Dr Karen Becker states that in her years of private veterinarian practice, she has become a fan of several “go-to” herbs and nutrients that help dogs and cats cope during stressful times while supporting their normal endocrine balance.

She further adds that because there wasn’t a product that contained all of her favourite calming agents, she decided to create a custom blend and call it Bark & Whiskers™ Stress Support.

Bark & Whiskers™ Stress Support is an exclusive blend of eight adaptogenic herbs and active ingredients with phytochemicals and other active compounds that work together to support a healthy calm response to stress. It includes:

1. Organic Tulsi Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) Leaf Powder
2. L-Theanine
3. Organic Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) Root Extract
4. Ashwagandha Root Powder
5. GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid)
6. Chamomile Flower Powder
7. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) (from Griffonia simplicifolia Seed Extract)
8. Vitamin B6 (from Pyridoxine HCl)

Bark & Whiskers™ Stress Support is great for major stressors like thunderstorms, fireworks, and veterinarian, grooming appointments. It can also be helpful for occasional stressful situations like hot weather, trips, boarding or welcoming a new pet or family member into your household.

Please keep in mind that Bark & Whiskers™ Stress Support is not intended to be a "personality changer in a jar."

It won't change unwanted behaviours, such as stopping your dog from chasing your cat or keeping your cat from clawing sofas. It’s also not designed to calm your hyperactive puppy. Only consistent training and behaviour modification can accomplish these things. 

What it can do is provide targeted support to promote your pet’s healthy stress response. 

Tulsi, also known as “Holy Basil,” has been widely valued and honoured for more than 5,000 years in India, where it’s grown in a special place in many Hindu homes.

Popular for promoting good health in humans, early Ayurvedic texts also mention it as a safe and effective herb in veterinary care.

The leaves of the Tulsi plant contain hundreds of compounds known as phytochemicals. These compounds are rich in antioxidants and support:

• A balanced immune response
• Normal emotional balance
• Gastrointestinal comfort

Dr Karen Becker recommends using only organically grown Tulsi, not only to avoid pesticide and herbicide residues but also because organic methods help maximize nutritional content.

Bark & Whiskers’ certified organic Tulsi producer in India has the right to harvest Tulsi in central and northern India. They are among the few herbal companies in India to receive organic and kosher certifications, as well as certifications in Safe Food Quality and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).

Working hard to educate growers and farmers in sustainable organic farming methods, our producer firmly believes in creating win-win scenarios for all parties involved in the production of this calming ancient herb.

This simple amino acid stimulates anti-stress alpha waves.

First discovered in green tea leaves in 1950, L-Theanine has been extensively studied for its calming effects in dogs and cats.

L-Theanine is absorbed through the membrane of the large intestine and is transported directly to the brain, where it stimulates mentally alert, yet calming alpha waves.

Although tea leaves are a natural source of the amino acid, L-Theanine only makes up 1% to 2% of the dry weight of tea leaves. Not only is it costly and time-consuming to extract L-Theanine from tea leaves, you typically don't get a pure product from tea.

Fortunately, a pure, clean L-Theanine is available through a proprietary process that produces a form that is structurally and functionally identical to the L-Theanine found in tea leaves. This is the form included in Bark & Whiskers™ Stress Support.

Derived from another naturally occurring amino acid, it's standardized to 98% pure L-Theanine. Most importantly, it's completely caffeine-free, unlike regular green tea.

A duo of outstanding adaptogen herbs to help your pet's body handle stress. 

Adaptogens are a group of herbs and mushrooms that can help your pet's body adapt to physical, chemical and environmental stress by helping to regulate balance in the glands involved in the stress response.

One of these is Rhodiola rosea, or "golden root," a perennial plant that has long been known to be a true, potent adaptogen.

Rhodiola contains substances – like rosavin, rosaridin, rosin, salidroside and tyrosol – that directly support the central nervous system, promoting resistance against harmful physical and emotional stress. It specifically supports the heart in resisting the adverse effects of stress.

Another powerful adaptogen, Ashwagandha supports healthy, balanced endocrine function, which includes the adrenal and thyroid glands. It supports your pets when they’re feeling stressed by promoting their ability to stay relaxed and calm.

Ashwagandha, or "Indian Ginseng," is a small perennial evergreen shrub native to India. It has a long history of use in Ayurveda as a general tonic for promoting healthful balance throughout the body.

The Ashwagandha Root Powder in Bark & Whiskers™ Stress Support formula is grown in healthy, fertile soil, with no harmful chemicals used during the growing, drying or production phases.

Gentle yet powerful, chamomile is just as calming for your pet as it is for you. 

One of the most popular relaxing herbs in the Western world, the use of Chamomile dates back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks.

Native to Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia, Chamomile is a plant with small daisy-like flowers. Often found growing in clusters along roadsides and in fields, it’s easily recognised by its distinctive fresh herbal fragrance.

The dried flowers contain many terpenoids and flavonoids, including beneficial volatile oils, and are popular for making tea, herbal powders and extracts.

Although it's been used historically for human well-being, most of the published studies on Chamomile have been done with animals, especially those exploring its calming qualities.

Chamomile has a calming effect on the nerves and the digestive tract and may be especially helpful for pets who experience an upset stomach when stressed.

Practitioners value tryptophan for its ability to promote serotonin production. Serotonin supports concentration and feelings of well-being. When levels of serotonin are too low, fear, aggression and anxiety can emerge.

5-HTP is actually superior to tryptophan because it's better absorbed in the gut. Plus, it’s able to pass through the blood-brain barrier to directly access your pet’s brain and nervous system, which is why it’s included in Bark & Whiskers™ Stress Support.

In order to provide the potential benefits of tryptophan for your pets, Dr Becker has included 5-Hydroxytryptohan, or 5-HTP, in their formula. 5-HTP is a compound that your body produces from tryptophan, and 5-HTP, in turn, converts into serotonin.