Your dog whines and shakes, drools and pants relentlessly. His face was a picture of fear and anxiety, he won’t even look at you when you come near.
You feel bad for him, you’re not sure how long he’ll be like this but no matter what treat or toy you offer your dog to get past his anxiety, nothing is working. You know that after a few hours or days he’ll be back to normal but in the meantime, it’s just miserable watching him suffer like this.
Dog anxiety can be caused by a variety of different things, such as loud noises such as fireworks and thunderstorms, or simply just being left home alone. Anxiety is not something that will go away on its own and if ignored it could get worse with time. So what can you do about your anxious dog?
Here are some tips to help:
Provide a safe place for your dog
Put a big comfy bed and some toys and whatever else your dog may like in a safe spot (e.g. not near any windows or outside doors) so that he can go there when feeling anxious and be more comfortable as well as feel safer.
Keep your dog’s routine the same
Making small changes to your dog’s schedule, for example, switching his meals or walks around can cause your dog stress because he won’t know what to expect.
Talk to a vet
Your dog may have an underlying health issue that’s causing his anxiety. Speak to your veterinarian about the medication available which can help reduce your dog’s stress and also provide some relief from his symptoms.
Be patient and comforting
Give your dog the time and space he needs to feel comfortable and let him approach you in his own time. Comforting him and providing plenty of treats when he’s feeling calm is a good way to reinforce that being around people won’t always be followed by terrible things happening.
If your dog is really having a lot of trouble with anxiety and you want to try some more long-term solutions, one thing you could consider is using a Thundershirt for dogs. If your dog is anxious around fireworks or thunderstorms, this will really help them calm down and feel safe while the loud noise happens outside.
If none of these work, however, consulting a veterinary behaviorist will help you and your dog get to the route of the problem and find a way to deal with it.
Using CBD oil for dogs
CBD or Cannabidiol is a chemical compound that comes from the cannabis plant. Although it’s obtained from the marijuana plant, CBD doesn’t have any psychoactive properties which mean that when consumed, it won’t get your dog “high”. It has been used for many years in medical treatments and also has natural calming effects.
CBD oil is usually consumed orally and can be found in several different forms, such as liquids and capsules. There are a lot of products out there containing CBD and you may find it difficult to choose the right one for your dog. We’d recommend speaking to your veterinarian about what dosage might work best for your pet.
If you give your dog CBD oil for anxiety, however, read carefully about CBD to know that it can take a few days before you start to notice a change in your pet’s behavior.
Conclusion
A lot of pet owners don’t realize that their dogs get anxious too, which is why it’s important to try and address anxiety in your dog (if they have it) immediately. Not only will your dog feel the benefits but you’ll both be more comfortable while he gets back to his normal self.
Don’t hesitate to consult a veterinary behaviorist if you have any questions or need any further information.
CBD oil can be a great way to deal with anxiety in dogs but it’s also important to note that CBD is not a cure, so if your dog has severe anxiety issues, it might help to speak with a specialist.
