Stop-stress tablets for cats – instructions for use

Cats react acutely to many external stimuli and often become stressed. If they are not brought out of this state in time, they will develop more serious health problems. Stop Stress for Cats can help calm the nervous system and help pets restore their emotional background. Let's find out in what dosage and according to what scheme to use this drug.

How do sedatives work?

Sedatives contain chemicals, extracts from medicinal plants, and hormones.
Effect of sedatives and hypnotics:

• reduce feelings of fear;
• calm down;
• normalize blood pressure;
• relieve muscle spasms;
• reduce pain.

Sleeping pills and sedatives normalize metabolism, restore blood circulation to the brain, and suppress the reproductive system. The drugs reduce agitation, correct the mental and neurological state.

Pharmacological properties

Phenibut is a nootropic drug that facilitates GABA-mediated transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system. The drug has a tranquilizing, psychostimulating, antiplatelet and antioxidant effect, improves the functional state of the brain by normalizing tissue metabolism and a positive effect on cerebral circulation, by increasing the speed of blood flow and reducing vascular tone. Helps reduce or eliminate feelings of anxiety, restlessness, fear and hyperactive behavior in the animal, normalizes sleep, and has some anticonvulsant effect. Does not affect cholinergic and adrenergic receptors. Reduces the manifestations of asthenia and vasovegetative symptoms (irritability, aggression, sleep disturbance), has a corrective and regulatory effect on the processes of inhibition and excitation in the central nervous system. A complex of aqueous extracts of medicinal plants increases the body's adaptive capabilities to environmental stress factors. In terms of the degree of impact on the body of warm-blooded animals, the drug is classified as a moderately dangerous substance and in recommended doses does not have a locally irritating, resorptive-toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic or allergenic effect.

When to use medications

Sedatives are prescribed when there are clear signs of disruption of the nervous system and anxious behavior. Mental disorders can manifest themselves in different ways, but this will be immediately noticeable by the animal’s unusual behavior.

Sedatives and sleeping pills are used in the following cases:

• for nervous disorders accompanied by increased nervousness, obsessive actions - overeating, hyperactivity, frequent, prolonged licking;
• during an air flight, a boat trip;
• when a new person or dog appears at home (this can provoke depression, fear, aggression);
• before surgery or examination, wound treatment, vaccination;
• if there is aggression towards guests or strangers;
• new place of residence (a sudden change in the usual environment causes severe stress in the cat);
• for mental disorders (phobias, aggression, fear, severe anxiety);
• the need to adapt to a new environment (for example, overexposure);
• before exhibitions (the cat begins to get nervous due to large crowds of people and animals);
• before salon procedures (grooming, combing, cutting);
• when moving for a long time, the cat begins to panic; it may be frightened by unfamiliar smells, sounds, even vibration;
• to prevent territory marking - while the cat is excited due to hormonal surges, strong sexual desire - all this can be reduced with the help of sedatives.

Animals should not be punished when trying to take a dominant position. Sedative herbal remedies will help relieve aggression and tension. Mental deviations manifest themselves as hunting for a ghostly target, twitching of the head, paws, sudden jumps, bouncing. Or a pet’s aggression directed at itself, constant licking, which leads to hair loss, the formation of erosions, and wounds.

Feedback from specialists

“Stop stress” for cats receives mostly positive reviews from experts. Doctors note that nervous stress is very harmful for an animal. When certain situations occur, having reacted inadequately once, the cat may subsequently lose confidence, become withdrawn, and experience deep psychological trauma, which will lead to serious illnesses. Therefore, it is recommended to use this drug to prevent various kinds of stressful situations in your beloved pet.

Types of drugs, their effects and prices

Sedatives and sleeping pills for cats are divided into several groups. Fast-acting - with chemicals. Available in tablets, drops, and injection solutions. Herbal preparations contain extracts of medicinal herbs. However, to get the effect, they need to be taken for a long time (at least several days).

