10/28/2023
Lucky Leach, LLC Shares Great Advice!
HELP YOUR ANXIOUS DOG SURVIVE HALLOWEEN šš» -Julia Henriques
Itās Halloween and that can be a tough time for your dog. First, even before the holiday, there are big inflatable monsters š» and wailing creatures in front yards as you walk around the neighborhood. Then on Halloween night, hours of excited, squealing kids roaming the streets in weird costumes ā¦ with the doorbell ringing every couple of minutes. More social dogs may love helping you greet the kids, but if you have an ANXIOUS or SHY dog, Halloween can be a TERRIFYING experience. There are some natural remedies you can use to help calm your dog. And you can try some of these ideas to let your dog have a trauma-free evening.
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FEED AND EXERCISE EARLY
Give your dog a good walk before dark, so heās as relaxed as possible. Definitely make sure he gets out to p*e and p**p before the streets are teeming with kids. Feed him earlier too. Lots of dogs arenāt interested in food when theyāre scared. And he may get sleepier after a meal.
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LET HIM FIND A SAFE SPACE
Encourage your dog to settle down somewhere he feels safe. That may be his crate or favorite bed, the basement or bedroom ā¦ and probably not near the front door or windows. Here are some other things you can do to help him relax.. Close your curtains or shades to muffle sound. Play classical or other calming music (you can find some especially for dogs on YouTube) or keep the TV on. Try pressure wraps, like a Thundershirt or T-Touch Wrap. Even a tight T-shirt can help him feel more secure. Try distracting him with a raw bone, treats or even an interactive toy. If youāre not too busy handing out candy, donāt be afraid to massage or snuggle with your dog. If he needs to go out, take him out on a leash ā¦ DONāT let him loose in your yard where he might panic and escape.
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CALMING REMEDIES FOR HALLOWEEN
Here are some natural calming remedies to help your dog relax.
1ļøā£ CBD OIL- CBD (cannabidiol) oil can be really effective at relieving fear and anxiety. CBD oil comes from h**p, not ma*****na, so it doesnāt contain more than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). It can still relax your dog, but it won't make him high.
Your dogās endocannabinoid system has receptors throughout his central nervous system. These connect with receptors that stimulate serotonin production. Serotonin is a natural mood stabilizer. Thereās even some dog specific research. Iām The AHVMA (American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association) surveyed dog owners who gave their dogs CBD. The researchers asked how well CBD oil worked for the dogs ā¦ and while they didnāt ask about Halloween anxiety, they did ask if CBD helped with thunderstorm or fireworks phobia.
Nearly 22% of the dog owners using CBD for this purpose said it was ā¦ āmore effective than conventional meds.ā Almost 30% of them said CBD worked as well as conventional meds.
š»How To Give Your Dog CBD
Buy a product made for dogs (preferably a full spectrum, organic tincture) and follow the dosing instructions on the label. Start giving it before your dog gets anxious, and give a few more drops if your dog seems to need a higher dose. Cannabinoid receptors vary between different individuals, so you may have to give more CBD to get the calming effect.
But higher doses will likely just make your dog a bit sleepy, so you donāt have to worry about side effects. In fact, the AHVMA researchers asked what side effects the owners they surveyed noticed. The most common side effect was sedation (followed by dry mouth and increase thirst) so your dog might get a little sleepy. That could be helpful if heās feeling Halloween stress.
2ļøā£ HERBS- There are several herbs that have calming effects for dogs. Most sedative herbs shouldnāt be used long term, but they can work very well to manage dogās fear/stress
German Chamomile- This is a mild herb thatās well known for soothing the digestive tract, but it can also soothe your dogās anxiety. Use a glycerin tincture and give .25-.50 ml per 20 lb, twice daily leading up to the event. Place it in your dogās mouth or drinking water. Chamomile is very safe but occasionally some dogs can be allergic. Start with a small amount to make sure your dog doesnāt have a reaction.
Oat Straw- Dr Randy Kidd recommends oat straw as his first choice to manage anxiety. You can make a tea and add it to your dogās food, so itās easy to give. Buy organic oat straw at a health store and make a tea using 1 tsp herb to 8 oz water. Let it cool and add 2-4 oz to your dogās food per day at stressful times.
Valerian Root- Valerian root is an effective anti-anxiety herb. Starting 3 days before the holiday, give 5 drops of valerian root tincture, 3-4 times a day (for any size dog). ā ļøDonāt use valerian in pregnant dogs. Start slowly and increase gradually to avoid tummy upset.
3ļøā£ FLOWER ESSENCES- Flower essences are gentle extracts that can be very effective in calming your dog. You can dose them straight into your dogās mouth, or you can just put them in the water bowl. It doesnāt matter if other dogs drink from the same bowl. The magic of flower essences is that they donāt affect an animal who doesnāt need them. Flower essences are completely safe so you canāt overdose them. Keep giving them as needed throughout the evening ā¦ even every 15 minutes or so.
RESCUE REMEDY Is the easiest one to use. It's a famous blend that you can buy in any health food store and even many pharmacies. Itās a combination of Rock Rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Cherry Plum, and Star of Bethlehem, which each help with different types of fear or anxiety.
You can also consider some individual remedies or read the descriptions online and combine a few that you think suit your dog.
ā¼ļøHere are some that are good for fear-
-Rock Rose- good for panic and fear
-Mimulus- for fear of known origin
-Red Chestnut- if your dog is very clingy
-Cherry Plum- good for loss of self control, so try it if your dog seems panicked or is barking uncontrollably.
There are also companies that sell blends for specific issues. Aldaron Essences and Green Hope Farm are two good ones you can find online.
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During peak doorbell-ringing hours on Halloween, you can give flower essences every 15 minutes until your dog feels calm, then re-dose as needed.
4ļøā£ ESSENTIAL OILS- First, some cautions about essential oils. Always buy high-quality oils. For safety, always dilute the oil, using 3 to 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of a carrier oil like almond, jojoba or apricot kernel oil. ā ļøDon't give essential oils by mouth. You can use your own choice of essential oils, diluted as above and applied to your dog's collar or bandana, or in a diffuser. If you diffuse essential oils, you must leave a door open so pets can leave the room if they're uncomfortable. Some oils that are good for anxiety are frankincense, violet leaf, Linden blossom. Roman, chamomile and lavender.
Or try the recipe below from aromatherapist Kelly Holland Azzaro.
ā¼ļøEssential Oil Recipe For Fearful Dogs- Start with a carrier base and choose ONE carrier oil such as, 2 oz Jojoba oil or 2 oz aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) gel or lavender hydrosol for a spray mist.
š»Suggested Essential Oils:
8-10 drops of neroli
6-8 drops of petitgrain
4-6 drops of lavender
Shake well to combine thoroughly. Then spray your dog's neck or rub on his collar or a bandana around his neck. ā ļøNote: usually itās best to avoid putting essential oils directly on your dogās coat or skin, where he could lick it off and get an internal dose by mistake. The above diluted recipe is safe for topical use.
