shih-tzu and it worked! After properly following directions putting between the gum & cheek it took about 30 min for him to calm down. Lasted about 3 hours. We had severe storms for a long period of time and even gave him a second dose later. He wasn’t pacing or panting going crazy like usual – rested comfortably and very minimal shaking.
Thank you for sharing your experience. That’s terrifying. This is the first negative reaction I’ve read. Thank you.
Please don’t. Its deadly. Used for anastesia in human surgeries. Read ALL the comments.
My combat service dog is now in ICU and may in fact die from this drug. It is an anesthesia used in both human and animal surgeries. The emergency vet said it also could have killed me and she would IN NO WAY even allow it in her house. Shame on my vet and the company. No one should use this product. It is a killer of animals. My dog just had a complete check up with blood work last week. No problems. Please everyone boycott the use of this drug. It is deadly to both your fur babies and family.
It’s great to hear that although SILEO is new a product, the ingredients aren’t new so it’s been tested for a while. Thanks for sharing, Kathy.
I’m a nurse in an ICU. We use this same med, Dexmetetomidine, on our patients when standard anxiolytics aren’t working. I was super excited to learn it’s now available for home use in animals! My dog suffers extremely when thunderstorms occur so I will definitely use this product.
Bummer, Vicki
If you haven’t done so already, try Peace and Calming II by Young Living. I diffuse that in the house and it really helps my dogs.
We tried Sileo last night, for a thunderstorm we we knew was coming. Our 3 yr-old Briard only recently developed the shakes and distress about storms. We applied to the gums about 30 minutes before, but didn’t notice any mellowing during the 30 minute storm – she still was shaky and pacing. As soon as the noise eased, she calmed. The worst thing, though, was the diarrhea this morning! Three trips outside, and will have to keep her off food for awhile. Not worth it to me – I’ll try the Thundershirt next.
You are right Kimberly! Every dog is different & you have to understand what is happening to be able to treat it. And to treat it appropriately; not TOO much. Baron is my 3rd GSD & I’ve had dogs most of my life but NEVER had one with noise anxiety like his or other-dog anxiety (Baron was bitten by a small dog while in rescue). I had NO CLUE what was happening or how to deal with it!! Fortunately our first trainer & our vet were very much in tune with his issues & helped alot. But at first, I was ashamed/afraid to even SPEAK OF IT because not knowing what was happening, I was afraid it was something I was doing wrong & that I wasnt a good pet mom! No different than the stigma attached to mental illness in people, others judge in animals what they cant understand. Baron is one of the reasons I am going to start a non-profit organization – not a rescue per se but an organization that will SUPPORT rescue groups get “special needs” animals adopted by sponsoring the additional vet bills & training expenses. I mean, ANYONE who adopts should be prepared for adoption fee, spay/neuter, annual vaccines/exam, training, feeding, etc. – all the “normal” expenses. But when you have a senior, heartworms or other medical problem like diabetes or something requiring daily meds or special diets; or issues requiring therapy training, those expenses can mount up quickly. I know – my furbaby Baron is #1 Senior #2 heartworm pos #3 Panic attacks from noise #4 Fear anxiety/aggression with other dogs & #5 allergies . What I want to do is partner WITH the rescue organizations & local Animal Control to get more of the special needs babies into furrever homes! And making sure the prospective new family is AWARE of the issues & willing & ABLE to deal with them.
Hi Vivian
Alet did send me an email to let me know her dog is doing well. It’s great that there’s a hotline to help dog lovers; this being such a new product, I’m sure others needed it to ask questions.
Alet, how did your dog fare with the overdose? OK I hope. The way the syringes are designed to PREVENT overdoses, it’s hard to imagine that, but hopefully you called the hotline & got it taken care of. Please let us know.
