Effectiveness of L-theanine and behavioral therapy in the treatment of noise phobias in dogs

Abstract

Aim of the study - The treatment of noise phobias in dogs
consists of behavioural therapy and, sometimes, of pharmacologic
support. Aim of this study is to determine the efficacy
of L-Theanine, a natural substance derived from the tea plant,
used in conjunction with behavioural therapy in the treatment
of such disorders and to assess any consequent change in
blood cortisol levels.
Materials and methods - Twenty subjects with a specific
noise phobia were selected through a behavioural examination
and thereafter divided into two groups (“ANX“ and “NOANX”).
For 63 days, the “ANX” group received behavioural therapy in
conjunction with L-Theanine, while the “NOANX” group received
only behavioural therapy. All subjects underwent blood
sampling, before and after treatment, for the evaluation of
blood cortisol. Twice a week owners were asked to fill in a
questionnaire containing a list of symptoms related to the phobic
state. Two telephone interviews were made to assess adherence
to therapy. Statistical analysis of the data collected
was carried out.
Results and discussion - A statistically significant reduction in
the intensity of phobic symptoms was observed in both
groups; a decrease in certain specific behaviours (panting,
drooling, lip licking, yawning, drawing the attention of the
owner, vocalizing, exhibiting compulsive behaviours) was observed
only in the “ANX” group. This is suggestive of the fact
that L-Theanine may be useful in the treatment of sound phobias
in the dog. No difference was detected in the concentration
of blood cortisol.

Full text

Vol 29, Issue 2, April 2015
1
Efficacy of L-Theanine in the
treatment of noise phobias
in dogs: preliminary results
Aim of the study - The treatment of noise phobias in dogs
consists of behavioural therapy and, sometimes, of pharma-
cologic support. Aim of this study is to determine the efficacy
of L-Theanine, a natural substance derived from the tea plant,
used in conjunction with behavioural therapy in the treatment
of such disorders and to assess any consequent change in
blood cortisol levels.
Materials and methods - Twenty subjects with a specific
noise phobia were selected through a behavioural examination
and thereafter divided into two groups (“ANX“ and “NOANX”).
For 63 days, the “ANX” group received behavioural therapy in
conjunction with L-Theanine, while the “NOANX” group re-
ceived only behavioural therapy. All subjects underwent blood
sampling, before and after treatment, for the evaluation of
blood cortisol. Twice a week owners were asked to fill in a
questionnaire containing a list of symptoms related to the pho-
bic state. Two telephone interviews were made to assess ad-
herence to therapy. Statistical analysis of the data collected
was carried out.
Results and discussion - A statistically significant reduction in
the intensity of phobic symptoms was observed in both
groups; a decrease in certain specific behaviours (panting,
drooling, lip licking, yawning, drawing the attention of the
owner, vocalizing, exhibiting compulsive behaviours) was ob-
served only in the “ANX” group. This is suggestive of the fact
that L-Theanine may be useful in the treatment of sound pho-
bias in the dog. No difference was detected in the concentra-
tion of blood cortisol.
Keywords - dog, noise phobia, L-Theanine, cortisol.
Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie e Sanità Pubblica (DIVET) -
Università degli Studi di Milano
* Corresponding author (zita.talamonti@hotmail.it)
Received: 20/08/2014 - Accepted: 19/01/2015
Manuela Michelazzi, Med Vet, PhD
Greta Veronica Berteselli, Med Vet, PhD
Zita Talamonti*, Med Vet
Simona Cannas, Med Vet, PhD, Dipl ECAWBM
Elisabetta Scaglia, Med Vet
Michela Minero, Med Vet, PhD, Dipl ECAWBM
Clara Palestrini, Med Vet, PhD, Dipl ECAWBM
INTRODUCTION
Noise fear and phobias are among the most common
behavioural problems in the dog. However, these dis-
orders are frequently overlooked or poorly managed
by the owners, who may not perceive them as prob-
lems until the behaviours manifested by the fearful or
phobic animal do not become exaggerated and so-
cially intollerable.1Fear is an emotional response to a
stimulus that the animal perceives as potentially dan-
gerous; this is an adaptive response, as it allows the
animal to avoid potentially dangerous situations and
thus increases its chances of survival.2Fear can be
triggered by different causes and is often the result of
various factors.