Some medications contain special calming pheromones, others put you into instant sleep.

According to the duration of action, drugs are divided into the following:

1. Short, gentle (up to 3 hours). They are used to put a cat into a short sleep. For example, “ Xylanit ” (from 560 rubles), “ Intraval ” (from 500 rubles), “ Thiopenton ” (250 rubles).
2. Medium (5-6 hours). Used for the treatment of borderline mental states, seizures, before moving, as anesthesia during preparation for surgery. For example, “ Barbamil ” (200-500 rubles), “ Chloral hydrate ” (30-50 rubles per bottle).
3. Long-term (9-11 hours) are used for pain relief and treatment of nervous disorders. Available by prescription only, not recommended for home use. For example, “ Ketamine ” (on average 1100 rubles), “ Ftorotan ” (370 rubles).

In small dosages they have a calming effect, in large dosages they cause mild narcotic intoxication. Sedatives and sleeping pills can be given only as prescribed by a doctor. Medicines must be certified and approved by veterinary control authorities.

Chemical sedatives

Synthetic drugs (with chemicals) are given only as prescribed by a veterinarian - in long-term anxiety situations (for example, a long road, moving), neuropsychic disorders. The doctor selects the required dosage and course taking into account the situation, age, diseases, and condition of the pet.

Chemical medicines include (prices are in rubles):

1. " Xylazine " (from 400) with thiazine derivatives. It acts instantly, the animal immediately falls asleep. It calms under severe stress, but it has many contraindications.
2. " Buspirone " (540-780). Available in tablets and injections. Used to treat cats with long-term neurosis and the appearance of obsessive states.
3. " Amitriptyline " (30-50). Available in solution for injection (intramuscular, intravenous). Used only for emergency assistance, panic attacks, sudden aggression.
4. “ Vetranquil ” (from 900) is used when the pet needs to be completely immobilized for an hour.
5. “ Valium ” (from 1000) quickly calms down, eliminates aggression, and the cat’s appetite returns.

Barbiturates, for example, “ Primidon ” (280-360 rubles), “ Phenobarbital ” (20 rubles), are prescribed only in extreme cases - for convulsions, neurological diseases. Drugs in this group cause mental retardation.

Any medications should only be used after consultation with a veterinarian. It is important to correctly calculate their dosage in accordance with age, situation, taking into account contraindications.

Herbal sleeping pills

Herbal sleeping pills are less effective than synthetic ones. But they have a small list of contraindications, side effects, and rarely cause allergic reactions. After taking herbal sleeping pills, the cat does not fall asleep immediately, but after a while. Therefore, you need to give the medicine in advance.

For example, “ Trinorm ” (from 100 rubles) is made on a plant basis and begins to act in half an hour. Normalizes sleep, reduces aggression, stress, improves mood. Such sleeping pills are used during moving, grooming, for adaptation, and to relieve anxiety. If herbal remedies do not help, then synthetic drugs are used.

Hormonal, pheromones

The endocrine glands produce hormones that are responsible for metabolic processes and have physiological activity and powerful effects. Based on them, medications are made that reduce increased arousal, strong libido, and calm the nervous system (prices are in rubles):

• " Alizin " (from 3700).
• «Cowinan» (2000).
• «Sex barrier» (210).
• «Dexafort» (900-1500).
• " Stopintim " (from 110).
• «Contra sex» (100).

They also produce drugs with synthetic analogues of natural pheromones. They stabilize the pet’s condition when it actively marks its territory, strips upholstered furniture and walls, loses appetite due to sexual desire, and becomes depressed. For example, the Feliway (1,500 rubles) is odorless (for the human sense of smell).

Pheromones create a feeling of security, calm, and restore normal well-being. Medicines are produced in the form of solutions with chamomile and lavender. They impregnate collars, napkins, and spray homes. They are not addictive, act quickly, and people do not react to them. But before swimming, the collar must be removed.