Reante, I also have a male GSD (102 lb & neutered) with “red zone” panic attacks. We used Sileo for the first time 4th of July weekend. I only got 1 tube, which is only 2 doses for him, so I actually lowered the dosage so that we would have enough to get thru the weekend & it worked GREAT for him. I dosed him at the first crack of fireworks (or gunshots – hard to tell in Savannah!) & within 10 min, he was laying down completely calm with no panting. He also takes daily doses of Solliquin (natural) & xanax (which I hate), so it is quite possible that for your dog, you need something daily to KEEP in his system, then the Sileo might work better for the extreme noise triggers. I’m definitely ordering the ewegurt Kimberly recommends. Also am going to get a consultation with a local herbalist who owns the natural food store here – he has consulted with my vets in the past.
When I was learning about Sileo, your experience with your dog is what I had in mind. I know people who have dogs with severe anxiety. When I first brought Rodrigo home, I didn’t understand the difference between mild anxiety and one that needs medical treatment and my vet prescribed something for my dog without asking me questions. Rodrigo is afraid of thunderstorms and other loud noises, but not to the point where he’s a danger to himself and others. As long as I’m with him, he’s fine.
It’s so important that we know our dogs. If there’s a product that helps your dog, then go for it. I’m hearing such amazing success stories about Sileo. I’m lucky that I can go the natural route.
Gail, my dog was a rescue, who, as much as I love him, would NEVER have adopted if I’d known about his panic attacks – they were THAT BAD!! My vet has dogs with anxiety so we have tried EVERYTHING in EVERY combination & some things help, but nothing to any great extent, til Sileo. At the beginning, during storms (which are almost daily here during spring/summer) & even medicated & wearing thundershirt with pheromones all over the house, he dismantled furniture appliances, 4 crates (including the “inescapable” kennel), light fixture from ceiling, cabinets, wall, doors….. etc. Of course, he usually hurt himself, requiring a trip to the vet for stitches/antibiotics. The final straw was the day he not only shredded his crate, but snapped my solid core wood back door in 1/2 & got out during a storm!! Fortunately I live in an animal-loving neighborhood & as I was at work, neighbors got him corralled & I called Animal Control to get him to safety til I could get there. NO WAY would I ask someone to bring him into their home! I almost left him there for a couple days so that I could get some SLEEP – but I knew he would be injured (he was of course) so picked him up & took him to the vet. I actually considered having him euthanized – a truly gut-wrenching thought BUT a dog in a red-zone panic attack almost daily, sometimes multiple times daily, just CANNOT be a happy dog!! I could not bear his misery at felt totally HELPLESS to help him! So at that point the only option left was desensitization therapy bootcamp – expensive but turned out to be worth it – sort of. It definitely helped, but he still has alot of anxiety & breaks things – just not as severe as before. We ARE still looking for natural solutions, but at his level of anxiety, I believe we will have to continue with Sileo for the severe times for the rest of his life. Though would like to find a natural solution for daily use.
Same here!! Sileo is a miracle for my furbaby!!
Thank you for this post!! I am at my wit’s end. Tried all the usual suggestions to no avail. I am picking up Sileo in the morning and pray it will help. My dog has pulled out teeth and nails, torn up sheetrock and recently took part of the material at the back of the shower. I don’t like chemicals, either. But there is a point you have to try something else.
I’m going to try Sileo on my dog. We rescued him a few years ago and he’s an extremely nervous Shih tzu to a lot of noises including Fireworks and Storms. We’ve tried everything including the Thundershirt, Composure, Collars, Trazadone, Prozac and anti-anxiety pills from the Vet. Nothing works for him! He senses the storms way before they come and starts shaking, panting, pacing and hides in corners of any bathroom. Nothing settles him down. This sounds like he qualifies to trying this medication!
