Systematic review of the use of pheromones for treatment of undesirable behavior in cats and dogs

Frank, Diane; Beauchamp, Guy; Palestrini, C.

doi:10.2460/javma.236.12.1308

Cited by 91 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(218 reference statements)

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“…Recent studies, including a systematic review, have demonstrated the lack of evidence that synthetic feline pheromones (e.g., Feliway) can relieve stress in cats [34, 35]. It would be worthwhile to investigate if the plant materials studied here can be used to alleviate distress in cats, for example during medical procedures, transportation or boarding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Bol¹,

Caspers

Buckingham³

et al. 2017

BMC Vet Res

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BackgroundOlfactory stimulation is an often overlooked method of environmental enrichment for cats in captivity. The best known example of olfactory enrichment is the use of catnip, a plant that can cause an apparently euphoric reaction in domestic cats and most of the Pantherinae. It has long been known that some domestic cats and most tigers do not respond to catnip. Although many anecdotes exist of other plants with similar effects, data are lacking about the number of cats that respond to these plants, and if cats that do not respond to catnip respond to any of them. Furthermore, much is still unknown about which chemicals in these plants cause this response.MethodsWe tested catnip, silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle and valerian root on 100 domestic cats and observed their response. Each cat was offered all four plant materials and a control, multiple times. Catnip and silver vine also were offered to nine tigers. The plant materials were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to quantify concentrations of compounds believed to exert stimulating effects on cats.ResultsNearly all domestic cats responded positively to olfactory enrichment. In agreement with previous studies, one out of every three cats did not respond to catnip. Almost 80% of the domestic cats responded to silver vine and about 50% to Tatarian honeysuckle and valerian root. Although cats predominantly responded to fruit galls of the silver vine plant, some also responded positively to its wood. Of the cats that did not respond to catnip, almost 75% did respond to silver vine and about one out of three to Tatarian honeysuckle. Unlike domestic cats, tigers were either not interested in silver vine or responded disapprovingly. The amount of nepetalactone was highest in catnip and only present at marginal levels in the other plants. Silver vine contained the highest concentrations of all other compounds tested.ConclusionsOlfactory enrichment for cats may have great potential. Silver vine powder from dried fruit galls and catnip were most popular among domestic cats. Silver vine and Tatarian honeysuckle appear to be good alternatives to catnip for domestic cats that do not respond to catnip.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-017-0987-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Bol¹,

Caspers

Buckingham³

et al. 2017

BMC Vet Res

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“…Recently a tendency to use synthetic pheromones to influence animal behavior can be observed and progress in that field can be noted (Gunn-Moore and Cameron 2004, Tod et al 2005, Falewee et al 2006, Frank et al 2010, Landsberg et al 2015. In domestic animals, except for appeasing pheromones which are commercially available for many species, among others research was also focused on sex pheromones (Izard and Vandenbergh 1982, Stevens et al 1982, Nishimura et al 1991, Rekwot et al 2001, Sankar and Archunan 2008.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Efficiency of Synthetic Sex Pheromones in Sexual Arousal Stimulation in Domestic Dogs

Dzięcioł

Niżański

Jezierski

et al. 2017

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of synthetic bitch sex pheromones (Eau' De Estrus ® , Synbiotics USA) for the stimulation of the reproductive reflexes in adult male dogs. In experiment I: anoestral bitches were applied synthetic (n=6) or natural (n=6) pheromones and their attractiveness was compared to the attractiveness of bitches in natural oestrus, In experiment II: swabs socked in natural estrual discharge or Eau D'Estrus were presented to male dogs and behavioral arousal (Exp. II a) and changes in blood flow in the penile artery reflecting erection (Exp. II b) were recorded. In experiment III the time dedicated for sniffing in experimental dogs was analyzed in relation to the type of attractant presented (natural estrual discharge or Eau D'Estrus). In all three experiments we observed the signs of sexual arousal, increased blood flow in the penile artery and increased time of sniffing only with natural pheromones. No signs of excitation or changes in penis perfusion were noted after the use of artificial pheromones. Our results did not support the suitability of Eau D'Estrus for male dog sexual stimulation.

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“…First author prior publications ranged from 0 to 316 (median 3, interquartile range 1-12); last author prior publications ranged from 0 to 223 (median 30, interquartile range 7-61). Specialty categories containing 10 or more articles were as follows: Internal Medicine (44), Oncology (32), General Surgery (25), Cardiology (22), Infectious Disease (21), Orthopedics (16), Neurology (14), and Dermatology (12). All other articles were grouped into the category Other, which contained 23 articles: Critical Care (9), Theriogenology (5), Behavior (3), Nutrition(3), Anesthesia (2), and Ophthalmology (1).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10, [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Methodology-based evidence classification has been acknowledged and utilized in systematic reviews and other evidence-based veterinary review articles pertaining to cruciate ligament disease, 12 oncology, 16 reproduction, 20 osteoarthritis, 21 behavior, 22 and dermatology. [23][24][25][26][27][28] A recent survey reported that readers of medical journals attach importance to article LOE classifications and are more likely to cite high-level studies than other articles.…”

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confidence: 99%

Association between Article Citation Rate and Level of Evidence in the Companion Animal Literature

Giuffrida

Brown

2012

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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Background: Level of evidence (LOE) hierarchies rank scientific articles according to the use of study design features intended to limit bias. Citation analysis of medical articles has shown that studies with high LOE ranking are preferentially cited.Objectives: To determine whether clinical companion animal articles reporting study designs classified as high LOE are more frequently cited than those with designs classified as low LOE and to characterize other factors associated with 5-year citation rate.Methods: Literature survey of all original clinical articles published in 2004 in 5 peer-reviewed clinical veterinary journals. For each eligible article, details of scientific and nonscientific characteristics were collected, an LOE classification was assigned, and the 5-year citation rate following publication was determined. Linear regression was used to identify factors associated with citation rate.Results: Overall LOE was low with 188 of 209 eligible articles describing a study design classified as low LOE. An association was not identified between 5-year citation frequency and LOE classification or any specific feature of study methodology. Articles pertaining to infectious disease or published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine were associated with significantly greater subsequent citations.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Reports of veterinary studies designed to limit the influence of bias are not more widely referenced than articles reporting data obtained through less stringent methodologies. Medical subspecialty and publishing journal prestige can influence an article's subsequent citation rate.

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Systematic review of the use of pheromones for treatment of undesirable behavior in cats and dogs

Abstract: 11 of the 14 reports reviewed provided insufficient evidence and 1 provided lack of support for effectiveness of pheromones for the treatment of undesirable behavior in cats and dogs.

Cited by 91 publications

References 29 publications

Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Responsiveness of cats (Felidae) to silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and catnip (Nepeta cataria)

The Efficiency of Synthetic Sex Pheromones in Sexual Arousal Stimulation in Domestic Dogs

Association between Article Citation Rate and Level of Evidence in the Companion Animal Literature

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