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Since lockdown, Coco (our canine companion) has shown more signs of stress, particularly in response to separation anxiety and car travel. So for the last 2 months we’ve been giving her Omni’s Stress & Anxiety supplement, designed to alleviate the symptoms experienced by anxious dogs. Gradually over this period we have seen some encouraging results, and she is now noticeably much calmer in situations that she had previously found so unsettling. So, if you’re the pet parent of a stressed out dog, read this ‘Omni Stress & Anxiety Supplement Review’ to see if they might benefit from taking them too.
Editor’s rating: 4.8 / 5
Pros
- Calming, science-backed ingredients
- Vet-formulated
- Easy to use
Cons
- Price
- Packaging
Use 50% discount code VEGANMUM at checkout (Ts&Cs apply)
This post has been sponsored by Omni, but reflects Vegan Mum’s genuine opinion of the product.
Who are Omni?
My research shows Omni to be a relatively new company, founded by 2 people – one of whom is a vet. They state their key objectives are to contribute towards solving 2 significant issues: the pet obesity and the climate crises, and they are doing this by producing a range of vegan dog consumables, including their Omni dog supplements range, that are nutritious, lower in fat than most meat-based pet products, and kinder to the planet. To assess their credibility, I also looked at their Trustpilot score which is a healthy 4.9 at the time of publishing.
Positives of Omni’s calming supplements for dogs
Coco has been taking these 1-a-day supplements for anxious dogs for almost 2 months, long enough to establish that she certainly seems to be benefitting from them. Read about some of the positives that we’ve found in these calming supplements for dogs.
Calming, science-backed ingredients
You may recognise many of the ingredients in these dog supplements from human-targeted products. No surprises there really. The need for these nutrients – various vitamins and amino acids – are common to dogs and people, and have similar physical effects. Amino acids like GABA and L-Tryptophan contained in this Omni dog supplement are well-researched and are frequently used to stimulate serotonin production to get that feel-good effect. And the inclusion of passion flower and valerian root also aids relaxation and sleep.
Take a look at my Research References section where I have cited some of my research into these ingredients but overall, I find the ingredients in these Omni supplements for anxious dogs very reassuring, and largely supported by positive scientific trials.
Use 50% discount code VEGANMUM at checkout
Vet-formulated
I am very confident about giving these to Coco. The Omni Stress & Anxiety Supplement has been formulated by a team of clinical veterinary practitioners and nutritionists, overseen by Omni’s co-founder and vet, Dr Guy Sandelowsky. They include ingredients that have been well-researched, are safe for dogs, and with evidence of their efficacy in supporting the different conditions they are being used for.
Easy to use
Coco really likes these supplements and just eats them – there’s no measuring, no sprinkling powders over food, and no trying to disguise tablets inside treats…
So overall, these dog supplements are really straightforward to use because:
- they come in 3 different sizes, for small, medium and large dogs – no preparation
- the chewy, tasty formula means your dog thinks they’re getting a treat – no disguising
- just one supplement chew per day – no measuring
Negatives of the Omni Stress & Anxiety Supplement
There are some negatives relating to these calming dog supplements, although reassuringly, nothing related to either the quality of the product, or its efficacy.
Price
These are definitely not the cheapest dog supplements around and it could cost you about £1 per day if you don’t apply any discounts (although that depends on the size of your dog, and they are also much cheaper if you subscribe). So, you may well find lower-cost alternatives. However, I believe I’m getting value for money because of the quality and convenience of the product, and because Omni dog supplements target dog anxiety with well-researched, trusted ingredients. It’s a worthwhile investment in Coco’s health and wellbeing.
If price is a worry though, don’t forget to use Vegan Mum’s discount code VEGANMUM at checkout – you will get 50% off (Ts&Cs apply)
Plastic packaging
The packaging is fully recyclable, but it is quite a big plastic tub which is a bit of a shame. It’s no different to many similar items on the market however, and at least being a carefully-considered vegan product it is more environmentally-friendly than many others. I’d be interested to see if they are going to review this packaging at some point though.
Our experience of Omni Stress & Anxiety Supplements
Are Omni’s calming supplements for dogs worth it? In my opinion, yes, and I’ll explain why I think so.
