TV vet Dr Chris Brown’s new business venture with new Drool dog treats

Australia’s popular TV vet Dr Chris Brown heard the message loud and clear from 30,000 pet owners. Now he has decided to act.

Fur babies adopted during the pandemic are beginning to show signs of separation anxiety, as coronavirus restrictions ease and people return to the office.

With more than two million households across Australia acquiring a pet since the start of the pandemic, vets are concerned they will see a surge in mental and physical challenges among dogs and cats.

It’s what prompted TV vet Dr Chris Brown to address the health issue by launching his own dog treat range.

After he surveyed nearly 30,000 dog and cat owners, anxiety issues topped the list as the number concern, ahead of joint and weight problems.

“In the challenges of being left alone, for the first time in their lives, that just has never happened to them,” he said.

“And so as a result of that, they’re finding life very lonely, and pets don’t really have the coping mechanisms in place to do that, combined with joint soreness from hitting up the park more in the last year than they will in their entire lifetime.

“These (findings) are backed up by what we see in the vet hospital. How our pets struggle with the ups and downs of everyday life can’t be ignored.”

Dr Chris Brown puts his Drool dog treats to the test. Picture: Supplied

Dr Cristy Secombe, from the Australian Veterinary Association, said the organisation expected to see separation anxiety as a “potentially increasing problem”, as many people had not yet returned to full time work.

“Dogs, particularly young puppies, are not used to having periods of separation, and it can be a difficult transition from having an owner home 24/7 to being at work over 40 hours per week,” she said.

“What is very important is that if pets are not transitioning well, then owners should see their veterinarians to help them manage their behaviour, as they may require medications to reduce anxiety.”

RSPCA Queensland also stressed the importance of consulting a vet when pets seemed to be suferring separation anxiety.

It also suggested trying desinsitisation.

First, go about your normal pre-leaving ritual, then sit back down on the couch. Repeat this so the dog understands these cues don’t always mean you’re leaving.

Work up to walking towards the door, touching the handle, then sitting back down. Next it’s stepping out the door before coming back in.

Leave the house for short periods of time (start with a few seconds) and slowly increase the duration.

The RSPCA also suggests such things as trying a pet sitter or doggy day care, ensuring dogs get enough exercise when you are home, leaving long-lasting treat toys to offer them mental stimulation while they’re alone, trying music to calm them, providing them with a safe location to go, such as their bed, and taking them to training classes.

It also stressed the importance of ensuring the animal carried identification in case they escaped.

Sometimes our pets can become sad and anxious, too. Picture: iStock

Dr Brown, who fans regularly see on hit reality TV show I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, has created his own dog treats, called Drool.

Despite being a household name, who is also a brand ambassador for the popular Optimum pet food range, Dr Brown said his latest venture was a solo project.

Manufactured with high quality chicken breast sourced from Victorian farms, it includes hand-picked supplements to help manage common conditions such as anxiety and joint soreness.

The range, which launches today on his website and through Petbarn and Petstock, includes protein bliss balls, training treats and meal snacks.

“I hear what’s important to people and the thing that keeps on coming up is that people have kind of lost faith in what’s in their pet food and in their treats as well,” he said.

“There’s a need for a treat that is nutritious and has real ingredients.

“But also treats that have real health benefits that really target those very 2021 health challenges that all our dogs and all our pandemic pets are facing.”

However, Dr Brown stressed that the product did not replace other supplements prescribed by a vet.

“These treats are part of a broader health plan that you can work on with your vet,” he said.

“Managing a dog or a cat and their health, it’s a real team effort. And these treats are part of the effort.”

According to research by IBISWorld, the pet food production market in Australia is now worth $580m in Australia and is estimated to continue growing strongly over the next five years.

By 2026, industry revenue is estimated to reach $845.5 million, with new services such as pet meal subscription options and telehealth vet services.

Originally published as TV vet Dr Chris Brown’s new business venture with new Drool dog treats