Hi

Does anyone have experience of using Scullcap and Valerian, and if indeed it works?  I can be quite sceptical, so am asking for first hand experience before taking the plunge and buying some.

All advice greatly received.

I have. It doesn't do anything massive - but IME it just takes the anxious edge off. My flattie used to be a bit anxious about attending shows - the S&V just took the edge off that without any other effect - and I have used it in the GSP too when he's been wound up about something - again, just takes the edge off. It won't work for serious anxiety. It can also be used as an adjunctive treatment for epilepsy (but that is something that has to be discussed with your vet first) and is a veterinary licensed product - which means they have done trials on it to show it works.

It really depends what you want to use it for? :-)

A friend of mine was having problems with her dog not sleeping and it went on for a few months, she then tried valerian and I know something else with it which could have been scullcap (she got it from Ainsworths) and it took about a week before the dog improved and now is sleeping all through the night again - she is very pleased with the results.

I used it for my old girl who was very sicky in the car.  It took a while to build up in her system before I noticed any effect, but it did sort the problem out.  I now give her a course of the tablets a while before we travel anywhere, or before she does anything that might make her stressed.
Someone suggested I give it to my young dog who is very squeaky at shows (excitement), but giving it right before the show didn't seem to have any effect.  Didn't bother after that, as a big chewy seemed to work rather better. :-)

we used it with one of ours  for shows and although it did help for a few months by taking the edge off things after a while he became immune to it and  he did have quite a rumbly tummy when on them ,we think as he needed so many for his weight.we took him off them.once he was off them we put him on stress-less which are drops made of magnesium which is natures tranquilizer apparently,and they had more of an instant effect and meant we didnt have to wait for a build up before they worked. hope this is of some help,roy.

Thanks very much everyone for the advice - my female ridgeback is nervous of new situations and I wondered if this would help take the edge off her stress levels for her.

I find it invaluable for firework season and thunderstorms.  I use the tablets starting 2 weeks before fireworks and then top up with the liquid.  I use the liquid for quick fix during storms.
It takes the edge off her and stops her trying to launch herself through the patio windows in fright.
Its lovely because it doesn't sedate but just calms.
I won't be without it in my cupboard.
I have tried other things without success like Dap diffuser etc.

> giving it right before the show didn't seem to have any effect

I usually gave it about 1-2 hours before the show - would give the tablets at home before we set off in the car. :-)

Just be careful as with any medication herbal or medical can and do have side effects.

I had one of my dogs was on  Skullcap and Valerian and it caused him quite a bit of distress. The vet wanted to try him on it for shadow chasing. It did work to calm that however for what every reason it also caused him to have what I can only describe as nightmares. He had frequent moving episodes when he was asleep and sometimes were VERY vigorous. If he wakened he seemed to be terrified and would react as though he was being attacked. He often seemed confused and acted as though he was hallucinating ...was barking and growling at things that were not there and he starting trying to bite people he knew and was friends. The wee dog was so beside himself I stopped giving him the tablets and he was back to himself again...friendly social but chasing shadows again ....but we then tried  the DAP collar on and he was grand.   
If you look up the side effects of S&V ...and be on the look out just in case.

S&V treats the symptoms & not the cause, flower or similar essences are probably better-no side-effects

Yep - all medications can have side effects - the thing about ones like S&V is that side effects are generally less severe than with prescription medications (hence they are easier to obtain). As I said, both mine were fine on it - obviously yours wasn't Freewayz - and actually I ended up stopping using it pre-show - as it took the edge off my dog initially when he was anxious about going - but once he was used to the whole scenario, and realised I was calm relaxed and happy about it all, I could stop giving it. :-)

All anti-anxiety medications are intended to be used that way - along with behaviour modification - but if you can get away with something less 'strong'/with less potential for severe side effects that is better. :-)  I have also heard Zylkene recommended - but it is hideously expensive. :-O

http://www.buyzylkene.co.uk/

I meant on the day of the show, rather than building up over a period of time :-)  We called them "anti-mad tablets".

Just to confirm it was Valerian with Passiflora that Ainsworths suggested for my friends dog and they did say it would take about a week to get into his system, which was exactly what happened.   

> I meant on the day of the show, rather than building up over a period of time

Oh right - I just gave them on the day of the show, and they did the trick. :-)