Alleviating Dog Anxiety
We’ve all heard the saying “it’s just a dog”. But if you’re anything like us, our dogs are so much more than that. Our dogs are truly apart of our family, after all they were our first babies! Dogs truly enrich our lives beyond measure, the least we can do for them is to keep them happy & healthy. Both of us have dogs with separation anxiety. If you have a pooch with this problem, you know just how frustrating it can be: the dog is an absolute ANGEL when you’re home, but then quickly flips a switch as soon as you walk out the door. Dog anxiety manifests itself in many ways--maybe your dog is destructive to your home when you are gone, maybe they bark nonstop, they might lick their paws incessantly, or maybe the potty-training that has long been mastered quickly appears to be “forgotten”. However it presents, it’s not fun for you OR your furry friend. In other words--dog anxiety gives US anxiety! We’ve both tried many things for our dogs in hopes of alleviating their anxiety. Between the two of us, we have tested out the following:
1. ThunderShirts--This is a great drug-free, natural option if it works for your dog. The ThunderShirt (and similar products) work by applying light pressure on the animal which has been proven to create a calming effect. In addition to separation anxiety, these shirts can been used for other anxiety-provoking scenarios such as thunderstorms, car rides and fireworks. These are a more expensive option, ringing in around $45 for one shirt, however the company offers a 100% money-back guarantee and isn’t something that you would need to purchase twice.
2. Calming Collar--Calming collars work by releasing pheromones which mimic the scent that mother dogs release to calm their puppies. These have been clinically-proven to alleviate anxiety in dogs and can help with separation anxiety, excessive barking, chewing, and anxiety towards things like fireworks and thunderstorms. The collars are cost about $14/collar and last about 30 days. If this is something that interests you, click here to find out more.
3. Prescription Medications--Kate’s dog, Keeda, was prescribed Prozac, a prescription medication that is used to treat anxiety in pets, daily for several years. While it helped alleviate some of her anxiety, it tended to leave Keeda a little sleepier than normal and lost its effectiveness over the years. Prozac, and other medications that treat anxiety can only be prescribed and used under the supervision of a veterinarian. If this is something you are considering, check out this great article on some of the pros, cons, and side effects of this medication in pets.
4. Exercise--this is by far the most EFFECTIVE solution we have found to treat separation anxiety in dogs. Just like when we feel better mentally by spending time at the gym, dogs benefit greatly by a brisk, 30-minute minimum walk per day. Maddie’s dog, Yukon, was an absolute wreck before regular exercise was implemented into his routine. Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer) details how to master this walk in his book Cesars Way or you can find out more here about what he recommends for dogs with anxiety.
5. Get another dog. Okay, we know this sounds a little crazy but the day Maddie brought Yukon's sister LuLu home, Yukon's anxiety literally disappeared overnight. Dogs are pack animals, meaning they want to be with their group. So when you leave for work or to go out for dinner Fido gets anxious since he is being separated from his pack. Giving your dog a companion could help calm them down and make them less anxious as they would always have someone from their “pack” around.
6. CBD--This is an anxiety treatment that has been increasing in popularity--in both dogs and humans--lately. Since this is a newer treatment option, we would like to dive into this just a little bit deeper.
By the sounds of it online, CBD oil is nothing short of magic. Claims from veterinarians and owners alike of tumors in dogs suddenly disappearing, curing arthritis, alleviating anxiety and even improving a heart murmur. What!? These seem too good to be true. But wait...isn’t CBD oil the same thing as marijuana? Am I getting my dog HIGH!? The answer to that is “absolutely not!”. CBD oil is a compound that can be found in hemp and cannabis. THC is also in marijuana, which gives it the psychoactive properties. CBD oil does not contain THC and therefore, the dog will get all the benefits such as relaxation without any intoxicating effects. Because of this, CBD oil is legal in all 50 states.
Online, you will find MANY uses of CBD oil in dogs. Since we are focusing purely on anxiety in this post, we will keep the spectrum narrow. There are research studies proving CBD oil to be effective at treating anxiety and panic disorders in humans. It is encouraging that scientists are finding CBD to be safe, even when taking for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, there are no scientific studies when it comes to using CBD for dogs, but there is plenty anecdotal evidence from dog owners everywhere. We don’t think it will be long before there are studies published on the topic. If you decide to treat your dog with CBD, look for a product that is organic and high-quality--you don’t want to be giving something to your pet that is full of pesticides. Keep in mind that higher quality CBD oil is going to cost more, but it’s worth it! We recommend starting your dog off slowly and increasing dose as needed. CBD comes in oil form (as a tincture) and in treat or pill form. The oil is the preferred form as you can adjust the dose drop by drop. Talk with a vet before deciding on this treatment, and they can help figure out dosing for your dog.
There are a few things to keep in mind when working with your dog on his or her separation anxiety: 1) No two dogs are alike. A treatment may work great for one dog but not help another dog whatsoever. 2) You don’t just have to pick one method to treating dog-anxiety. We find that a combination of methods work the best. For example, Kate uses exercise, a companion dog and CBD oil for Keeda and will occasionally put the ThunderShirt on her during a particularly anxiety-provoking experience (let’s just say Keeda is NOT a fan of the 4th of July festivities). Maddie uses exercise for Yukon & a companion bought for him name LuLu. If any of you are struggling with dogs who have anxiety we know how stressful it can be hang in there, and as always we are here to help.
Comments
Post a Comment