Fireworks season, a house move, the carrier coming out of the cupboard: most anxiety in pets is predictable, and the predictable part is the useful part. Something you can give ahead of a known flashpoint is worth considerably more than something you reach for once the dog is already wedged under the bed. This is an 18ml gel in a syringe applicator, given in small measured amounts.

The syringe format is the genuinely practical bit. It lets you measure a dose rather than guess at one, and it gives you three ways in: straight onto a finger to be licked off, smeared onto a paw, or stirred through food. Cats in particular are far easier to dose that way than with a tablet. It is intended for both cats and dogs, and it is not a sedative, so it should not leave your pet groggy.

• 18ml gel
• Syringe applicator for measured dosing
• Give on a finger, on a paw, or mixed into food
• Suitable for both cats and dogs
• Aimed at travel, fireworks, vet visits and household upheaval

Please be realistic about this. A calming gel is a supplement, not a medicine, and at best it takes the edge off mild situational nerves. It will not resolve separation anxiety, a noise phobia, or a genuinely terrified animal, and those need a vet and often a behaviourist. Speak to your vet first if your pet is pregnant, unwell, elderly or already on medication.

Who it's for: Owners of mildly anxious cats or dogs facing a known, short-lived stressful event, who want something simple to try alongside proper preparation.