Solliquin Is a Supplement That Changed My Foster Cat’s Life
Solliquin is a supplement that has significantly helped my foster cat Lucy relax, to the point that I feel the need to tell everyone with pets about it (sorry!). In this entry, I’ll explore how it works, tied to the changes I’ve seen in Lucy. Next, we’ll step into the world of some science sh*t – the blood brain barrier (BBB), neurotransmitters and more. As Liz, your Kitty Scientist, I’ll break it all down.
Don’t want a science lesson and just want to try it? All good. You can get Solliquin on Amazon and try it on your anxious pet/foster, and LMK what you think. As always, ask your vet about adverse effects before starting.
What Is Solliquin
To start, Solliquin is a supplement manufactured by Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc. Lucy’s acupuncturist is also an oncologist, and she said Nutramax is known as a reliable and quality supplement company. Solliquin calms cats and dogs, and is available in chews for both, and tablets for medium to large dogs. The ingredients are:
- L-Theanine
- Magnolia/Phellodendron
- Whey Protein Concentrate – According to Nutramax’s website, this is a high-quality protein source that supplements 10 amino acids including the precursors of glutathione and serotonin. I wasn’t able to find anything else about it.
Next, I’ll explain how I understand L-Theanine and Magnolia/Phallodendron work in the brain. Keep in mind, more studies need to be done to further confirm the effects of these components. Also, I’m not a vet or scientist. This is dummied down explanation.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea that has been shown to have calming effects without inducing drowsiness. To get to the brain, a substance must cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). L-Theanine wants to join the party in the brain and hitches a ride on an amino acid transport to get across the BBB. Once there, L-Theanine does two really big things.
Prevents Excitability
First, it goes to where glutamate, the amino acid and neurotransmitter responsible for excitability, hangs out. L-Theanine mimics glutamate enough to bind to the receptor, and blocks glutamate from binding, basically telling it to chill the F out. As a result, excitability is avoided.
Increases Calming Effects & Improves Alertness
Second, L-Theanine goes to the zen yoga studio of the brain. GABA is a relaxing neurotransmitter. L-Theanine stimulates the production of more GABA, which results in calming and anti-anxiety effects. One difference between L-Theanine and some medications that mimic GABA is that L-Theanine doesn’t produce sleepiness or impaired motor behavior. In human studies, it appears to improve alertness and attention.
Magnolia/Phellodendron
Next, let’s look at Magnolia and Phellodendron which are barks of medicinal plants and considered traditional remedies for reducing stress and anxiety. Studies show they reduce cortisol, a stress hormone related to fight or flight. Magnolia contains the ingredients magnolol and honokiol, which enhance the activity of GABA receptors. Remember – GABA binds to GABA receptors and it increases calming effects.
Results from Cat on Solliquin
Within days of given Lucy, my long-term foster, the Solliquin supplement, I notice drastic changes. Now, a few weeks in, here are some of the improvements I’ve noticed.
- Increase in physical activity and alertness.Now, instead of walking on her cat wheel, she runs, and for longer chunks of time.
- Increase in positive vocalization. Another positive, Lucy chirps at me when she sees me.
- Increase in affection. For instance, headbutts and lap naptime are now part of her norm.
- Increase in scent marking. As a result, Lucy rubs against me and everything in the room.
- Increase in purring & decrease in growling. For a long time, I’d never heard her purr, because growling was her go-to noise.
- Decrease in huffing & over stimulation. As a result of how Lucy’s brain works, she has a stress response where she smells the air really fast, and I call it huffing. It’s her way to process stimuli as fast as possible. Often after her huffing she gets over stimulated and is growling and upset. She still does this, but not very much.
- Decrease in sensitivity. Specifically, I touch Lucy’s belly, side, and base of her back, which used to be no-no places.
- Decrease in tail movement. Lucy’s tail used to flick all the time, even in her sleep.
- Decrease in muscle twitching and no removal of needles during acupuncture. She normally at least knocks out the needles in her head (for calming), but during her last session, she left them all in for the entire 30-min. session.
Solliquin for Stressed Pets, Shelter Animals & Fosters
So many pets, shelter animals, and animals in foster care have anxiety and stress. If Solliquin could even give 10% of them relief, I think it’s worth a shot. I’m not a vet or scientist and I haven’t done brain scans on Lucy. What I’ve shared is what I’ve read, coupled with what I’ve observed (and a lot of you have seen in my recent Lucy videos). The way Solliquin supposedly works makes sense, but I have to say, it’s possible it works for some other reason. I have no way to validate that. All I can say is it’s made Lucy SO MUCH happier. It may be worth a shot for animal in your life.
What’s Wrong with Lucy?
Sources: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, “Effect of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora) on cortisol and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects”; LlifeExtension, “Brian Benefits of L-Theanine”; Alschuler, Lise. “Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) An Overview of the Research and Clinical Indications.”