(Newswire.net — October 3, 2020) — CBD in the last couple of years has become extremely popular and for good reasons, too.
Many people are starting to embrace the natural route for their wellbeing, and because of this, they are using CBD to treat the following illnesses:
- Depression
- Post-Traumatic Disorder
- Pain Reliever
- Acne Treatment
The list of why people are taking CBD is certainly not limited to just those four illnesses. However, the most popular use of CBD is for the treatment of anxiety.
Well, since this works so well in humans, can CBD work in other animals as well?
Let’s take a look and dig deeper into how you can use CBD for stress in dogs.
Is CBD Harmful for My Dog?
Let’s address that question. The answer is definitely no, CBD is perfectly safe for your dog to take.
This is because CBD is an extract from the hemp without psychoactive properties such as THC, which can be found in the marijuana plant.
Because of this, CBD extract is safe so you don’t have to worry about poisoning your pup pal.
How It Keeps Your Pup Calm
Since we have established CBD is A-OK for your dog to take, you’re probably curious as to how the calming effect works.
The way CBD calms your dog down is that it works with your dog’s serotonin level receptors, the same way a doctor prescription would to treat depression or anxiety. CBD then binds with these receptors to produce serotonin levels in your body, which then reacts with the nervous system, thus giving your dog a calm feeling.
When giving your dog CBD, you might start noticing the following behaviors:
- Decreased aggression
- Increased appetite
- More sociable
- More playful
If you have an especially stressed out dog, giving them CBD could completely transform them into a new and happier dog. Especially if they exhibited positive behavior before becoming stressed.
Signs Your Dog is Stressed
Your dog may be stressed and you may not even be aware. Although it is always recommended that you take your dog to a veterinarian if they are displaying worrisome behaviors, it’s also good to know the signs as well.
The following are behaviors your dog may express if they are under stress:
- Pacing or Shaking – If your dog paces a lot for no apparent reason or they experience uncontrollable shaking, this can be a major sign of stress.
- Shedding – When dogs are stressed out, they will also start losing some of their hair. If they are extremely stressed out, it may come out in clumps. This is due to your dog’s body releasing epinephrine (also known as adrenaline in humans), which causes hair loss.
- Whining or Barking – Another tell-tell sign is excessive barking and whining.
- Change in Body Language – Stressed out dogs will also become more standoffish and will even cower away from others.
- Bodily Function Changes – Dogs that are stressed out tend to mess in places they normally wouldn’t if they are properly house-trained. This can include accidents on the carpet or on your furniture.
Some of these signs could mean more serious issues with your dog so it’s always best to have them checked out by a veterinarian.
However, if they get a clean bill of health, you may need to start considering that they are suffering from stress.
Be There for Your Best Friend
One of the downsides to having a dog is not being able to properly communicate with them like you would with humans.
Since there is no way we can actually talk to our dogs, the next best thing we can do is to be aware of their behaviors as the signs they give to clue us in on their health.
So while you are trying to decide how to treat your dog’s anxiety, try giving them CBD as a way to help them.