Just like people, many dogs suffer from mental illness throughout their lives. While we may be stressed by email inboxes, financial worries, and keeping up with our social calendars, dogs are equally anxious by modern life.
Dogs bred to work on farms or assist in search and rescue are currently being required to live in suburban areas with minimal amounts of exercise and mental stimulation. Many dogs have also faced trauma when being moved home or subjected to negative forms of training.
No fear though. Pet parents today have many ways to recognize and reduce anxiety in their dogs.
Symptoms of anxiety in dogs
How do you know if your dog is stressed or anxious? Symptoms include:
- Bark
- yawn
- creepy
- Mouth tight, tight
- tail down
- Urinate or defecate in the house
- Growl, growl, rush, bite
- Obsessive behaviors, such as licking or chewing
- Hide
- gasp
- Eating too much or consuming too much water
Causes of anxiety in dogs
Anxiety can be caused by many factors, including:
- Breed/genetic predisposition
- Not getting enough exercise or mental stimulation
- hurt
- Negative training techniques
- Lack of socialization as a child
- Medical conditions including mental illness
Many effective tools can be used to help dogs reduce stress and anxiety. Here are five of the most effective in my practice.
- Exercise (physical/mental)
Exercise is the most underrated treatment for canine anxiety. Daily exercise, especially outside, can dramatically change your puppy’s brain chemistry for the better. Walking is like meditation for dogs, especially when they have a chance to sniff and meander. Other forms of exercise like hiking, running, agility training, and pitching can quell anxiety when done regularly.
If your dog is overweight or underweight, start slowly and increase the duration and intensity of exercise slightly to avoid injury. If you are unsure about your dog’s physical condition, consult your veterinarian for clarification.
Chronic boredom is a one-way ticket to anxiety, and our dogs need mental stimulation to exercise their brains, too. This can happen in the form of solving a puzzle about food, a scent, or learning a new skill. Knowing your dog’s personality and what they like will greatly help in choosing these new activities.
- modify the environment
Creating a more peaceful and serene environment will reduce stress and anxiety for your dog. When possible, removing stressors from their daily environment can help increase overall happiness.
For example, close the curtains if seeing other people and animals is too stressful for your puppy. Avoiding crowded parks and walkways can be warranted if interactions with other strange dogs are active.
Adding pheromones, sound machines, and relaxing classical music are also easy ways to create a more peaceful environment.
- Behavior modification/training
Dog training is more than just teaching your dog how to sit! Effective coaching can also teach them new ways to self-soothe and redirect nervous energy. Learning new skills can be very important for dogs that are bred for work. The like Border Collies, Australian Shepherd and Australian Cattle Dogs are prone to anxiety if not given adequate mental stimulation.
Training can also expose your dog to new situations and help increase their tolerance to a variety of stimuli. Desensitization of your dog to these exposures is most successful when done at an early age, however, it is never too late to assist your dog in adjusting to life’s stressors. .
When choosing a dog trainer or training method, be sure to use only positive reinforcement training philosophies. Negative reinforcement training can have very dangerous effects and even exacerbate anxiety in your dog. Negative methods include:
- electronic necklace
- screaming
- violently pulling strings
- beaten
Trainers who use these methods to dominate the dog should be avoided.
For dogs that are particularly anxious, pharmaceutical interventions such as Prozac or other anti-anxiety medications can be extremely helpful during training. Many dog parents are concerned that these medications could be detrimental in the long run. This simply does not happen when administered under veterinary guidance. Uncontrolled anxiety can have a more negative and lasting effect on a dog’s physical health than anti-anxiety medications.
- downtown
CBD is a great tool for managing anxiety. CBD is a component of the hemp plant that helps increase serotonin, reduce inflammation, and increase your dog’s overall sense of well-being. Other components of hemp, such as CBG, CBN, terpenes and others, may also play an important role in reducing anxiety.
When choosing CBD products for your dog, consider the following:
- Concentration. Many products labeled for pets are less concentrated and therefore may require higher volumes to achieve therapeutic effects. I recommend using a product with 30 milligrams of CBD per milliliter of oil. Less concentrated formulas may cause you to struggle to put a few tablespoons of CBD oil in your dog’s mouth. Much denser formulas, while effective, can have a foul odor that makes your puppy unappetizing. I love HempRx Forte because, at 30 mg/ml, it is well concentrated and the most palatable product on the market.
- Source and purity. Make sure the product you buy comes from organically grown hemp. Pesticide residues should be avoided, especially for small dogs. Make sure the manufacturer can provide a certificate of analysis for each batch, demonstrating their concentration and purity.
- high school. Make sure the product you buy contains less than 0.3% THC. Dogs are extremely sensitive to THC and ingestion can worsen their anxiety symptoms.
- quantitative. Many pet-specific CBD products on the market have dosage recommendations much lower than therapeutic dosages. I start my patients on 0.5 mg/kg CBD twice daily. To convert your dog’s weight from pounds to kilograms, simply divide by 2.2. Once your dog’s weight has been converted to kilograms, multiply by 0.5 to get the number of milligrams. (See chart.)
If this initial dose is insufficient, the dose may be increased to 2 mg/kg twice daily. For example, if you have a 50 lb (22.7 kg) dog, you can provide up to 45 mg of CBD twice daily. Eg:
| 10 pound dog | 4.5kg x 0.5mg/kg | 2.25mg twice daily (Total 4.5mg) |
| 20 pound dog | 9kg x .5mg/kg | 4.5mg twice daily (9mg total) |
| 30 pound dog | 13.6kg | 6.8 twice daily (13.6 mg total) |
| 50 pound dog | 22.7kg | 11.35 twice daily (Total 22.7) |
| 70 pound dog | 31.75kg | 15.9 twice daily (Total 31.8) |
While more research is needed, hemp extract is not known to interact with medications. However, increase it slowly if your dog is taking medications that increase serotonin, such as trazodone or SSRIs (Prozac or other antidepressants). When people or animals take more than one medication or supplement that increase serotonin, a condition called serotonin syndrome can result. This has not been documented with CBD use, but it is theoretically possible.
CBD usually improves anxiety within a day or two, but some dogs may need to take it for one to two weeks before feeling relief.
- food supplement
Supplements can be a great source for anxiety management in conjunction with other tools. Here are some of the anxiety-reducing supplements available:
- L-theanine for dogs. This amino acid helps increase serotonin and may promote overall health. It is known to be safe and effective. For some sensitive dogs, it may cause mild drowsiness at high doses.
- Magnesium glycinate for dogs. There are several forms of magnesium available online and in health food stores. This form is best for anxiety. Start with a small dose and increase it gradually to avoid loose stools.
- Chrysanthemums for dogs. This gentle and safe herb is commonly found in anti-anxiety supplements for dogs and people, and is also commonly found in tea. Chamomile can also help with digestive disorders.
- Original Valerian for dogs. This calming herb is safe for dogs and works better when combined with hops. It has a rather strong smell, so it is usually found in capsule form.
When adding supplements, remember to add them one at a time and record the start date, dosage adjustment, and results in dog health magazine. This helps you understand the effectiveness of each, as well as observe any side effects.
Your dog’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. It’s been proven that a person’s mental health directly affects their physical health, and your puppy is no different.
Reducing your dog’s stress and anxiety can have a profound impact on their quality of life and overall longevity. Advocating for their full health is the best way to show the love and devotion you have for your puppy!
