Does your special four-legged friend suffer from anxiety? Finding the right treatment for your anxious dog can be challenging, especially when you want an alternative solution to the usual options suggested by vets. Let’s be honest—it can become very expensive! Luckily, CBD oil is being used for alternative treatments for many underlying health issues, common to both humans and animals.
If you look at the various CBD oil uses for dogs, you’ll discover that it’s often used to help animals suffering with anxiety. With ongoing research, more evidence is surfacing supporting the use of CBD oil for helping pets with underlying health conditions including anxiety.
If you’re wondering if CBD oil is the solution to your dog’s anxious behavior, read on to find out more about using this alternative treatment.
What Does CBD Oil for Dogs Contain?
The most common question asked by pet owners when exploring CBD oil uses for dogs is, “Will my dog have hallucinations?”. The answer is no, as long as there is less than 0.3% THC in the product. Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is a compound found in the cannabis plant and it’s responsible for the “high feeling” or hallucinations most commonly associated with this plant.
A high-quality CBD oil contains 100% CBD (or cannabidiol) which is one of the many natural compounds found in the cannabis plant. It contains no THC and the compound is extracted for its many healing properties.
When buying CBD oil for your anxious dog, always make sure it is:
- Pharmaceutically certified with the local regulatory boards
- Regularly tested and approved for meeting stringent manufacturing standards
Reports by many pet owners using 100% CBD oil do indicate it’s a worthwhile alternative treatment to use for your dog.
How Can CBD Oil Benefit Anxious Dogs?
There are many reasons your dog becomes anxious. They could be suffering from separation anxiety or have lived through a traumatic experience. Fireworks and other loud noises are known to trigger an anxiety attack in dogs. And, if you like to take your dog on holiday with you, they may suffer from travel anxiety, be it on the plane or in the car.
What’s more, chronic anxiety in dogs can lead to other health problems such as digestive issues, lowered immune system and high blood pressure. By incorporating CBD oil into your dog’s daily health routine, they’ll have an overall sense of wellbeing which helps them to cope better during more stressful times.
CBD oil uses for dogs with anxiety has been shown to help them relax and even sleep through certain situations that would normally cause them to become stressed. Scientific studies have shown that the cannabidiols, such as CBD, interact with the endocannabinoid system in both humans and animals. This interaction contributes to create balance in the body’s functioning and maintaining a healthy state.
What Are the Risks of CBD Oil Uses for Dogs?
Whether you’re using conventional or alternative treatments for your anxious dog, there will always be some potential risks. If you decide to include CBD oil in your dog’s daily health plan, make sure you’re aware of and help manage the following possible side effects:
- Dry mouth which will make your dog thirstier than usual
- A drop in blood pressure which could cause your dog to become dizzy or lightheaded
- Drowsiness
The most common side effect is drowsiness and this can be minimised. Manufacturers recommend introducing CBD oil in lower doses, over a few weeks, before increasing to the full dosage. This helps your dog get used to the product and you can monitor whether there are any allergic reactions. If the latter does happen, you can simply stop adding it to his or her meal plan.
How to Use CBD Oil for Anxious Dogs
Your vet or CBD oil supplier will develop an appropriate treatment plan for your anxious dog when using this product. They’ll advise on the best dosage and how often to use it. Some pet owners report only using CBD oil when the dog suffers from anxiety during fireworks or travelling. But, if your dog suffers from chronic anxiety, you’ll want to incorporate CBD oil as part of their daily treatment plan.
When using CBD oil, it’s also essential to implement other strategies that will help minimise your dog’s level of anxiety.
1. Remove All Stressors
Consider what other stressors in your dog’s immediate environment could be contributing to his anxiety. These could include:
- A loud TV or radio playing all day and night. This includes your children’s video games.
- The vacuum cleaner or any other loud household appliance.
- Fighting or squabbling children—and adults—in the home
When you’re aware of stressors, you can find ways to limit them and keep your dog calmer than before.
2. Create a Safe Spot
Life must go on and those carpets do need to be vacuumed! By creating a safe and cosy spot for your dog, you’re giving them a secure environment to go to when it does get too noisy for him. This could be a small room in the house, with a comfortable dog bed and some of his or her favourite toys close by. You could also make sure they have some treats to nibble on.
3. Include Exercise
Exercise is known to calm most dogs and help them maintain a healthy body. Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise during the day, by playing games with you and going for walks. Paired with a good diet, exercise will help keep your dog’s anxiety at bay.
Final Thoughts
Taking advantage of the many CBD oil uses for dogs means you can give your anxious pooch a helping hand when battling with anxiety. Incorporating CBD oil into their daily treatment plan not only improves their overall wellbeing but also keeps their stress levels down.
Simply remember: always use high-quality products such as CBD oil for pets from Vitozol so you know you’re giving your dog the best alternative treatment.
Photo by Cristina Anne Costello on Unsplash
