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CBD for dogs anxiety

CBD Oil for Dogs with Anxiety

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Dogs become anxious for many reasons. They may not be getting enough exercise, stimulation, or interaction, so they become bored and potentially destructive. They may be rescued and are having a difficult time adjusting to their new environment. Or they may feel anxious due to weather changes (such as heavy rains, strong winds, or booming thunder) or when left alone. One thing more and more pet people are reaching for is CBD for dogs’ anxiety. It may not be a miracle, but it can often help—sometimes by a lot. 

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Anxious

Your dog may not be able to tell you with words that they’re feeling anxious, stressed, or fearful, but they’re likely providing a lot of signs. Some common symptoms include:

  • Pacing
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Whimpering
  • Hypervigilance (ears up, eyes scanning and dilated)
  • Licking lips
  • Yawning frequently
  • Decreased appetite (even avoiding the distraction of treats)
  • Drooling
  • Panting and increased heart rate
  • Overgrooming (sometimes even inflicting injury)
  • Aggression
Photo by Christoph Schmid on Unsplash

How to Treat Dog Anxiety

While it’s easy to get frustrated with an anxious dog, it’s important to stay calm, supportive, and patient. After all, isn’t that what helps most of us when we’re feeling unsettled? 

Take a look around the environment. Is there anything you can do to remove the triggers that lead to anxiety? Of course, some triggers can’t be removed. No one can stop thunderstorms or prevent people from celebrating with fireworks. And most of us can’t move to get away from a busy street or noisy neighbor.

Animal behaviorists can also help, especially if the problems become more concerning. They may help you better determine why your dog is getting stressed and work with you to remove triggers. For example, a behaviorist may be able to:

  • Help you determine triggers like other dogs, people, or overstimulation, and provide calming solutions.
  • Provide ideas for quiet places to walk and games you can play at home instead of heading to a stressful dog park.
  • Help you create a calming sanctuary room or space for your dog where they can relax and unwind when it’s loud (e.g., fireworks and thunderstorms) or you have visitors. 
  • Provide training or games to help you modify behavior.

Working with your vet, you may be able to help get to the bottom of any medical issues that could be leading to increased anxiety levels. Some vets even prescribe anti-anxiety medications like Prozac. However, as with humans, these types of medications don’t work for all dogs and can cause distressing side effects.  

That’s where CBD for dogs’ anxiety may help. 

Photo by Justin Veenema on Unsplash

Can CBD Help Dog Anxiety?

CBD is a compound found in oils extracted from the hemp plant, specifically the leaves, stems, and flower (bud).

One concern with CBD for dogs’ anxiety many people have is that it can “get the dog high.” Fortunately, CBD products for dogs come from the hemp plant, which contains negligible levels of THC (0.3% or less). Because it lacks the psychoactive component, it will not make your dog feel high, stoned, or to act “funny.”

Instead, CBD oils interact with the body’s natural cannabinoid system in a way that helps relax, soothe, and calm an anxious, nervous, or stressed dog. Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body as part of the central nervous system, organs, and brain and are referred to as the “endocannabinoid system.” When CBD chemicals connect with these receptors, the body creates serotonin, which is our body’s natural mood stabilizer and “feel-good” hormone. 

How Much CBD Oil for Dogs with Anxiety? 

How much CBD oil dogs with anxiety needs depends on the size of the dog as well as the concentration of CBD within the product. For ABSC Organics, you can find the dosage guidelines here. 

When given the correct amount of CBD for their size and metabolism, dogs often experience near-immediate relief. Others may take a few days. Watch your dog closely after providing them with CBD oil and even take some notes on small or subtle improvements as well as bigger breakthroughs. You may want to increase or decrease the amount depending on how your dog reacts when in stressful situations.

While there’s still a lot to learn about the positive effects of CBD oil when it comes to dogs with anxiety, CBD offers promising potential, and many pet parents have found profound relief. 

Best CBD for Dog Anxiety

There are a lot of CBD products available for pets. Unfortunately, not all of them are created equal. For example, some research has found large discrepancies between what’s on the label and what’s actually in the product. 

The best CBD for dog anxiety is high quality, transparent as far as the ingredients, organic, free from GMOs, pesticides, and herbicides, and provides information on how much CBD is in the product as well as third-party testing to show the information is accurate.

Ready to see how the best CBD for pets—ABSC Organics—can help your pet live a more vibrant, healthy life? Get started here. 

Related Information: 

References: 

Lofgren SE, Wiener P, Blott SC, Sanchez-Molano E, Woolliams JA, Clements DN, Haskell MJ. Management and personality in Labrador Retriever dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2014 Jul 1;156:44-53. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159114001099

Dreschel NA. The effects of fear and anxiety on health and lifespan in pet dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2010 Jul 1;125(3-4):157-62. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159110001243 

Bonn-Miller MO, Loflin MJ, Thomas BF, Marcu JP, Hyke T, Vandrey R. Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. JAMA. 2017 Nov 7;318(17):1708-9.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2661569