Homeopathic

Homeopathic remedies are made from medicinal plants, flowers, and roots. Available in tablets, capsules, drops, sprays. Homeopathic medicines are given in long courses so that the sedatives produce the desired effect, since the active components accumulate gradually.

The best hemoepatic drugs include (prices are indicated in rubles):

1. “ Stop-stress ” (from 130) – with the addition of phenibut, essential oils, nootropics. Reduces aggression, anxiety, normalizes behavior. Give to cats prone to chronic stress. The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
2. " Relax Plus " (450-900) is produced from motherwort and lemon balm. It is not addictive, calms, eliminates spasms and symptoms of seasickness.
3. " Kot-bayun " (110-170) is made from extracts of medicinal plants. The course of treatment is a week, but is contraindicated for up to a year.
4. “ Vetspokoin ” (170-230) – sedative.
5. “ Fospasim ” (from 320) – prescribed for neuroses, fear of noise, before a long journey. They give a course of 2 weeks.
6. " Fitex " (170-340) is made from extracts of medicinal plants, reduces aggression, calms. It is not recommended to give to kittens or adults with hypotension.
7. “ Anti-stress ” (130-540) – with motherwort, taurine, B vitamins, ascorbic acid.

Homeopathic remedies have virtually no contraindications or side effects. They help well with periodic phobias and panic attacks. Herbal preparations are suitable for young, old pets, and animals with poor health.

Tranquilizers

Tranquilizers-hypnotics enhance the effect of analgesics, reduce muscle tone, and suppress fear. They are used when transporting animals, diseases, when conventional sedatives do not help.

Tranquilizers include (prices are in rubles):

• “ Mebikar ” (310-600) – does not impair coordination, is non-toxic, reduces the feeling of fear;
• “ Vetranquil ” (from 900) – a potent tranquilizer, helps with motion sickness;
• “ Chlozepid ” (from 140) – eliminates anxiety, is used in the treatment of myositis, arthritis, skin diseases;
• “ Phenazepam ” (from 130) – a strong sleeping pill, eliminates convulsions;
• " Diazepam " (620) acts quickly, it is prescribed for nervous overexcitation, hyperactivity, anxiety, aggression, and relaxes muscles.

Buspirone ” (540-780 rubles), “ Fluoxetine ” (30-140 rubles) cope well with phobias, anxiety disorders, and anxiety They are prescribed for depression, schizophrenia, and sudden mood swings. Before use, check whether the cat tolerates the medicine.

Traditional sedatives for cats

If you can help an animal without pharmaceutical drugs, then folk remedies are used to calm it down:

• give water after dissolving a few drops of vinegar in it;
• soak a napkin with bergamot oil, then tie it to the collar;
• put a copper coin or plate in a bowl of water;
• give milk by dissolving a drop of soda in it.

To calm a highly agitated cat that constantly yells during the “mating season,” you can hold it under a cold shower. But this is an extreme measure - the animal is distracted for a short time and may get sick.

Chemical sedatives

To calm raging kittens, in addition to homeopathic medicines, medications of chemical origin are also used:

• VetSpokoin and Stop-stress contain medicinal herbs and sedative components.
• Amitriptyline helps cope with your pet's anxiety and territory marking.
• Buspirone is an excellent remedy for phobias.
• Clomipramine is prescribed for a stressful situation and phobia that has arisen in a kitten.
• Diazepam is a good remedy for epilepsy and anxiety.
• Xylazine drops have a quick calming effect. They should be used when immediate calm is needed.
• Medetomidine is used by a veterinarian for simple procedures in a clinical setting.
• Vetranquil is used to relieve stress in kittens due to upcoming travel.

These drugs should only be used when prescribed by a veterinarian, since violation of the dosage of sedatives can lead to the death of the animal.

Calming medications for animals can only relieve the cause of the kitten's stress; they will not help cope with the cause of the cat's stress.