For example, specific aversive experiences may be as-
sociated with the development of intense fears. In
other cases, inadequate exposure to specific stimuli dur-
ing the behavioural development of the subject, such as
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to places, objects, or persons, may trigger the onset of
a fear response in later stages of the animal’s life.2,4,5,6,7
Genetics may also play a role in the development of
certain fears; studies have shown that puppies born to
parents with fear of noises are more likely to incur in
the same problem compared to puppies born to fear-
less parents.8However, studies on the genetic predis-
position to develop certain phobias often resulted in
conflicting results. For some Authors,9,10,11 shepherd
dogs, Golden Retrievers and Labradors are more
prone to various types of phobia, while other studies
have not confirmed it.12 Dogs coming from animal
shelters are apparently more prone to such behavioural
disorders.12,13,14,15,16,17 In a study on noise fear and pho-
bias,18 the analyzed data indicate a greater manifesta-
tion of thunderstorm phobia in mongrels than in
purebred dogs; however, this observation may in fact
be related to the fact that many mongrels come from
animal shelters.
A sudden, extreme and intense fear is classified as a
phobia. The manifestations of phobias are always ex-
cessively intense, symptoms persist even after the dis-
appearance of the triggering stimulus and, sometimes,
the phobic reaction can be triggered in the absence of
a specific stimulating factor.1,19,20,21,22
The symptoms exhibited by phobic dogs consist of a
sudden, non- gradual, exaggerated response to a stim-
ulus, with a strong impulse to flee or escape from the
source of the stimulus by seeking to hide, wit anxious
behaviours such as panting, vocalizing, urination or
defecation, increased vigilance, trembling and exhibi-
tion of destructive behaviours. Sometimes the inten-
sity of these symptoms is such that phobic states may
be compared to panic attacks in humans.23,24,25 Unlike
fear, which may be adaptive, phobia is considered “mal-
adaptive“, as it interferes with the normal functioning
of the living organism.4It has been hypothesized that
once a phobic event has been experienced, every sub-
sequent event associated with the same experience or
with its memory is sufficient to trigger the response.4,7
One of the most common dog phobias is the one spe-
cific to sounds, meaning an intense and extreme fear
response to an unexpected, loud and non-gradual
noise; this phobia consists of an intense and active at-
tempt of avoidance, with anxious behaviours associ-
ated with the activation of the sympathetic component
of the autonomous nervous system.4The noises that
most frequently cause phobic reactions in the dog are
those caused by thunderstorms, fireworks, gunshots
and traffic.1,22
The treatment of this behavioural disorder should in-
clude a specific behavioural therapy, based on a pro-
gramme of desensitization and counterconditioning.
Systematic desensitization requires a gradual and con-
trolled exposure to noise stimuli in order to eradicate
the manifestation of fear-related behaviours. The
counterconditioning phase consists in reinforcing a
calm and controlled behaviour in response to the trig-
Table 1 - Phobic manifestations in the dog
Panting Open mouth breathing
Pacing Walking to and fro aimlessly
Trembling Involuntary movements characterized by rhythmic oscillations
of body segments
Yawning Accessory respiratory act characterized by rapid chest expansion,
forced mouth opening and, in most cases, palpebral constriction
Remaining close to the owner Remain in the proximity of the owner
Seeking attention Search for interaction with the owner
Hiding Withdrawing from eyesight, go into hiding
Escaping Fleeing from a specific situation
Drooling Excessive salivation
Lip licking Passing the tongue over the lips
Vocalizing Barking, whining or howling
Destructive behaviour To break or damage objects
Inappropriate elimination Vomiting, defecation, urination
Presence of compulsive behaviours Repetitive or stereotypic behaviours (such as licking parts
of the body, circling)
Aggressiveness Growling, biting or trying to bite
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3
gering noise stimulus, by means of a positive emo-
tional stimulus. In this way the animal is conditioned
to experience a positive feeling in direct competition
with the previous state of fear.1,2
