What is pheromonatherapy ?
Pheromonatherapy (or pheromonotherapy, depending on the authors), is a new way to manage behaviour problems in animals. It is an innovative and natural solution to stress related problems in cats and dogs.
Pheromones are 'chemical signals' used to communicate between members of the same species. Read more...
As a result pheromones emitted by one individual can affect and change the behaviour of other individuals of the same species.
The most well known are the sex pheromones used to make the bitch or queen more attractive to the male when they are in season. However, phermonones can also be used to mark territory, intimidate aggressors etc....
Pheromones are secreted into the air by one animal and detected by the vomeronasal organ. Read more...
To detect the pheromones, animals pump air into the vomeronasal organ. This ”pumping” behaviour is called “flehmen”. Depending on the species, the flehmen can be very discrete (as in cats) or quite obvious (as seen in horses and sheep).
On detection, the pheromone then induces a subconscious behaviour change.
Pheromones are used for a wide variaty of situations both in behavioural therapy, animal welfare and in crop protection. Read more...
In dog behaviour management, appeasing pheromones can be used to prevent or reduce stress related behaviour problems. For more information about the Dog Appeasing Pheromone (D.A.P.®), click here.
Pheromones have been used successfully to help improve the welfare of zoo animals.
Pheromones are also widely use in vineyards.
