Press Releases
ANXITANE® (L-THEANINE) CHEWABLE TABLETS NOW AVAILABLE TO HELP REDUCE ANXIETY-RELATED PROBLEMS IN DOGS AND CATS
FORT WORTH, Texas (July 2009) — Fear of walks. Fear of noises. Stress triggered by a family move or a new baby in the house. Now that ANXITANE® (L-Theanine) Chewable Tablets are available through Virbac Animal Health, veterinarians have a new way to help ease the way for anxious feline and canine patients.
ANXITANE for dogs and cats is a pure and neurologically active L-Theanine in a chewable tablet that’s proven to reduce clinical signs associated with fear and anxiety.1 L-Theanine is shown to increase concentrations of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and increase brain serotonin and dopamine.2 (Nathan et al, 2006). The 99.95 percent pure L-Theanine in ANXITANE is Suntheanine,® which is produced using a patented enzymatic process. Only Suntheanine achieves this level of purity and neurological activity. And its results are measurable.
In an open field trial* designed and performed by two veterinary behaviorists (Drs. Valerie Dramard and Laurent Kern) and presented at the Animal Behavior Congress, Zoopsy (Marseille, 2005), two out of three dogs showed significant improvement when treated with ANXITANE:
Significant reduction (P<0.0001 in clinical signs associated with fear (including trembling and mydriasis, hypervigilance, inhibition, flight and avoidance)
The majority of dogs responded by the second week
A similar study performed in cats* demonstrated that ANXITANE reduced anxiety and cohabitation problems.
“Anxiety and fear are common underlying factors of many behavioral problems in dogs, which can impair the human-pet bond. In turn, chronic behavior problems often lead to abandonment, relinquishment or euthanasia of the dog,” according to Monique Schwartz, Vice President of Marketing at Virbac. “A pet that experiences frequent anxiety or fear is suffering so it’s important to take action as soon as possible. If treatment is delayed, stress and anxiety can lead to aggression and the risk of illness is greater.”
ANXITANE Tablets are particularly useful for long-term use in anxious pets and can be used as a treatment to manage anxiety by:
- Attenuating reactions characterized by fear or apprehension
- Helping to keep pets calm and relaxed
- Decreasing anxiety, making it easier for animals to learn
- Helping pets cope with changes in the environment
“As a nutraceutical, ANXITANE is proven to be an effective alternative to pharmaceuticals. It’s a safe choice, can be used long-term with no known side effects, and doesn’t cause drowsiness. And, there are no known interactions with other therapeutics,” said ANXITANE Product Manager, Michael Mockler.
ANXITANE Tablets have also demonstrated excellent palatability, with clinical trials in the field showing 94 percent spontaneous ingestion in both dogs and cats.3 It is available in two sizes for easing dosing: S for cats and dogs weighing less than 22 pounds; and M&L for dogs weighing 22 pounds or more.
One of the World’s Largest Laboratories Dedicated Exclusively to Animal Health
Virbac develops, manufactures and distributes a wide range of products and services intended for the prevention and treatment of common pathologies in both companion and food producing animals. The Virbac Corporation U.S., located in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leading companion animal health company offering pharmaceutical products in the heartworm, tick and flea, dermatology, antibiotics, endocrinology and oral hygiene markets. Virbac products are available to pet owners exclusively through a veterinarian, including SOLOXINE® (levothyroxine sodium) Thyroid Supplement, PANCREZYME® Pancreas Supplement, TUMIL-K® (potassium gluconate) Potassium Supplement, AMMONIL® Urinary Supplement, UROEZE® (ammonium chloride) Urinary Supplement, C.E.T. ® line of dental care products, the Virbac line of dermatology products, IVERHART® Brand Heartworm Preventive, PREVENTIC® Amitraz Tick Collar for Dogs, NOVIFIT® (NoviSAMe®) Tablets, and ANXITANE® (L-Theanine) Chewable Tablets. For more information about Virbac and the company’s products, please visit www.virbacvet.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Michael Mockler, Product Manager • Virbac Animal Health • 682-647-3584 • michael.mockler@virbacus.com
Dave Hill, Account Supervisor • Stephens & Associates • 913-661-0910 • dhill@stephens-adv.com
- Data on file.
- Nathan et al. (2006) The Neuropharmacology of L-Theanine (N-Ethyl-L-Glutamine): A Possible Neuroprotective and Cognitive Enhancing Agent. Journal of Herbal Pharmacology, Vol. 6(2), 21-30.
- Data on file.
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