The Ultimate CBD Guide for Dogs with Separation Anxiety

CBD oil has been proven to help reduce stress and mild/temporary anxiety in both humans and animals. In this article, we'll show you how to give your dog CBD oil!

By nature, dogs are expressive, social animals. Although numerous sources assign various temperaments to individual breeds, every dog has a personality all its own. Whether your canine companion has been a member of your family for years or you're just getting to know each other, you've likely come to appreciate some of the many subtle cues that let you know when your dog is feeling content, playful, bored, or stressed.

Although every dog is bound to feel stressed by loud noises or anxious in unfamiliar surroundings, behavior specialists suspect that up to 40% struggle with separation anxiety.1 If your otherwise good-natured pet seems increasingly distraught as you're getting ready to head out the door, howls for hours while you're away, or creates a clear path of destruction when left on their own, consider adding hemp-derived CBD to their daily routine.

What is Separation Anxiety in Dogs?

The hours you spend away from home can seem like an eternity to your dog. Despite thousands of years of evolution, domesticated breeds are still a lot like their wild ancestors. That likely explains why so many dogs feel distressed when separated from their pack. To you're dog, you're part of their pack. The overwhelming stress and panic associated with separation anxiety suggests your dog is terrified of being alone or abandoned.

For some dogs, separation anxiety is genetic. Others develop separation issues after spending time at a boarding facility, moving to a new home, or changes in daily routine. If your dog struggles with separation anxiety, their uncomfortable state of panic will likely continue until you return.2

The Common Signs and Symptoms of Separation Anxiety

Many dogs whimper when a favorite person walks out the door or chew on an occasional slipper. That's why it's so easy to miss the initial signs of separation anxiety. Although anxiety-related behavior problems can develop at any time, they're more likely to affect dogs living with a single adult, adopted when they're older, or separated from their litter at a young age.3 While you may never know the exact reason your dog is feeling anxious, you may be painfully aware of the following panic-driven symptoms.

Excessive Vocalization

Dogsoftenwhine when they're feeling distressed and bark at potential threats. While most canine vocalization comes from a genuine desire to keep their pack safe, many animal behaviorists believe dogs with separation anxiety bark to calm their own fears. If your pup begins whining when you're out of sight, starts barking as you're closing the door, or howls extensively while you're away, their excessive vocalization could be a sign of separation anxiety.

Destructive Behavior

Dogs often chew, scratch, or dig when they're bored. They also have similar behaviors when they're feeling stressed or anxious. If your dog is bored, a few toys or treat puzzles could help them pass the time. But if your pup seems distressed by your departure and frequently shreds anything within reach, separation anxiety could be to blame. The destructive behaviors are often viewed as a canine coping mechanism, a distraction to help ease the physical and emotional impact of stress.4

Urinating or Defecating Indoors

Once your dog is trained to do their business outdoors, it's understandably frustrating when they urinate or defecate on the floor, especially when you're gone for just a few hours. But getting angry with an anxious pooch is unlikely to keep your floors clean. Dogs often work themselves up to the point of having stress-induced accidents. The impact of stress hormones triggered by separation anxiety can also give otherwise healthy dogs diarrhea.5

Excessive Drooling, Panting, or Salivating

Heavy panting, salivating, and excessive drooling (hypersalivation) are common anxiety symptoms. You might also notice trembling, shaking, or the type of breathing difficulties associated with panic attacks. Other signs and symptoms can include trying to break free of a crate or enclosure once considered a safe, comfortable space, pacing, and uncharacteristically aggressive behavior.

Does CBD for Dog Separation Anxiety Work? What the Evidence Says

Most of the evidence supporting the use of CBD for dogs is based on the results of animal (rodent) studies, lab results, clinical trials, and the testimony of pet owners reporting favorable results for physical discomfort, inflammation, seizures, and more.6 To date, no studies have been published detailing the effects of CBD for separation anxiety.

You may find it helpful to consider some of the anecdotal evidence. For example, in a 2018 survey of more than 2200 veterinarians, most providers with CBD experience report favorable results for dog anxiety.8 Similar feedback from 349 survey respondents who've given their dog's CBD, 75% consider CBD "somewhat" to "very" effective for anxiety.9

Will a dog feel any different when taking CBD?

Hemp-derived CBD is extracted from the plant's stems, stalks, and flowers. Unlike the other type of cannabis, hemp extract doesn't contain enough THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) to cause intoxication. When you treat your four-legged friend to CBD pet products, you're supporting the universal regulating system responsible for nearly every function in their body, their endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBD helps support that system by mimicking the effects of important chemical messengers produced as needed in their body and brain.

How that support might make your dog feel depends on which essential processes might be restored to balance (homeostasis) when illness, injury, or stress create a demand for ECS messengers that exceeds the available supply. Unlike many other plant extracts, CBD has an impressively low risk of side effects.

How Do You Give a Dog CBD?

If you're tempted to share your personal supply of CBD with your canine companion, you may want to reconsider. Your dog's digestive system is much different than yours. Instead, stick with hemp-derived products specifically formulated for pets. You'll typically find serving size suggestions printed on the package.  

However, standard serving sizes are based on an amount of CBD that seems to work well for animals within the same weight range. But every dog is different. Consider starting with a partial serving. Then, increase the amount gradually until you find your dog's ideal serving size.  When you're ready to give CBD to your dog, consider how they might respond to the following suggestions.