Contraindications and adverse reactions

Some (especially synthetic) medications cause allergies and intolerance to components in animals. Therefore, their uncontrolled use is prohibited.

All sedatives and sleeping pills (even herbal ones) have contraindications:

• age up to one year;
• period of pregnancy, lactation;
• liver and kidney diseases;
• low pressure;
• diabetes.

If after treatment with the chosen drug the cat does not improve within two weeks, it is necessary to replace it with another.

There is an opinion that cats calm down after valerian. But this is not true, just the opposite - it excites. Valerian contains substances similar to pheromones that the body produces during sexual desire. Also side effects of valerian are addiction, dependence. But if it is contained in medications, then in minimal doses that do not cause anxiety or agitation in animals.

After being sedated, the cat becomes lethargic and quiet. This indicates that the dosage was selected correctly and there are no side effects.

Side effects include:

• refusal to eat;
• prostration;
• diarrhea;
• decrease in pressure, temperature;
• nausea, vomiting;
• profuse salivation.

Side effects can manifest themselves in the form of atypical behavior, changes in habits, and the appearance of hallucinations. In some cats, intestinal motility is disrupted and gastritis develops. The stronger the medicine, the greater the risk of side effects.

What sedatives should cats not take?

There are some drugs, the use of which will only aggravate the situation:

• Valerian drops should never be used by mustachioed pets. This drug may not have the same effect in a cat as in a person. Against the background of this remedy, his sexual desire may increase. There are known cases where valerian caused narcotic addiction in kittens.
• Catnip will not solve the kitten’s problems; on the contrary, it will excite the animal even more.

Rules for taking medication

Do not give animals drugs that have expired or exceed the dosage. Since many products cause severe dehydration, it is necessary to ensure constant access to water. If convulsions, excessive drooling, respiratory depression, foam at the mouth, or vomiting occur, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Before moving, the pet is given medication 2-3 days in advance. Feeding is stopped 12 hours before transportation. Before a long journey, food portions are reduced, but the amount of water is not limited (boiled water is given). If the owner has experience, he can do the injections himself, but it is still recommended to consult a veterinarian.

First, the cat is immobilized by wrapping it in a towel so that it cannot pull its paws out. Then the skin on the withers is pulled back a little, a needle is quickly inserted, and the medicine is injected. If drugs are given in the form of powder or drops, then they are added to food. The tablets are pre-crushed and then mixed with food.

For cats that have been given sleeping pills, you need to create conditions for restful sleep:

• choose a loose, comfortable bed;
• the muzzle is laid on its side;
• cover with a blanket;
• provide access to fresh air (so that the cat does not vomit during sleep).

The dosage of sleeping pills must be precisely calculated. This depends on the pet’s resistance to stress, the presence of current diseases, age, and duration of transportation. Therefore, only a veterinarian should prescribe the dose of sleeping pills. It is prohibited to give cats sedatives intended for humans.

Before using medications, you need to find out the cause of agitation and aggression. Perhaps you should be more attentive to the cat, pay more attention, stroke it, play. When an animal feels love, it will be calm and affectionate. But sometimes you can’t do without sedatives.

Instructions for use

The drug is intended for oral use. The dosage and regimen of use depends on the release form. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to give tablets and drops 3-5 days before the planned event and for 1-4 days after its completion.

Drops

Stop-Stress Plus drops are given, after shaking the bottle, with a small amount of treat or forcibly injected onto the root of the tongue using a dispenser syringe. The dosage is determined at the rate of 1 drop per 1 kg of cat’s body weight and divided into 2 doses (morning and evening).

Stop Stress Plus drops are prescribed for a course lasting up to 3 months.

Pills

Stop Stress tablets for cats are given twice a day with a small amount of food or forcefully on the root of the tongue. A single dose is determined taking into account weight.

Tablets are prescribed to cats for a course of 15-20 days. In the presence of psychogenic disorders and signs of severe agitation, the drug can be prolonged for up to 4 weeks.