Just as humans do, pets also experience separation anxiety, restlessness and behave aggressively. An anxiety disorder, separation anxiety can happen when the owner leaves their pup alone as being instinctive they do not fare well when left alone. Watching such anxious behavior and hyperactivity also leaves the owners frustrated and worried. Luckily, the natural compound CBD found in industrial hemp can be useful in managing the anxiety in pets as it can work on their endocannabinoid system and promote both physiological and mental wellness.
What Is Separation Anxiety In Pets
Separation anxiety in dogs refers to their aggressive behavior due to the distress caused by separation which results in excessive barking or howling. Real separation anxiety happens when a dog develops a special bond with a particular individual and often displays stress behaviors when that individual is not around, even others are present. Such type of anxiety makes the dog frightened, and anxious when detached from his caretaker and owner and causes destructive behavior when their owner leaves.
The severity of this condition can range from being mild and inconspicuous to uncontrollable and resulting in anxiety attacks. Every dog differs from the other as some can cope while others display extremely destructive behavior and symptoms.
Symptoms Of Separation Anxiety
The symptoms of separation anxiety are often misdiagnosed, or pet owners feel that their furballs simply require some house rules to be taught. You need proper and sharp observation to find out whether your pet is affected by anxiety. Some of the symptoms are:
- Excessive barking or yelling
- House soiling
- Restlessness, clawing doors, windows or walls,
- Vomiting
- Dilated pupils
- Excess salivation, panting or drooling
- Trying to escape from a room or crate
- Coprophagia (consuming feces)
- Digging at the door
- Excited behavior upon your arrival
- Excessive crying or whining when your dog grasps that you are going to leave the house
- Your dog pursues you when you return home
The line of treatment for treating separation anxiety in the pet is the anti-anxiety drugs advised by the veterinary which have their side effects. One natural therapy with no such adverse effects and is an organic supplement is the plant-derived cannabinoid CBD which can be added to food or given directly to aid in managing a host of health conditions like pain, anxiety, seizures, joint inflammation and various ailments found in both pets and human. CBD can also alleviate separation anxiety in the following ways:
CBD Delivers Anti-Psychotic Benefits
CBD works like a key that turns on or off various functions within cells. This phytocannabinoid works by communicating within the body’s endogenous cannabinoids to relax and soothe anxiety. When the body normally releases endocannabinoid chemicals or consumed through tinctures and edibles, they attach with the receptors and triggers the body’s natural capacity to produce serotonin which is a mood stabilizer. CBD promotes such natural processes and neural pathways to stabilize mood and anxiety in pets.
CBD Regulates The Immune Response
CBD oil promotes the ability of the immune system to control the immune response and regulate an exaggerated immune activity which helps the body to modulate cellular degeneration. This, in turn, checks joint inflammation, arthritis, neurological disorders such as seizures, neuropathic ailments, blood disorders, tumors and cancers in your pets. Further, CBD also aids the cell to fight away free radicals and prevents the growth of cancerous cells.
CBD Works As An Antiemetic
The antinausea and antiemetic properties of CBD can regulate the vomiting and nausea feeling experienced by your dog due to separation anxiety. Cannabinoids apply their anti-emetic properties by communicating with the centrally located CB1 receptors and 5-HT3 receptors within the dorsal vagal complex (DCC) which deals with emesis.
Conclusion
CBD can address the anxiety-related, hyperactivity, and behavior problems of your pet due to its anxiolytic properties. Moreover, current preclinical evidence strongly supports the potential of CBD as a therapy for panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder when administered acutely. This can go a long way in removing isolation as well as separation anxiety in your canine and feline family members.