In the same way that people can feel anxiety, our furry friends can also experience this challenging emotion. It’s actually very natural and common for dogs to suffer from anxiety, and the condition can affect dogs of all breeds, ages, and types, but can manifest in a range of different ways.
A Finnish study conducted in 2020 looking at over 13,000 dogs concluded “In total, 72.5% of dogs had some kind of highly problematic behavior.” Other studies have also shown that the majority of dogs will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. In many cases, it might be quite mild, but in others, it can be more severe.
In serious cases, canine anxiety can develop into a full anxiety disorder. This is when the dog will show serious, regular signs of fear and stress in certain situations, and it might change their behavior entirely. This can present a lot of challenges for owners to deal with as well, with many unsure how to help their canine companions.
Fortunately, treatment options for anxiety in dogs, including CBD for dogs anxiety, do exist and can help. We’ll go into greater depth on treatment options for dog anxiety below, but first, let’s take a closer look at how anxiety in dogs is caused and what kinds of symptoms owners should be looking out for.
Causes and Symptoms of Dog Anxiety
In order to better understand dog anxiety, it’s important to consider the root causes of it. There can be several different causes for dog anxiety, usually classified into three main types:
- Fear – Fear-based anxiety in dogs is caused by fears and phobias that frighten the dog. This might come in the form of loud noises like fireworks, certain people like the vet or mailman, unique visual stimuli that have negative connotations for the dog, encounters with other animals or strange people, and so on. Just like humans, dogs can be frightened of all kinds of things. These fears can seem irrational but often have genuine explanations behind them.
- Separation – Dog separation anxiety is very common too. The College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign states “Separation anxiety is a common behavior disorder affecting dogs worldwide. Twenty to 40 percent of dogs presented to veterinary behavioral specialists suffer from this disorder.” Separation anxiety in dogs occurs when a dog feels stressed out when it’s alone or apart from family members.
- Age – As with their human counterparts, dogs can also experience stress and anxiety associated with the process of getting older. As canines age, they can start to lose some of their mobility and sense strength, making even the simplest of tasks harder. They may also suffer from cognitive problems that can lead to them getting confused and scared more easily.
Whether you’re dealing with a separation anxiety dog or a canine that is afraid of the dark, these kinds of anxiety can appear in various ways. Common symptoms of dog anxiety may include urinating and defecating inside the home, aggressive behavior, destructive behavior, barking, pacing around, panting, and so on.
It’s particularly common for stressed-out dogs to urinate around the house and attack the furniture or claw at dogs, but there are many other possible symptoms, and if owners notice their dogs behaving strangely, it may be time to consider some form of treatment.
Traditional Treatment Options for Anxiety in Dogs
Anxiety can be a difficult problem to deal with, and owners often turn to vets for help and guidance when they see that their dogs are stressed out. There are various traditional treatment methods used for dealing with this problem, with varying levels of success.
In many cases, a veterinarian may work to try and find the root cause of the dog’s stress and then suggest behavioral changes and lifestyle alterations to help limit exposure to the stressful stimuli. For example, if a dog feels anxious due to loud noises, the owner should try to limit the number of loud noises in and around the home, or place the dog in a quiet space with relaxing sounds or music playing to calm them down.
There are also different training strategies that can be used, such as gradually exposing the dog to small amounts of the stimulus that stresses them. This can help the dog to face its fears. Over time, its anxiety levels may reduce as a result of this training, especially when treats and rewards are used.
There are also certain types of dog anxiety medication. Antidepressants and similar forms of medication can be prescribed to these dogs in order to calm them down. This type of medication may be useful when you know the cause of your dog’s stress, like visits to the vet or fireworks. This way, the owner can give their dog the medication ahead of a stressful event to calm them down before it begins.
CBD Oil for Anxiety in Dogs
Another increasingly popular form of treatment is CBD for dogs anxiety. CBD oil for dog anxiety is actually the same product as CBD oil for humans. It’s made from hemp plants, which are processed in such a way as to extract the natural CBD (also known as cannabidiol) from their plant matter. The CBD is diluted into a carrier oil and can then be mixed directly into dog food. Owners can use a CBD oil dosage calculator to work out the right amount.
CBD for dog anxiety can also be infused into dog treats too, and it’s regarded as one of the best options for anxious dogs. In addition, various studies have looked at how CBD oil dog anxiety works, finding that dogs that are given CBD tend to feel more relaxed, even in usually stressful situations.
It is believed that CBD oil for dogs anxiety works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system in canines. This system is involved with various processes and emotions, helping to control stress levels. The CBD can essentially soothe and relax a stressed-out dog. This allows them to feel more comfortable and live more happily, even with anxiety disorders.
Official scientific studies have examined the ways in which CBD oil can help to alleviate stress in humans and animals alike, and there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence to back up these claims. Many dog owners all over the world have seen real improvements in their dog’s behavior since switching to CBD oil for dogs with anxiety.
A lot of owners state that their dogs behave more calmly after taking CBD oil. It helps to reduce their tension in stressful situations, like during fireworks displays or ahead of trips to the vet, and can generally make them feel more relaxed on the whole.
In turn, this can contribute to better physical and mental health in your dog on the whole. If left untreated, anxiety can get worse over time, potentially leading to more aggressive tendencies and other forms of bad behavior. Using CBD oil can prevent this, letting anxious dogs enjoy happier lives and avoid serious health issues later on.
Cannabinoid Calculator for the Perfect CBD Oil Dosage
When it comes to giving your dog some CBD oil, it’s important to follow expert advice and provide the right dose, every time. Dogs can be quite sensitive to the effects of this oil, so they don’t need big doses in general.
The right dose is very important, as giving a dog too much oil could make them more sensitive to side effects like tiredness or appetite increases. Meanwhile, if you don’t give your dog enough of the oil, they might not show any improvements.
You can use Cannabinoid Calculator to work out the ideal dosage of CBD oil for your canine companion. Typically, heavier dogs need bigger doses, and smaller, lighter dogs won’t need as much. Use our calculator and provide some simple information on your dog for an accurate dosage recommendation.
Conclusion
Anxiety in dogs is a serious problem. It’s a big issue for both the dogs themselves and their owners. This is why it must be taken seriously. Failing to treat or respond to an anxious dog may only make the problem worse. There are various treatment methods out there, and CBD dog anxiety is one of the best.
FAQ
Anxiety in dogs is just like anxiety in humans. It’s a negative feeling of fear and stress, usually associated with certain people, objects, situations, or circumstances.
There are many potential causes of anxiety in dogs. Fears and phobias are common sources of this anxiety. Separation anxiety is also very common, in which dogs feel scared when they’re left alone.
CBD oil for dogs with anxiety helps to calm anxious dogs. It lowers their stress levels and promotes feelings of safety and relaxation.
You can drop CBD oil directly into dog food and let them eat it. If you’re wondering how much CBD oil should I give my dog for anxiety, you can use a CBD calculator to work out the right dose. It’s also possible to find CBD pet treats.