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Anxiety is a condition that affects all pets. However, it affects different pets and even different breeds of a specific pet species in different ways.
Understanding pet anxiety, how to tell when your pet has anxiety, and the simple and effective natural treatment options using CBD flowers, herbs, and other ways to resolve it can change the quality of life you and your pet lead.
What Causes Pet Anxiety?
Veterinarians and animal behavioral experts classify the causes of pet anxiety into three broad categories:
- Separation Anxiety: When you have been used to spending a lot of time together with your pet, and suddenly start spending huge chunks of time apart, they are likely to develop separation anxiety. This form of anxiety is noticeable in the way they behave when you are leaving. Some common anxiety-related behaviors include urinating and defecating inside the house, barking, and destroying furniture.
- Fear: Animals also have fears about phenomena that are unfamiliar. For instance, when you take a pet outside for the first time, they will fear loud noises from traffic, bright colors, new people, and unfamiliar surroundings. This leads to the animal becoming difficult and barking, scratching, and generally being unruly.
- Aging: This type of anxiety normally affects dogs. As they get older, they might develop cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Your usually sharp pets become a slow learner and do not understand signals as they did before. This disorder causes confusion and anxiety in a lot of senior dogs.
How to Tell that Your Pet Has Anxiety
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There are behavioral cues that can help you figure out if your pet is suffering from anxiety.
- Excessively aggressive behavior such as attacking other pets and people
- Drooling and panting
- Destructive behavior such as tearing apart the couch, chewing on your shoes
- Excessive barking, especially when there is no apparent threat
- Behaving in compulsive and repetitive ways
- Restlessness and pacing around the house or other space
These symptoms can manifest during one-time anxiety-inducing activity. However, if they become a habit, you need to consider long-term treatment options to deal with the anxiety.
Conventional Medication for Pet Anxiety- is it Effective?
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There is a lot of conventional medication that vets recommend for pet anxiety. The treatment includes pills such as Buspirone, Clomicalm, Diazepam, Lorazepam, and Fluoxetine. Most of these medications fall under broad spectrums such as valium and Xanax.
These medications may seem fast and effective, and they are okay for one-time use. However, they also have several unpleasant side effects that can affect your pet’s life for a lifetime.
- Changes in the pet’s appetite
- Upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Increased urination
- Damages to the liver and kidneys
- Drowsiness and lethargy
- Skin conditions
- Poor memory
Some of the medications cause dependency when used for a long time, and stopping their use can lead to withdrawal syndrome.
The possible side effects of pharmaceutical treatments are one of the reasons that you should think about getting natural remedies for pet anxiety. Here are the three most effective treatments.
- CBD Oil to Treat Pet Anxiety
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The food and drug administration already approved CBD use in humans. 33 states also approve the use of CBD for medical purposes. What is not clear to many people is whether veterinarians can prescribe CBD products for animals.
Numerous tests by scientists reveal that cannabidiol is an effective cannabinoid in the treatment and management of anxiety, stress, seizures, and other conditions in dogs.
The dog’s nervous system is made up of a network of cannabinoid receptors. The canine Endocannabinoid system resembles that of a human. When you give a little CBD oil to your dog, his system is stimulated to produce hormones like serotonin, which bring a soothing or calming effect to the animal.
If you are planning to take your pet to a new environment, you can give them a CBD pill procured from the bc dispensary online half an hour to an hour before leaving the house to alleviate their anxiety symptoms.
You can also add a few drops of CBD oil to the pet’s food to help ease their anxiety.
- Using Herbs to Treat Pet Anxiety
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Some of the herbs that you use to ease your anxiety can also be helpful to your pet. Knowing which herbs will have a calming effect on your pet helps you resolve anxiety and stress without having to turn to pills. These herbs include:
- Chamomile: For centuries, communities in Asia used chamomile tea to ease their anxiety and create a sedative effect in their minds. It can also help your pet to relax when having an anxiety attack or stomach upset.
- Valerian: This is another prominent sedative. It can help your pet relax physically in a safe and gentle way.
- St. John’s Wort: This herb is an effective antidepressant that can help both humans and animals deal with stress.
The three herbs are available in their dried state, capsules, and tinctures.
- Massages and Brushing
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Sometimes, the easiest way to calm down your pet is by giving them a warm massage. This is especially effective after a long day outside leaves your dog over-stimulated and anxious. Take twenty to thirty minutes off your time and massage your pet.
Another simple way to take this massage treatment to the next level is aromatherapy. There are special sprays and oils whose scent induces memories of their mother and nursing, which gives your pet the desired calming effects.
Conclusion
These are a few of the natural remedies which you can turn to when you need to ease your pet’s anxiety. Remember that the effectiveness of CBD and herbs depends on their purity, and where you get them. Take your time and do your research well before making any purchases for your pet. Alternatively, you can procure lab-tested blue dream seeds from high supplies and grow cannabis strain at the comfort of your home. Also, ensure that you follow the dosage instructions recommended by the seller as this will minimize side effects.