Coco has been taking them for 2 months, and although we saw little improvement at first, we persevered and in the last 2-3 weeks she has become visibly less anxious about situations that she previously found stressful. This includes car journeys, separation, and visits from other dogs (except when they play with her favourite duck toy – then there is generally quite a lot of agitation!)
She already loved Omni’s Peaceful Dog Treats that she has most nights but these Stress & Anxiety supplements seem to help on another level. And there maybe good reason for that – all the ingredients in this dog supplement appear to be well-researched, appropriate, and designed to target the symptoms experienced by anxious dogs.
And whilst I wouldn’t say that Coco now fully embraces every opportunity to jump in the car or stay in the house on her own, she certainly doesn’t display the same symptoms of anxiety. At one time her tail would go down, she’d tremble, pace around underneath the kitchen table, and whine when she was harnessed in the car. Now, however, she settles much more quickly and is clearly less perturbed by any of these activities. In fact it would be unusual now to see any of her previous behaviours in response to those stressful situations.
These Omni supplements for anxious dogs have been made to smell and taste pretty appetising to the dog palate too (and they do smell ok to be honest)! Coco certainly likes them and, for the purposes of this review, several of her canine pals have also wolfed them down, with no refusals to date! So, I think we can safely conclude they are very palatable and most dogs will happily eat them. In fact, my problem has been that she wants more than one, but you need to remember that this is a dog supplement, not a treat, so 1 a day it is.
It’s true that they are a bit pricey (and I’d love it if they could come up with a better packaging solution too) but you can save some money by using the available discounts and subscriptions, and getting free online vet consultations as a subscriber is a real benefit that can save you some money as well.
So overall, I think this Omni Stress & Anxiety supplement is a pretty good investment in Coco’s health and wellbeing, and I would happily recommend you try it out if your dog is displaying signs of stress. It’s obviously difficult to prove that it’s the supplements that are having such a positive effect, but I do know that nothing else has changed, so I draw my conclusions from that. You just have to remember that you won’t get an instant result – I guess the ingredients need some time before they start to really take effect.
Don’t forget to use 50% discount code VEGANMUM at checkout
FAQs
What are the symptoms of anxiety in dogs?
Some symptoms of stress and anxiety in dogs include:
- panting
- pacing
- ears and/or tail down
- excessive licking and yawning
There are more, and it can be pretty obvious when your dog doesn’t want you to go out without them, or shows an extreme reluctance to go anywhere near the dog grooming salon…in fact, a recent study by the University of Helsinki found that over 30% of dogs exhibit some form of fearfulness – particularly since lockdown – so it’s really not that unusual.
Like humans though, stress can range from mild to very serious so if you are in any way concerned about your dog’s health, I’d always suggest you consult a vet. Usefully, as a subscription customer you can make use of Omni’s online vet consultations free of charge. If you’d like more information about symptoms of anxiety in dogs, and how to help them, take a look at this useful Blue Cross guide to dog stress
Why is my dog anxious?
There can be many reasons, but some obvious ones include:
- changes to routine
- visitors to the home
- travel of any sort
- holidays
- moving home
- new family members – human or animal!
If you know that situations have been planned in which could trigger a stress response in your dog, it could be a good idea to take a calming supplement like Omni Stress & Anxiety Supplement, starting several weeks in advance to give it the best chance of taking effect. It might just make the experience a whole lot better for your dog.
How to calm an anxious dog
Whilst you may need to look at the underlying causes for your dog’s anxiety, in the moment there may be a few things you can do, although this will vary from dog to dog:
- if they have a safe space e.g. their crate, a room, a particular cushion maybe, take them to it
- speak in a low, calm, and reassuring voice
- maintain gentle physical contact with them
- shut out external stimuli – close curtains, doors etc
- turn on the radio
- avoid punishment of any type
You could also try some longer-term solutions:
- dog supplements – available from Omni
- calming dog beds – available on Amazon
- dog anxiety coats – available on Amazon
Read more dog anxiety advice from Vets for Pet
Research References
More Dog Supplement reviews
Omni have some great dog supplements, many of which I have reviewed below. But if you’d like to see more, go to Omni’s online store to find their full range.
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