Behavioural therapy may also be performed in con-
junction with a pharmacologic intervention, typically
with substances in the pharmacologic class of tricyclic
antidepressants, benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase
inhibitors or of selective serotonin reuptake in-
hibitors.4,20,22 To support behavioural therapy, some
Authors consider useful the use of non-conventional
medications, such as pheromones,26,27 while for others,
to date, the number of studies available is not suffi-
cient to confirm the beneficial effect of synthetic
pheromones on canine phobias.28,29
L-Theanine (N-ethyl-L-glutamine), the left-handed
isomer of theanine, is a natural substance obtained in
2001 the approval for use in the treatment of certain
behavioural disorders in companion animals. This
molecule is a nutraceutical, used to reduce and allevi-
ate stress conditions and certain anxiety-related dis-
orders in small animals.30,31 L-Theanine inhibits the
reuptake of glutamate and increases GABA levels,
generating an anti-stress effect and a sense of well-
being, and has neuroprotective effects in the hip-
pocampus by blocking the multiple receptor subtypes
of glutamate.30,32,33,34 Furthermore, it has been shown
that in the rat, L-Theanine is able to increase sero-
tonin levels in the striatum, hippocampus and hypo-
thalamus, and dopamine levels in the striatum. In
humans and in the rat, L-Theanine is able to regulate
blood pressure, improve memory and learning skills
(closely related to the action of dopamine and sero-
tonin).30,35,36,37,38 Anxitane®tablets (Virbac Animal
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Recruitment of subjects
Dogs with noise phobias were recruited following a be-
havioural examination carried out at the Clinic for be-
havioural problems in dogs and cats of the University of
Milan (Università degli Studi di Milano).
In total, 20 subjects were taken into consideration, het-
erogeneous in terms of breed, age and gender, and suf-
fering from specific phobias against thunderstorms or
fireworks; dogs with concomitant physical disorders,
over 10 years of age or with the presence of other be-
havioural disorders were excluded from the study.
PROTOCOL GUIDELINES
Prior to the study, all the dog owners received infor-
mation on the research methodology used and were
trained to recognize phobia symptoms in the dog23
(Table 1); in the early stages of the protocol they were
also assisted by an expert. The 20 owners received the
same behavioural instructions (ignore demands of at-
tention and inappropriate phobic behaviours, reward
relaxed behaviours). Using a randomized block de-
sign,39 two age- and gender-balanced groups were cre-
ated, “ANX” and “NOANX”, of 10 dogs each. The
“ANX” group consisted of six spayed females and four
intact males, mean age of 5.3 ± 1.88 years; the
“NOANX” group consisted of six spayed females and
four intact males, mean age of 5.7 ± 2:00 years. Both
groups underwent a desensitization and countercondi-
tioning protocol, using an audio simulation reproduc-
ing the sounds responsible for the phobic response in
dogs (“Sound CD for behaviour therapy“ - The Company of
Animals):4,19 owners were asked to play the audio simu-
lation to their dogs at the minimum volume capable of
triggering a phobic response in the animal; while lis-
tening to the sound CD, owners had to entertain the
dog with a pleasant activity, such as playing together or
allowing the dog to eat, depending on the character of
each subject.19 In our study, within the “ANX” group 3
owners associated a recreational activity to the listening
of the CD, while the remaining owners used food; in
the “NOANX” group, while listening to the audio file
4 dogs were involved in recreational activities and 6 re-
ceived food. Owners repeated such protocol twice a
week for a total of 18 times (63 days). In addition to the
standard behavioural therapy (desensitization using the
audio CD and counterconditioning), subjects belonging
to the “ANX” group received an oral therapy with L-
Theanine (Anxitane®), twice daily at the dose recom-
mended by the manufacturer (dogs weighing less than
10 kg: Anxitane®S, ½ tablet twice daily; dogs weighing
between 10 and 25 kg: Anxitane®M/L, ½ tablet twice
daily; dogs weighing more than 25 kg: Anxitane®M/L,
1 tablet twice daily) for the entire duration of the study.
Fears and phobias of loud noises are very
common in the dog, but are often over-
looked by the owner.
