276. Efficacy of a Botanical Blend for Canine Behavioral Support: Behavioral Outcomes and Owner Perspectives in an In-home Use Setting.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel botanical blend administered as a daily supplement on stress- and anxiety-related behaviors in pet dogs under typical home living conditions. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial was conducted in 75 generally healthy pet dogs with owner-reported stress, anxiety, or related behavioral concerns. Unlike interventions targeting acute or situational stressors, this study evaluated the effects of daily supplementation for ongoing behavioral support. Dogs were stratified by body weight and stress severity prior to randomization and received either placebo (n = 38) or active (n = 37) soft chews delivering the botanical blend at 21 mg/kg body weight for 30 d. Behavioral outcomes were assessed by dog owners at baseline (day 0) and after 30 d using the validated shortened Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ(S)), which captures 14 behavioral domains. Physical signs commonly associated with stress (e.g., stool quality and elimination urgency) were assessed using Likert-type scales. Response variables were within-dog changes in C-BARQ(S) domain and item scores over time; within-group comparisons against no change were made with one-way t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and between-group comparisons of estimated marginal mean changes with ANOVA. Overall C-BARQ(S) scores and most behavioral domains improved significantly over time across both groups (P < 0.05), indicating a strong caregiver placebo effect. Over and above this placebo effect, notable benefits were seen across a range of behavioral domains in the treatment group. Improvement in the dog-directed fear domain was significantly more frequent in the treatment group than in placebo (P = 0.038). Additional tendencies favoring treatment were observed for stranger-directed aggression (P = 0.085), aggression when food was taken away (P = 0.054), excitability (P = 0.083), and inappropriate urination when left alone (P = 0.089). Physical signs of stress, including soft stools, constipation, and urgent elimination, improved in the treatment group but not consistently in placebo. There were no significant differences in reporting of undesirable effects such as sedation or personality changes, and participants receiving the active treatment were significantly more likely to correctly identify their group assignment (P = 0.03), indicating perceptible behavioral changes as a result of supplementation. Participants found the soft chews easy to administer, with over 75% of participants reporting their dog enjoyed the taste, addressing a common barrier to supplement acceptability. These results provide new evidence for the application of this botanical blend in pet supplement formulations for daily behavioral support, with measurable benefits in specific fear- and stress-related behaviors beyond placebo effects.