Giving CBD By Mouth

The flavors you'll find in many CBD pet products are added to appeal to people. When it gets right down to it,many dogs enjoy the earthy flavor of naturally cultivated hemp extract. If your dog is willing, try placing a serving of a CBD oil tincture directly into their mouth.

Topping Dry Food, Wet Food, or Treats with CBD

When the direct approach isn't an option, consider adding a serving of CBD to a small portion of dry or wet dog food. If separation anxiety is affecting your dog's appetite, try blending a serving of their CBD oil with peanut butter or topping their favorite treat.  

Adding CBD to Drinking Water

If your dog is resistant to having drops placed into their mouth or refuses to eat, try adding CBD to their water dish. Ideally, you'll want to infuse less water than your dog usually drinks so they're not leaving any CBD lingering in the bottom of their bowl.

What's the Best Dosage Schedule?

How often you might want to give CBD to your dog depends on several factors, including the severity of their distress or how frequently you're separated. If you're leaning towards occasional use, you'll need to plan ahead. It can take up to an hour (or more) for the CBD in any ingestible product to peak. However, most human CBD users report achieving their best results within 7-14 days of consistent use.

When the signs of separation anxiety occur frequently, consider making CBD part of your dog's daily routine. But if you're dog has a medical condition or takes medication, consult their veterinarian before use. CBD and other hemp-derived cannabinoids can interact with several prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Finding the Best CBD for Dog Separation Anxiety

Many companies are making CBD pet products. But overall quality can vary from one brand to the next. Since hemp has a well-documented ability to pull heavy metals and pesticides from the soil as it grows, potential toxins you'd never knowingly feed your pet, it's important to purchase CBD pet products from a reputable, knowledgeable brand, a respected industry leader like CBDistillery®.  

At CBDistillery®, we believe everyone deserves high-quality CBD, including your dog. If you suspect your four-legged companion is suffering from the uncomfortable symptoms of separation anxiety, consider how the following products could help ease their distress.

CBDistillery® Pet Tinctures

CBDistillery® pet tinctures are made with a blend of natural hemp extract and cold-pressed hemp seed oil, a carrier oil selected for easy digestion. CBDistillery® 150mg CBD Pet Tincture contains 5mg CBD per 1ml (1 dropper) serving. For larger dogs, CBDistillery® 600mg CBD Pet Tincture could be best. Each serving gives your dog 20mg of CBD.  

Zesty Paws® Cognition Bites

We partnered with Zesty Paws® because the brand specializes in grooming products and high-quality dietary supplements. A bag of  Zesty Paws® Hemp Elements Plus™ Cognition Bites™ soft chews gives your dog 225mg of our high-quality broad spectrum CBD, Ashwagandha, and Alpha-GPC, supplements selected for clarity, focus, relaxation, and brain health. Each treat contains 5mg of CBD.

Man's Best Friend CBD Oil Pack

Share your enthusiasm for hemp-derived CBD with your tail-wagging sidekick at a discounted price. With a CBDistillery® Man's Best Friend Pack, you get a 30ml bottle of our 150mg CBD Oil Pet Tincture and a 30ml bottle of our 1000mg full spectrum CBD Oil Tincture for yourself. Our Extra Strength Man's Best Friend CBD Oil Pack features a 600mg bottle of our pet tincture and a 2500mg full spectrum CBD oil tincture formulated specifically for humans.

Could Your Dog Benefit from CBDistillery® Pet Products?

Many dogs feel stressed or anxious from time to time. But if your best bud is looking distraught as you get ready to head out the door, whines or barks as your leaving, or engages in destructive behavior while you're away, your pet could be acting up and acting out because of separation anxiety.

If your current methods of helping your dog cope with separation aren't producing the results you've been hoping for, maybe it's time to try hemp-derived CBD. CBDistillery® CBD Pet Products are formulated for easy digestion, third-party tested, and backed by a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. You can verify our commitment to providing pure, potent CBD pet products by viewing the batch test information on our product pages or scanning the QR code provided on every label. 

About CBDistillery®

 More than just a brand with exceptional products and service, CBDistillery® is on a mission to lead the #CBDMOVEMENT™ by providing the masses easy access to hemp-derived CBD products, widespread education, the latest industry research, and verified consumer testimonials.

Sources:

1. Veterinarians.org (2021 August 23) Separation Anxiety in Dogs Explained: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention.

2. American Kennel Club. S Gibeault (2021 June 01) Dog Separation Anxiety: Causes, Prevention, and How to Sto

3. Dovepress. R Sargisson. (2014 October 30) Canine Separation Anxiety: Strategies for Treatment and Management.

4. Wag. (2022) Why Dogs Destroy Things When Left Alone.

5. Dog Discoveries. A Farricelli. (2016 July 23) What the Yuck? Dogs Get Diarrhea from Stress Too.

6. Consumer Health Digest. (2022 January 18) CBD Oil For Anxiety In Dogs Review.

8. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. L Kogan et al. (2019 January 10) US Veterinarians' Knowledge, Experience, and Perception Regarding the Use of Cannabidiol for Canine Medical Conditions.

9. My Pet Channel. B Carter. (2018 July 31) CBD for Dogs: What Clinical Trials or Scientific Studies Have Been Performed?