Health), used in this study, is a nutraceutical contain-
ing 99.95% of L-Theanine.38 The tablets are palatable
and have no side effects even when administered at
five times the recommended dose (http://vir-
bacvet.com/images/resources/other/anxitane_firsti-
nention.pdf).
The aims of this study were to assess the potential effe-
cacy of L-Theanine (Anxitane®) in conjunction with
behavioural therapy in the treatment of noise phobias
in the dog, to evaluate any difference in cortisol levels
in the blood of dogs with noise phobia compared to
non-phobic subjects, and to highlight the possible im-
pact of L-Theanine on these hormone levels.
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Subjects belonging to the “NOANX” group received
only the standard behavioural therapy (desensitization
using the audio CD and counterconditioning). At the
end of each session, all the owners (both those of
group “ANX” and those of group “NOANX”) com-
pleted a questionnaire designed to provide information
on the specific reactions of the dogs to the audio sim-
ulation, based on a score system ranging between 1 and
5 and related the frequency and intensity of symptoms,
with 1 representing the absence of symptoms and 5 the
maximum possible severity of phobic manifestations.
The owners’ compliance was assessed by means of two
telephone interviews, the first halfway through the
study and the second at the end of it.
During these interviews an investigation was made on
the owners’ opinion on the initial explanation given for
the treatment, on the difficulties encountered in im-
plementing it, on the presence of side effects and on
problems related to the administration of Anxitane®
tablets.
Two blood samples were collected in all the dogs (at
the Clinic for behavioural problems in dogs and cats and in the
time slot between 14:00 and 16:00 hrs), the first at the
time of the first behavioural examination, before initi-
ation of therapy, and the second at the end of treat-
ment (day 63), with the aim of assessing the clinical
status of the animals and to assay blood cortisol levels
with RIA methodology (Radio Immune Assay).24,40 As
for the assessment of cortisol levels, a control group
was included in the study in addition to groups “ANX”
and “NOANX”, consisting of 10 dogs (6 spayed fe-
males and 4 intact males, mean age of 5.6 ± 2:00 years)
with no behavioural disorders. Blood samples were col-
lected in the same location and within the same time
slot as for the dogs belonging to groups “ANX” and
“NOANX”.
The study period was divided into three time intervals:
time 1 (T1), corresponding to the time interval between
day 1 and day 21; time 2 (T2), corresponding to the
time interval between day 22 and day 42; time 3 (T3),
corresponding to the time interval between day 43 and
day 63.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
All data were entered into an Excel file and statistically
analyzed with SPSS 16.0 software (SPSS, 2007). De-
scriptive measures were used to calculate the mean and
the standard deviation of the scores assigned to indi-
vidual phobic behaviours and to cortisol levels. Mann-
Whitney and Friedman tests were performed to
compare the behaviour scores of groups “ANX” and
“NOANX”. The differences in the concentration of
cortisol before and after treatment were analyzed using
the Wilcoxon test (SPSS, 2007).
RESULTS
The dogs’ phobic-response variation over time in both
groups was evaluated by comparing the mean scores
resulting from the questions proposed in the question-
naires administered to the dog owners at times 1, 2 and
3. This comparison revealed a statistically significant
decrease in phobic manifestations at both T2 and T3
(Fig. 1).
The change over time of specific phobic signs (in pe-
riods T1, T2, and T3) was then assessed: trembling
(Fig. 2), seeking contact with the owner, hiding, pacing
(Fig. 3) and escape behaviour (Fig. 4) were significantly
The relaxing effects of L-Theanine may help to
reduce stress and anxiety in the dog.
The dogs in the study were divided into two
groups: the first received behavioural therapy in
conjunction with the administration of L-Thea-
nine, the second only behavioural therapy.
Figura 1 - Mean total scores of phobic symptoms in the three time
intervals.
Figura 2 - Trembling behaviour in the two dog groups in the three
time intervals.
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Vol 29, Issue 2, April 2015
5
decreased in both groups (“ANX” and “NOANX”);
destructive behaviours, inappropriate elimination and
aggressive behaviours did not instead shown any sig-
nificant decrease in either the ANX or the NOANX
groups. The comparison between the variation of in-
dividual phobic behaviours over time revealed that
only dogs in the ANX group showed a significant re-
duction in the score of the following behaviours: pant-
ing (Fig. 5), yawning (Fig. 6), drooling, drawing the
owner’s attention, vocalizing, exhibition of compul-
sive behaviours.