After an absolute nightmare of the 4th of July (for a week before as well as during and most of a week after … plus strong, seasonal thunder storms) I’ve now got a package of Sileo to try for my 10+ year old Chihuahua. He went on Prozac and alprazolam (Xanax) a few days before the holiday, and though he was kind of zombie-like, he still was terrified, shaking, trembling, crying, for hours. I also have a foster dog right now, who had the intense, injectable heart worm treatment just before the bad storms cranked up — as someone else mentioned, her heart rate was supposed to stay low, and I was very afraid she was going to have problems as a result of her terror. Fortunately, she was cleared for normal activity before July 4th … I still worry that my Chi will have a heart attack, and I’m not joking.
I was disappointed that according to the material accompanying the med, it’s supposed to be discarded after just 48 hours!!! My little guy is only going to get two “clicks” at most in one dosing [each click or dot on the pusher is .25 mL]… I plan to try just one click to see what effect it has, if any — he’s borderline on the weight guidelines. My foster could have 4 or 5 clicks. There are 12 – .25 mL doses per syringe … so if both dogs got two doses for the same event period, that would use the entire syringe, or if there are two bad storms within a couple of days, that would do it. At +/- $35/syringe, yikes. But, if it works, I’ll gladly spend the money. As everyone here knows, it’s pure h*ll for both the dog(s) and the people when they become unhinged from storms, fireworks, and such.
BTW, it’s taken my almost 14 pound Chi more than a month to stabilize on his prescription meds … my vet put it as: his body has to learn to metabolize the drugs. In recent years, he’d also become even more anxious over door knocks, outside noises of all kinds, and anyone coming into the house … there’s been a lot of stress in our home due to a variety of issues for the last 2.5 years, and several moves. He was always hyper-vigilant, but it had gotten out of control … hence the recommendation to try Prozac daily and the alprazo for storms, fireworks, etc. All the other usual remedies and recommendations barely made a dent — he’s extremely resistant to calming down. So, it was time to try drugs.
I don’t like putting him onto pharma meds, but I didn’t like HATING every moment was dog was awake, either. I’m really, really hoping that Sileo will be the answer to the more severe situations, at least. And, we just started working with a behavior specialist dog trainer, for the everyday issues. I’m so grateful that people are taking this seriously enough to develop new drugs, for those dogs that can’t be helped otherwise.
At this time, the only way to get SILEO is through your veterinarian. He can order it for you.
My vet says he doesn’t have Sileo but would be willing to approve it if I can find it. Anyone know where I can order Sileo from
My dog doesn’t hear thunder much, here in Central California, but she is not as bad about thunder when she does hear it. Any loud gun-shot-like noises, loud motorcycles sometimes do it, but fireworks are the worst for her. I would definitely use Sileo again for fireworks. It was a bit pricey for me – $40 for only two doses. I will not be alarmed at the way it sedates her next time. Thanks for this useful thread.
Wow, thank you for the report. How long did relief last? I got some and wanted to try it but was a bit reluctant. Do you have to redose often?
I’m so glad that so many people are having a positive experience with SILEO. I looked into it and because my dogs don’t have severe fear, it’s not necessary for us and I can go the natural route. These past two weeks, I’ve heard from so many people who have had great success with SILEO; it’s allowing their dogs to make it through night without the terrifying reactions to the noise.
Let me know how your dog does on it. I truly love it.
Kimberly – I’ve looked at this Ewegurt – it does appear benign. I’m going to give it a try with hopes that Brodie will respond well to it. Thanks!
Wow! This is hopeful. I hope that we will be able to trial this on our Brodie, a 9 year old Australian Shepard who has a severe noise phobia. We have tried many things. He has two thundershirts (which help somewhat if the storm is not too bad). We have worked with him since he came to us at age 2 – trying to play games to make storms fun (not successful). I do find using a dryer sheet to wipe him down during a storm is somewhat calming. I brought him to the behaviorist down at Tuft’s – and we decided to do a trial of clonidine – 2 hours prior to the storms. Works a bit if you get it in soon enough, but he’ll still pant, pace, run like he was shot out of a canon with one good crack of thunder. He’ll run out into his yard and freeze….making my job to get him back in challenging, to say the least. He has run full tilt into the door before with a good crack of thunder also. Thank god we live on the coast of northern Maine (downeast) because we don’t get near as many storms as they do down in southern Maine. He used to be on imipramine for this until the generics were bought out and the company had a monopoly and jacked the price up to >$1200/month (previously about $13/month). Grrrrr! We hate fireworks. He does not like winter storms either with the wind whistling over the top of the house at 70mph. We’ve tried multiple calming treats, Rescue Remedy, etc., etc., etc. We’ve contacted our vet – but they don’t have it yet. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to trial it this summer – and I would low ball the doseage to decrease the risk of side effects. He’s a healthy 9 year old and we all just want to sleep!
