By Dr. Min An
All dogs have different personalities. They may be prone to barking, cuddling, curious or just goofy. And, over time, their behaviors can change too. Some dogs are fearful and easily triggered for anxiety, leaving their pet parents at a loss for how to help them stay calm.
Quick story: We know the cutest rescue, a hound, lab mix named Pawlly. She looks big and tough but she’s just a big scaredy cat. One day, Pawlly was left alone for a few hours when her owners went to run some errands. While they were gone, a thunderstorm rolled in and it was LOUD. Lightening cracked, the wind roared and rain beat against the windows. Pawlly was terrified.
When her owners got home, the apartment door was wide open and Pawlly was hiding in a corner down the hall – shaking (did we tell you? Pawlly knows how to open doors). Inside, there was blood splattered everywhere because Pawlly was so anxious to get away from the noise that she ripped out her dewclaw trying to open the door. When Pawlly went to the vet to get patched up, the vet prescribed Trazodone to deal with future anxieties like fireworks and thunderstorms..
For those of you unfamiliar with Trazodone, it’s a SARI (serotonin antagonist reuptake inhibitors). It’s also used to treat depression in humans. Trazodone works by helping to restore the balance of serotonin in the brain. Of course, as with any drug, it does come with side effects. The adverse effect for Trazodone in dogs is currently not well documented. Potential side effects for dogs are:
- Lethargy
- Sedation,
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Panting
- Shaking
- Restlessness
- Agitation
Aside from the above, Trazodone can also interact negatively with other medicines that your pet is on.
After doing research, Pawlly’s owner decided to take natural measures (Trazodone would be a last resort) and decided to try CBD oil for Pawlly. While more studies are still being conducted for CBD benefits for dogs, some early studies have shown CBD oil to help ease:
- Anxiety and stress
- Moderate to severe pain
- Chronic inflammation
- Arthritis
- Joint pain
- Seizures
- Digestion problems
There are so many reasons why your furry friend may show signs of anxiety and aggression. Unfortunately, they can’t speak so it is important to try to figure out what the triggers are.
CBD oil shows great promise in reducing anxiety in both humans and dogs. It is often found that aggressive behaviors are rooted in anxiety, CBD oil can help reduce aggression by reducing the anxiety.
Both humans and pets have an endocannabinoid system (ECS). Many people refer to ECS as a “meta-system” because it penetrates so many other systems in our bodies. The ECS’s primary function is balancing all the other systems of the body. The ECS acts as a bridge between the body and mind, so as the CBD oil affects the endocannabinoid receptors in your dog’s body, it helps to calm their mind. When the world looks less frightening to your dog, they will display less anxious or aggressive behaviors.
Further research is still being done on the effects of CBD oil on pets, if you decide to give your pet CBD oil, consult with your vet first. Some key things to remember when selecting a CBD oil for your pet:
- Choose an organic brand / oil
- Find out how it’s processed
- Is the product 3rd-party tested?
- What’s the THC level? (high levels of THC could be harmful for your pet)
- Start with a low dose and in accordance to your pet’s size
As for Pawlly, she is now using Buzzn’s Puppy Potion. With daily and consistent use, she is calmer and more relaxed even though she does still like to whine for attention and treats.
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