Analysis of the answers given by the owners during the
two telephone interviews provided information re-
garding the owners’ adhesion to the protocol: all 20
owners followed the study protocol accurately, consid-
ered it of easy execution and appreciated the clarity of
the instructions given on the use of the CD. No owner
reported the presence of side effects or problems in
administering Anxitane®tablets. Blood tests did not
identify any clinical problems in the subjects of the
study. Cortisol levels were within physiologic limits in
both groups and comparable to those of the dogs in
the control group (10-60 ng/ml). No significant varia-
tions os such levels were detected after treatment.
DISCUSSION
The study detected an improvement in phobic symp-
toms in the dogs of both the “ANX” and the “NOANX”
treated groups. As shown in the literature, the results
obtained confirm that behavioural therapy (desensiti-
zation and counterconditioning), in accordance with
the methodology used by the Authors of the article, is
to be considered essential for the treatment of noise
phobias. In order to achieve optimal results, it is im-
portant for the veterinarian to teach the owner how to
recognize the signs of stress, fear and phobia exhibited
by the dog. In fact, during the standard desensitization
and counterconditioning protocol the dog should be
exposed to the sound stimuli in a gradual and con-
trolled way, in order to allow desensitization to the
stimulus, conditioning to elicit a positive response and
extinguishment of fear-related behaviours.1.22
The use of a score assigned to each phobic behaviour
allows to make the owner’s interpretation as objective
as possible.22 The owner’s compliance is also impor-
tant, in order to ensure that the treatment protocol is
followed regularly and for the entire period necessary
for the healing of the animal. The treatment protocol
must therefore be explained clearly, it must be of easy
Figura 3 - Pacing behaviour in the two dog groups in the three time
intervals.
Figura 4 - Escaping behaviour in the two dog groups in the three
time intervals.
Figura 5 - Panting behaviour in the two dog groups in the three
time intervals.
Figura 6 - Yawning behaviour in the two dog groups in the three
time intervals.
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Vol 29, Issue 2, April 2015
6
execution and the owner must be aware of the time in-
terval necessary for clinical improvements.22
The ANX group presented a significant improvement
in some phobic signs (panting, drooling, lip licking,
yawning, drawing attention, vocalizing and compulsive
behaviours), a result not found in the NOANX group.
This improvement may be related to the reduction or
alleviation of conditions of anxiety and stress induced
by L-Theanine. Our study confirms the usefulness of
Anxitane®in the treatment of dogs with anxiety- and
fear-relateted behaviours, as reported in the litera-
ture.30,32,41,42 Anxitane®can therefore be considered a
valid support in conjunction with behavioural therapy
in dogs with phobia of loud noises. Furthermore, the
palatability of the tablets makes the product easy to ad-
minister and the absence of contraindications and side
effects in all the subjects of the study allows for its safe
administration.
Our study did not show any difference in blood corti-
sol values between dogs with noise phobias and sub-
jects in the control group, neither differences between
the values found in the first and second sampling. Al-
though some studies have shown that the rise in corti-
sol levels is correlated with the body’s response to
stress, and that it can hence be considered as a valid pa-
rameter for the assessment of conditions of stress,40,43
other studies report that in the dog such variations nev-
ertheless fall within the range of normal values.2In ad-
dition, the level of plasma cortisol may be affected by
multiple factors, such as the circadian rhythm, gender
and age; a considerable individual variation in its pro-
duction is also present.2
In addition to a general improvement in both
groups, subjects who took L-Theanine presented
a significant decrease of some phobic signs.
KEY POINTS
• Phobias of loud noises are a common behavioural problem in the dog; the treatment of
choice consists of a specific behavioural therapy.
• With regard to this disorder, the pilot study compared a desensitization and countercondi-
tioning protocol used in conjunction with the administration of L-Theanine versus behav-
ioural therapy alone.
• The results showed that L-Theanine may be considered a valid support for behavioural ther-
apy in the presence of noise phobias.
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