One comment I would add – about herbal remedies. Some of these also have their toxicities, but the products are not regulated by the FDA so there is some risk there. I once had a human patient who died after the first dose of an herbal remedy that someone told him would be “good for him”. Do your research before trying anything. There is a publication “Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database” which might be able to be accessed (I’ve got a subscription to it). This is a world wide database updated daily and is focused on humans, but may have some helpful information that can be used when treating our pets.
My dog has an EXTREME storm and firework issues and we have tried several things (oils, other medications, thundershirt) nothing has worked until now! Last weekend – 4th of July we used the Sileo for the first time and it was amazing! Our dog was able to stay upstairs with us and not try to find someplace to hide, she didn’t flinch everytime a firework exploded, her whole body didn’t shake! I recommend it if your dog suffers.
You misunderstand my post. This is a personal blog in which I share what I’m doing with my four dogs. This post states that I won’t give this product to my dogs, because they don’t have severe anxiety – it doesn’t tell people not to give it to their dogs. I do have proof that the herbal remedies I’m using work on my dogs, because their anxiety during fireworks and storms has decreased as a result. I can’t possibly know what will work for other people – which is why this isn’t a general blog.
As I state in the footer – I’m not a veterinarian. Again, this is a personal blog.
And yet you think it is ok to tell people not to give the drugs their vet prescribes, drugs that have proven to work, instead offering herbal remedies with absolutely no proof that they work!
Thanks for sending an update, George – so many people have shared their experience that I plan to reshare this post so more people know about SILEO.
Would you buy it again? Does your dog have issues with thunder or only fireworks?
We tried the Sileo – it was easy to administer, even for this large dog. Unfortunately, I did not notice much of a result. Once, Culloden came out of his “safe room”, and he even took an offered treat, which is really unusual. However, he ran right back into his inner sanctum and did not reappear. As per usual, I closed blinds and curtains to make him more comfortable. Also, he slept well through the night – in fact, when checking on him and imagining he needed calming, I found him asleep and stretched out. Could this be what we were hoping for? Took him walking this PM, and he was as scared of firecrackers as ever – but of course, nobody promised us long-lasting relief. So I can say it was probably worth the money I paid for it – not quite $30 for the large dose. I have another dose for the next thunderstorm that is sure to come – and if Culloden manages to sleep through it, then I’ll probably get him some more prn. There was no shaking this time, and no obvious distress – but I had so hoped for him not having to hide away. I’m glad Dr. W made us aware of Sileo – thank you, mam! Anything that helps my Cullie is all right in my book!
I gave my 70 pound Shepherd mix Sileo last night for fireworks at 7:00 PM. This was my first time using Sileo and it was very effective. It sedated my dog for three hours and she was calm in the corner of the bathroom (her favorite spot when she is frightened) and almost sleeping for three hours. I was worried about overdosing her because of her sedated reaction (I followed the directions exactly), but she was fine and almost back to normal three hours later. I gave her a smaller second dose because it sounded like a war zone even at 10:00 PM and she was starting to pace and pant. I was nervous about overdosing (directions say a second dose after two hours is OK) and used “one dot” less the second time. My dog starts to shake, pace and pant when she hears any loud noise and the Fourth is the worst. I have previously tried everything – loud TV, fans to create white noise, etc. and nothing works for fireworks. I was happy with Sileo except for the heavy sedation effect it had. My dog was fine this morning and slept in a little longer than normal.
