Drooling out the mouth, feet shuffling, and barking are clear signs that your dog is having a restful sleep. However, these well-rested times can turn to wandering habits and anxious activities. For such issues, many turn to CBD for dogs.
But did you know melatonin for dogs can help your anxious pup experiencing sleep issues? This article discusses melatonin for dogs and whether it can help your puppy like it can help you.
What Is Melatonin and How Does It Work?
The penal gland in the brain of humans and dogs naturally produces the hormone called melatonin. The hormone, released in the evening, signals the body about sleeping time. Opposite to public opinion, melatonin does not make you feel drowsy. It prepares the body and mind to rest. It also reduces anxious feelings and helps the body to calm down.
Like humans, dogs mostly stay awake the whole day and sleep during the nighttime. The dog’s brain will also release melatonin to indicate sleep time. After its release, the melatonin in mammals binds with MT2 and MT1 receptors present across the body in parts like the brain, kidneys, gonads, immune system, and cardiovascular system.
After reaching these parts, melatonin starts functioning to indicate to your body that it is time to start getting ready for bed. Hence, it works like a shutdown button. While occurring naturally, you can also consume synthetic melatonin as an OTC supplement in chewable tablets, pills, teas, gummies, or tinctures. In many respects, it is similar to CBD for dogs and helps treat sleep issues.
Can Dogs Consume Melatonin?
Many consider melatonin supplements a safer option for many dogs if consumed in proper dosage. Several vets may also add melatonin for treatment to mend numerous health problems. As you already know, dogs’ brain produces melatonin based on changing daylight amount. It also helps animals realize the hours of the day and manage behavioral and body changes according to the season.
Melatonin performs well for dogs as a dietary supplement. Manufactured synthetically, vets may suggest these supplements for medical or behavioral issues in dogs. While there is not much supportive research about how effective melatonin is in dogs, vets may prescribe them as meds studied in humans.
People may use melatonin to treat sleeping issues, jet lag, or surgery-related anxiety. However, whether it is CBD for dogs or melatonin supplements, contact your veterinarian, who may conduct tests or do an exam to identify the cause of sleeping problems for optimal treatment.
Impact of Melatonin on Dogs
For anxiety, sleeping issues, stress, and other conditions in dogs, your veterinarian may suggest melatonin along with other treatments.
- For Phobias, Anxiety and Stress
Is your puppy always feeling anxious or distressed, has cognitive dysfunction, or experiencing phobia? Modification in routine or environment, parting from a loved one, or worrying about a possible danger can trigger anxiety in many dogs. Older dogs with cognitive issues may also show sleeping problems or anxiety.
Phobia is another form of anxiety, which is an abrupt and fierce trigger response. The triggers could be thunder, fireworks, or vacuum cleaners. Some behaviors that dogs may show include shaking, barking, scratching or chewing, excessive salivating, not eating, and pacing. The vet may prescribe training, environment changes, and supplements like melatonin. Besides melatonin, CBD for dogs also works well for anxiety to maintain a relaxed disposition.
- For Sleep Disorders
Equivalent to humans, dogs require sleep to maintain their well-being and stay healthy. If you notice changes in your puppy’s sleep pattern, it could signify an unidentified medical condition, sleeping disorder, or a response to environmental changes.
According to some experts, melatonin supplements can help dogs the same way they help humans with insomnia and other interruptions in the sleep-wake cycle of a dog. For visually impaired dogs or those with vision problems, it can be difficult to tell when it is day or night. Humans also suffer from this problem of non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome.
At such times, melatonin supplements can work well. Many suggest CBD for dogs as a safe alternative for restful and healthy sleep.
For Other Uses
Vets may suggest using melatonin to treat hair loss, thrombocytopenia, and Cushing’s disease.
Hair Loss: Dogs with specific alopecia may consume melatonin to stop hair loss and encourage fur regrowth with a healthier coat.
Thrombocytopenia: Dogs commonly deal with ITP (immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) disorder in which the immune system may harm the body’s cells or platelets. Along with the general canine ITP treatment, vets may suggest melatonin.
Cushing’s Disease: This condition occurs due to excessive cortisol production and produces symptoms like raised hair loss, hunger, panting, and thirst. As an alternative treatment, vets may recommend melatonin supplements.
Margin of Melatonin Safety in Dogs
Generally, melatonin supplements are safe for dogs to consume and do not have many side effects. Your pup may feel slight lethargy when waking up in the morning. However, do not purchase melatonin products comprising harmful coatings, fillers, or xylitol, which can be hazardous for dogs.
Moreover, melatonin can react with medicines your pup might be consuming. Hence, talk to the vet before adding melatonin to the regimen. If these supplements do not suit your dog, you can also check out CBD for dogs as an alternative, which offers healing benefits.
Side Effects of Using Melatonin in Dogs
While a correct dosage can do wonders for your dog, giving them too much can cause considerable harm. These include lethargy or an upset stomach. Other problems that may arise include cramping, confusion, fertility problems, itchiness, and rapid heartbeat.
Melatonin may interact with your dog’s medications. If your dog is taking medications for seizures or anxiety, melatonin may influence and elevate benzodiazepine effects. It can also affect succinylcholine, which is for relaxing muscles in dogs. Hence, melatonin may be safe for some dogs with proper dosing, but it can also hurt dogs if it includes additional harmful elements.
Hence, you should check with your vet before giving any substance to your dogs, especially those on medication for other conditions.
Conclusion
If your dog is anxious about a procedure or unable to sleep well, you can use melatonin to help with such conditions. Melatonin occurs naturally in humans and dogs and helps regulate a healthy sleep cycle. Consuming melatonin supplements can help your dogs in many ways and help with anxiety, stress, phobia, sleep issues, and other conditions.
However, remember to contact a veterinarian to see if these supplements will be ideal for your dog and discuss the appropriate dosage and time.
