Anxiety is a severe mental condition that’s usually a cumulative result of stress. 

Although there are various conventional anti-anxiety medications, many of these drugs are infamous for their tendency to induce side effects. That explains the growing number of mental health experts recommending alternative herbal extracts like cannabidiol (CBD). 

CBD has shown the potential to relieve anxiety and its various side effects. Not only in humans but also in dogs. 

Read on for more insights on how CBD can help to calm your dog down.

Causes and Symptoms of Anxiety in Dogs

Many veterinary officers claim that CBD for dogs can go a long way in relieving anxiety in dogs. But as you might expect, there are numerous things to know before using CBD to calm down an anxious dog. 

For instance, you’ll need to understand the possible causes of anxiety in your dog. Most importantly, you should know some of the tell-tale signs of an anxious dog. 

The causes of anxiety in dogs can be broadly categorized as situational and behavioral. 

Situational triggers include things like lightning and thunderstorms, fireworks, and strangers. Routine changes, such as traveling, home makeover, and new feeding or sleeping times, may also trigger anxiety in dogs. 

Behavioral triggers mostly include separation anxiety. 

Separation anxiety is an anxiety disorder that mostly results from extended periods of boredom and loneliness. Dogs who spend much of their waking hours alone are more susceptible to separation anxiety. That’s especially if these animals do not receive sufficient physical and mental stimulation. 

Old age and certain underlying medical conditions might also cause anxiety in dogs.

Regardless of the cause, the symptoms of anxiety are generally similar for most dogs. They include;

• Irritability or restlessness

• Unreasonable aggression

• Trembling

• Pacing

• Panting

• Whimpering

• Excessive growling, barking, or licking of the lips

• Abnormal feeding habits, such as overeating or loss of appetite

• Abnormal litter habits, such as pooping or peeing in inappropriate places

CBD to the Rescue

CBD is a chemical that occurs naturally in cannabis. The compound is generally marketed for its potential for treating pain and anxiety. CBD-based products might also relieve sleep disorders like insomnia, inflammatory conditions like arthritis, metabolic disorders like diabetes, neurological problems like seizures, to mention but a few. 

But how does CBD treat anxiety in dogs? 

Now, all animals have a cell-signaling system known as the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system regulates the body’s homeostatic balance while also boosting immunity. The system comprises a variety of receptors (known as endocannabinoid receptors), endogenous cannabinoids (simply called endocannabinoids), and various neurotransmitters that impact its overall function. 

When you administer CBD to your dog, the cannabis-derived compounds in the product (known as phytocannabinoids) enter the dog’s body and increase his count of endocannabinoids. According to research, cannabidiol interacts with the body’s endocannabinoids in a complex mechanism that soothes anxiety. CBD particularly increases your dog’s brain's ability to signal the presence of feel-good chemicals like serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in soothing stress and inducing feelings of happiness. 

But CBD doesn’t just calm your dog down. The compound can also address some of the side effects of anxiety, such as insomnia. 

Just like in humans, CBD treats insomnia in dogs by shortening the animal’s sleep onset time. That’s due to the compound’s powerful sedating properties. 

CBD also increases sleep duration by eliminating rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is the stage during sleep when much of the dreaming takes place. By reducing or removing REM sleep, CBD reduces nightmares, which is especially useful for dogs living with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Precautions While Treating an Anxious Dog with CBD

While CBD is highly effective against dogs' anxiety, every dog owner must observe certain precautions while offering CBD to their canine friends. 

For starters, veterinary officers strongly advise against feeding THC-containing products to dogs. THC, which is short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. THC is the chemical that accounts for marijuana’s psychedelic properties. While humans can safely consume THC, the compound should never find its way in dog treats. 

Another precaution while feeding CBD to anxious dogs is to moderate the doses. Experts recommend starting low, say, 5 mg of CBD oil per day. Observe how your canine friend responds to the compound before increasing the doses. Note that while CBD generally has a higher safety profile than many herbal extracts, an overdose could trigger various adverse effects. Common side effects of CBD in dogs include nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, and dry mouth. 

Last but not least, settle on a suitable delivery method. The most common ways to administer cannabidiol to anxious dogs include CBD oral tinctures and CBD-infused dog treats. Oral tinctures come with a faster onset time. However, they may not be ideal for picky dogs. Edibles take longer to kick in. But their effects last longer in your dog’s system. Plus, edibles allow you to administer CBD even to fussy eaters. 

CBD can go a long way in calming down an anxious dog. The compound not only treats anxiety. It also addresses some of the condition’s side effects, such as insomnia. CBD may even help with various diseases that could aggravate anxiety, including pain, inflammatory diseases like cancer, and neurological and neuropathic disorders.
 

But to make CBD work for your pup, remember to choose a suitable delivery method and administer the compound in moderation. Most importantly, only give your dog pure CBD as opposed to THC-containing products.