Hi Renate – did it work? Many other people are sharing positive results.
That is so great! I’m glad that it’s working for people. Two of our dogs have a little anxiety with the noise, but it’s nothing like dogs that have true fear and are shaking and hiding.
I’m wondering if the long term effects won’t be much, because based on what people are sharing, you can only use it once and then it doesn’t last. So maybe a few times a year around the Fourth and around New Years.
When it comes to thunderstorms, they might be too hard to predict. I add Ewegurt to Rodrigo’s meals when I know we’re going to have a storm, but it’s guess work.
I have 4 dogs but only of one of them is extremely afraid of fireworks & wind. I gave her the prescribed amount on the evening of July 4th and it really helped to calm her down. I am happy that she did well on it but I am concerned that there may be harmful side affects down the road. There is not enough know about it at this time. Our Vet did not mention that there was a shelf life so I will have to look at the box tonight when I get home. I bought it in June and thought it would be a good idea to try for July 4th and July 24th. I hope it will still be good at that point.
She is doing much better today.
Thank you.
You’re the second person to tell me about the cost. It’s too bad that it can’t be kept on hand for storms, but it’s a start. I know that I’m very lucky to have four dogs who don’t seem to notice the fireworks. Plus we live in a rural area so we have a lot of space between us and the neighbors who light them off.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Sorry that I’m just seeing your question now. I’m not a veterinarian, so I’m unable to answer beyond advising you to contact your vet or an emergency vet.
Just gave my Shih tzu too much sileo…
Will she be okay
Thank you for your thoughts on noise aversion and alternative remedies. Related to some comments above, I live in Boston and my 6 year old dog, who I have had since he was1, was just diagnosed with Heartworm. We have traveled to Long Island, in the past year but have not been anywhere known to have be a concern. My own local vet hasn’t seen this in years. We were using Heartguard monthly and apparently it’s not 100% foolproof. I respect the opinion to not use harsh medications (especially those that don’t always work) as long as you aren’t infecting others. But please take this message as a warning to get your pet tested each year no matter where you live! We just completed the first injection and this is a very difficult and harsh treatment protocol to get well. Walden is likely Stage 1 but I would have hated to wait until symptoms arose and the outcome was not as hopeful. The noise aversion is particularly important this year since Walden’s heart rate needs to stay low. I appreciate your info and wanted to share something that might help others as well.
Tried Sileo for my Chocolate Lab last night. She has severe anxiety from thunderstorms and fireworks, and nothing has worked well (thunder shirt included). With fireworks Fri-Mon I thought it was worth a try. It had a definite calming effect. She was still panting throughout the event but she was much, much better than in the past. I was worried about the after effects but she slept through the night and was herself this morning. I bought enough for four doses at $64 total. Pricey but as of last night it was worth it. i can’t see using it for every storm because they are so unpredictable and the shelf life is an issue. Fireworks are predictable and if I get these results she is worth the price.
My dog is terrified of fireworks or thunderstorms. He will not be soothed; he will not play games; he does not take treats; his mind cannot be changed at all. Homeopathic remedies? No result! Thundershirt? Forget about it! I’ve watched him for 8 years now, with the first occurrence when he was a wee laddie, and we had a grand opening of a new sculpture garden at our Central Park (right next to Central Bark, the dog park). There were fireworks, and we purposely waited for dark to see these fireworks. Culloden was terrified and tried to squeeze out between a space less than 0.5 inch wide. I have purchased Sileo for July 4th as his annual physical was just due, and our vet was looking out for him and recommended it. I will give it a try and see. If it works, I’ll happily purchase more. If it does not, there is nothing lost. This is, in 8 years of Culloden’s life, the first chance at alleviating a symptom that has been bothering this wonderful dog all his life – and he is such a brave soul! 135 lbs of German shepherd intact male – he is a wonderful companion, and I would do anything for him. You can ask me after July 4th. If it helps Culloden, I will use it again – as so far, nothing has been of help to my brave doggie!
