this post is sponsored by Zoetis Petcare, but all opinions are my own
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i adopted eleanor from a shelter in austin in 2011. i had no idea the journey i was in for with this lovely gal. it is a joy to walk alongside her in this life. she is kind, gentle, selfless, patient and there is not a mean bone in her body. so many people tell me that being around her energy makes them feel calm- almost like a therapy dog. she is love, and she is so loved.
i had my first hint of her fear of noises, a condition called noise aversion, the day i took her home from the shelter. the shelter was located along a busy highway in austin. when i took her out to load her up in my car to head home, she was cowering and scared to walk towards my car in the parking lot. the loud noises seemed overwhelming to her. i would later find out slowly that a lot of other “noise monsters” affected her. thunder, rain, fireworks, rumple strips in highway work zones, loud trucks, bubble wrap, vacuum cleaners, even the sound of me closing the case to my ipad. some of these things i can work around or avoid, like never popping the air packing plastic from packages, and letting her go outside before i vacuum- while others are simply out of my control. when i bought and built my house in nashville, i even soundproofed my bedroom with noise canceling insulation to help her have a safe space.
when she hears noises like fireworks or thunder, she has what i can only describe as a panic attack. she pants and drools, she paces, she has the urge to run away if she’s outside, she stays near me sometimes and other times she tries to find a place in the house to hide, like in a shower or in the laundry room or under my bed. she refuses food or water if she is nervous about the noises. it’s absolutely heartbreaking to watch her go through this. it would be so nice to be able to explain to her that she is safe and that i will always keep her safe. but since we cannot have these kinds of conversations with our pets, we have to try other solutions.
i’ve tried many things to help her over the years. i’ve tried CBD dog treats, a thunder vest, weighted blankets, etc. a few years ago i finally got her some medication from the vet to help her with her 4th of july/new year’s eve anxiety from the loud fireworks and other celebration noises. the medication was so strong and would leave her groggy for over 24 hours, even if i would only give her 1/4 of the pill. she would be so out of it that i was worried she would fall off the bed or hurt herself. it wasn’t a good solution but it was all we knew to do at the time.
recently i have discovered SileoÆ (dexmedetomidine oromucosal gel), a convenient oromucosal gel by Zoetis Petcare, and it is a game changer. it’s a prescription gel you get from your vet - you apply it to their gums, and it lasts about 3 hours. Sileo is the first FDA approved prescription medication for the treatment of noise aversion in dogs. Sileo helps keep eleanor calm, without sedating her. this way, i don’t have to worry about her hurting herself or falling or any of the other problems i had with past medications.
we are so thankful to have found a treatment that fits our needs to help keep eleanor feel more comfortable, safe and happy. if you head to whennoisehurts.com you can fill out a noise aversion quiz to discover your dog’s “noise monsters” and determine if you should talk to your veterinarian about potential noise aversion treatments, like Sileo.
IMPORTANT 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 or for aversion behaviors to thunderstorms. Transient pale mucous membranes at the site of application may occur with SILEO use. Other uncommon adverse reactions included emesis, drowsiness or sedation. Handlers should avoid direct exposure of SILEO to their skin, eyes or mouth. Failure to lock the ring-stop on the syringe before dosing SILEO could potentially lead to an accidental overdose. Always review INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE before dispensing and dosing. See full Prescribing Information: https://bit.ly/2FCeyP8
SILEO® is trademark owned by Orion Corporation Orion Pharma Animal Health. It is manufactured by Orion Corporation and distributed by Zoetis under license from Orion Corporation Orion Pharma Animal Health. SIL-00462
