Sileo and Dog Noise Anxiety, Big Pharma’s Newest 'Treatment' – Not Recommended
★ 5 min read
In this article:
- About Sileo
- Problematic Ingredients in Sileo
- Zoetis and FDA Warnings Regarding Use of Sileo
- Health Contradictions Regarding Use of Sileo
- Sileo is Not The Answer, Do This Instead
1. About Sileo
Big Pharma’s newest ‘treatment’ for
dog noise anxiety – ‘SILEO’ (dexmoedetomidine oromucosal gel), is made by
Zoetis, a large pharmaceutical company that supplies many drugs to the
veterinarian industry.
SILEO is the latest in a series of
conventional anti-anxiety drugs Big Pharma has migrated from human use, to use
for dogs. These drugs include Alprazolam (Xanax), Clomicalm (Clomipramine),
Clonazepam (Klonopin), Diazepam (Vallium), and Reconcile
(Prozac). Despite the dangers posed by the drug, Reconcile received FDA approval. And now SILEO.
The active ingredient in SILEO - dexmedtetomidine
is a synthetic-chemical sedative (alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist), first developed as a drug for humans, later migrated
to use for dogs and cats. Dexmedetomidine
has 3 main clinical applications:
- Prolonged sedation in hospital settings.
- General anesthesia, and procedural sedation.
- Dulling (obtunding) emergency delirium.
Most dog owners would prefer a
happy dog to one that is anxious - whines, pants, paces, drools, and trembles
with his/her heart racing.
BUT is SILEO a beneficial option for an anxious
dog? Let’s take a closer look, but before we do keep the following in mind…
Last week, Valeant Pharmaceuticals’
CEO, J. Michael Pearson stated “we’re in business of shareholder profit, not
helping the sick”. The, “we’re” Mr. Pearson is referring to, is Big Pharma.
2. Problematic Ingredients in SILEO
Active ingredient
Inactive Ingredients
- Hyprolose (hydroxypropyl cellulose, or HPMC) –
- Derived from wood pulp or another plant material such as corn, synthesized with propylene oxide.
- Cellulose - can cause gastrointestinal issues.
- Propylene glycol –
- A PEG compound that can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1, 4-dioxine both of which are carcinogens.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) –
- Can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1, 4-dioxine both of which are carcinogens.
- Hydrochloric acid 10% -
- A corrosive.
- Sodium hydroxide 2M –
- An inorganic compound made from sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, lye) - skin, eye and mucous irritant, toxic by ingestion.
- Brilliant blue FCF (E133) –
- A food coloring is an allergen, toxin and carcinogen.
- Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow no 5, E102) –
- A food coloring is an allergen, toxin and carcinogen.
- Purified water
As you can see from the list above,
SILEO contains multiple toxic, inflammatory ingredients that adversely affect
the immune system, can damage gut health, and cause inflammation throughout
the body. If a dog is exposed
to these problematic ingredients once or twice in his/her lifetime, the
negative impact on health is minimal. However SILEO is not designed or marketed
as a ‘one time treatment’. It is
marketed as a treatment to be used on a repeated basis – whenever the ‘need’
arises. The same inactive ingredients in SILEO are used in a wide range of other
products. Unless the dog’s owner is vigilant – the daily intake of these and
similar toxins can quickly reach a critical mass. The inflammatory ingredients
are also found in…
- Highly processed dry or canned dog ‘food’ and ‘treats’.
- Vaccines, which is just one of the reasons why it is so important to avoid over vaccination. (vaccination on an annual, two year, or 3 year vaccination ‘program’).
- Conventional OTC or veterinary prescribed flea, tick, heartworm preventatives.
- Other conventional drugs, including those used during surgery.
- Conventional, and many marketed as ‘natural’...
- Ear cleaners.
- Eye drops.
- Grooming products such as shampoo and oral ‘health’ products.
- Supplements.
3. Zoetis and FDA Warnings Regarding Use of Sileo
- ‘Impermeable’ disposable gloves should be worn to fill and handle the syringe, administer the drug, or when coming into contact with the dog’s mouth after application of SILEO.
- SILEO is not to be touched by pregnant woman as exposure – that includes simple contact of the drug on skin, can induce contractions and decrease fetal blood pressure.
- SILEO is absorbed by coming into direct exposure to skin, eyes, and mouth. In case of accidental exposure to eyes and content lenses you are supposed to rinse for 15 minutes and then seek medical advice immediately.
- Accidental exposure can cause sedation and changes in blood pressure. In case of accidental exposure you are to seek immediate medical attention.
There are more warnings listed for
SILEO, the above is a sampling.
Are the alarm bells going off in
your mind yet?
Does this drug sound like something you want to place in your dog’s
mouth?
In my opinion, SILEO is NOT a safe,
nor is SILEO an ethical option for treating dog noise anxiety.
Dosing SILEO
- First step, put on those impermeable gloves.
- Second step, place the SILEO gel onto the mucosa between the dog’s cheek and gum.
Scroll back up to the list of
inactive ingredients – are you sure you want to put SILEO in your dog’s mouth?
4. Health Contradictions Regarding Use Of Sileo
Not for dogs with:
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Hypotension
- Respiratory conditions
- Liver or kidney disease
- Dogs in conditions of –
- Shock
- Severe debilitation
- Stress due to extreme heat
- Stress due to extreme cold
- Stress due to fatigue
- Dogs allergic to the active ingredient.
- More here.
Of course, Zoetis makes no mention
of allergies to the inactive ingredients. Sileo is contradicted for the noted conditions because SILEO has adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, blood pressure, respiratory system, effects and burdens the liver and kidneys. SILEO might be a case of 'when the treatment' is worse than the condition being treated'.
Sileo is NOT the Answer, Do This Instead
Clearly SILEO has not been designed
with a dog’s health uppermost in mind. Just another example of Big Pharma
putting their shareholders’ profit first, and the health of a dog last.
I have had many rescued dogs in my
own pack that come with extreme noise anxiety – including fireworks anxiety,
gunshot anxiety, and thunder anxiety. I have taught many clients how to treat
and remedy their dogs’ noise anxiety without the use of drugs.
If you want to treat and remedy
anxiety using natural methods (which is what I recommend), a comprehensive
approach includes working on becoming a ‘mind-full’ guardian to your dog.
You can start that process by:
- Learning about good stress, bad stress, and communication.
- Work on exercises for self-control, and better communication – this exercise is a good start.
- Learn to stop your dog’s pacing, and enable calm.
- Get your dog on a real food diet that supports optimal brain function, immune and gut health.
- Clean-up your dog’s health care regimen.
- Make sure your dog gets structured exercise (physical and psychological) on a daily basis. Work on recall exercises.
- You can incorporate use of appropriate essential oils, or Bach flower essence.
You now have a plan to begin
working on remedying anxiety naturally, without conventional medications.
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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld
