Can CBD Reduce Stress in Dogs?
Loud events, large crowds, car trips – our dogs accompany us every day and are exposed to many situations that cause stress and uncertainty. How can you recognize stress in your four-legged friend and how may CBD contribute to a relaxed life for your pooch? Read on to find out.
What Is Stress Like for Dogs?
Firstly, the most important question! Stress is a natural reaction of the body, for both humans and dogs, to psychological and physical stimuli. It isn’t necessarily anything negative: the physical stress reaction enables adaptation to changes in environment and challenging situations, which some call the ‘fight or flight’ response.
With regard to the developmental history of all animals, stress was even essential: the condition enables short-term physical and mental high performance. However, today, it’s not predators chasing us, but modern-day worries, and the same goes for our pets.
If gone untreated, this kind of stress can have a negative impact on our wellbeing, both for us humans and for our dogs.
Dog experts advise closely observing the individual stress behaviour of one’s own dog, which means examining your dog’s everyday life in detail. The knowledge can be used to help keep your dog healthy and happy –and to avoid excessive or insufficient demands in everyday life.
How Do I Know My Dog Is Stressed?
Individual symptoms: like humans, dogs deal with stress differently. General signs that may indicate stress are as follows:
- Increased salivation
- More frequent cleaning and licking of fur and paws
- Taking a defensive stance
- Tremors and muscle tension
- Frequent barking
- Increased body tension (erect tail and neck hair, shallow panting)
- Digestive problems and gastrointestinal upset
- Aggressive behaviour
If you notice one or more of these symptoms in your dog, it is advisable to identify what is, or may be, triggering these responses from your dog. Is it loud noises? Separation? Lack of stimulation, etc.
A good example of this is the constant noise and unfamiliar popping noises over several hours that is a New Year’s Eve celebration, which can mean stress for almost every dog –and is also a real ordeal for the owner. Cannabidiol (CBD) may support your dog in situations and environments that would otherwise be difficult to handle, so that you can hopefully both be happy and relaxed.
CBD for Stressed Dogs
In animals, CBD is often used as a natural, alternative means of calming. Compared to us humans, dogs have a particularly high number of endocannabinoid receptors in the brainstem and cerebellum.
CBD for dogs, can be differently dosed and adapted to the weight and breed of your favourite pooches.
Important: Before buying, make sure that your product contains little or no THC. Dogs are particularly sensitive to THC. And, as always, check with your vet prior to administering any supplements for your pets.
Dosage of CBD Oil for Dogs
Wondered what the difference between the dosages, and weight difference is for individual dogs? Ensure that you refer to a dosage guide which may prove useful, but remember that dosages are individually determined. In general, start low, go slow, and monitor closely
Final Thoughts
Stress is not only an issue for us humans, dogs also react sensitively to different stimuli. However, this often goes unnoticed by us humans until symptoms such as tremors appear. If you know the different triggers of stress and the signs, you can act consciously in appropriate situations to help your pooch. Relaxation training, supplements and play may be used as additional support against stress and insecurity, so that you and your best friend may go through life relaxed.
Another thing to take home from this article is that our pets can feed off our emotions, so if you’re feeling similar feelings, please click on the links provided above, and make sure you’re living a calm relaxing life as well.
Finally, be sure to do your research regarding CBD and your pets, and you may find solutions to problems you didn’t know you had, or even something for you too. Do consider CBD for yourself & some for your best friend because life, and all its stresses may be alleviated with this little thing we call CBD!