You can try any of them. I’ve tried the sardines product with my dogs and I ordered the green tripe. I’m going to order the emu as well.
I’m interested in having my dog try Sileo, but after reading you post, Ewegurt seems like it might be the better, more affordable option. How do I know which product to choose?
If you’re talking about the Ewegurt – you can order it on their site at http://www.ewegurt.com. I mix it into my dogs’ meals on days when they have a vet appointment and they’ll be getting it once a day starting tonight with the fireworks. I’ve found that I don’t have to use much with my dogs, but they don’t have severe anxiety. It starts to work in 20-30 minutes I think and it doesn’t change their personality, just helps them relax so that we’ll have a nice evening inside this weekend.
Thanks for the recipes. I don’t think we can stop with Heartworm pills and there have not been any negative effects thus far. I’m totally with you on using all-natural as much as possible. So the natural powder that you say keep your dogs calm– is that just in general? I’m willing to try it but she’s impervious to everything we’ve tried thus far. 40% of city dogs (that’s us- we’re in Chicago)- where can we find it? Or do we have to make it?
Interesting, Celia
I didn’t even think about the shelf life. I was guessing that it was something someone could add to a first aid kit. Thanks for sharing that fact; I didn’t know.
I’m thinking that for the Fourth, many people will pay the cost. Where we live, fireworks are legal (the big ones) and people have already started blowing things up. It’s insane. Fortunately, our dogs are fine (for the most part), but it sucks.
I make my own flea & tick spray using essential oils – here’s a link to several of the recipes I created: https://keepthetailwagging.com/13-essential-oil-recipes-for-dogs/
Fleas aren’t a big deal for us so far; we’ve had dogs for 6 years and no fleas. I’m guessing that it’s part climate and part location. Most of our property is in full sun and fleas prefer shade, or so I’ve been told.
Heartworm isn’t a concern in Washington state, so we don’t treat for that. Our vets are keeping an eye for a change, but there hasn’t been a need in decades. The only cases, according to several vets I’ve spoken to, are with dogs that move here out of state.
When it comes to SILEO, I’m not a fan, but that’s a pretty convenient opinion given that I don’t have dogs with severe anxiety. I used to have a vet who medicated for everything, even if a dog didn’t need it, and that has made me cautious about prescription medications. If a dog has severe phobias, then why not give them something to take the edge off? They shouldn’t have to be miserable. But if a dog doesn’t have severe phobia, there are natural options that I want to share here.
Thanks for the comment, Andrea.
I’m curious what you use instead of Heartguard and Frontline if you’re anti-chemicals? I am, too, but heartworm and fleas and ticks can kill and we have a very active dog who enjoys the outdoors. As far as Sileo is concerned, our dog has developed an extreme noise phobia with thunderstorms, nearby construction work, helicopters and fireworks. It is heartbreaking to deal with and we have spent hundreds of dollars on therapy and training, with only minimal success. Thundershirt is useless. So is the enzyme therapy you put in her water. We were prescribed Prozac but refused. We did try Trazadone as needed for awhile but it robbed her of her personality. Now we just pray a lot and dose with Benadryl sometimes. So Sileo does interest me, especially for the 4th of July. I’m reluctant to do it, but I will if it helps her.
Also has a short shelf life. We were going to get it but a tube of about 6+ dosages had to be used within 2 weeks according to our vet. It is pricey and wasteful if this is true.
I can only hope that this is better than Acepromazine, which seems to be more of a nightmare drug when it comes to helping dogs with anxieties.
It helped Rodrigo. I need to put it in a handy place for when we have wind storms. Hopefully they won’t return until the fall.
I’ve only known one dog with severe anxiety from thunder, and/or fireworks and I’m amazed how well the thunder shirt works on her. A-Mazing. She calms right down and will sleep through anything.