Signs Your Pet Has Anxiety and How CBD Can Help

Photo by Krista Mangulsone on Unsplash

For those of us with pets, we all know - our furry friends are like family members - we love them to pieces and want them to feel their absolute best. The issue is, even when we know something is off with our pets, we can’t always understand exactly what is going on with them - it can turn into somewhat of a guessing game. Is it physical or emotional, or both? Anxiety in animals is a very real issue and some of the signs may not be as black and white as one might imagine.

Keep reading for some key signs of anxiety in both dogs and cats, and how hemp CBD helps address it holistically.

Anxiety in Dogs

You may already be familiar with the obvious indicators of anxiety in dogs: trembling, aggression, and tail tucking. However, this usually only manifests in the very worst cases. Most will start with much more subtle behavior indicators like pacing or other repetitive movements. These actions sometimes look like your dog is dancing, especially if they display these behaviors when nothing exciting is happening. Even inconspicuous behaviors performed at odd times can be a sign of increased anxiety or nervousness. These can include doing the "wet dog shake" when not actually wet or dirty, yawning while panting, and obsessively looking around when there is no activity going on around them.

Some other anxiety-related behaviors that dogs may exhibit may be distasteful to our human sensibilities, including but not limited to: obsessive urine marking, obsessive paw or genital licking, digging and even feces eating. It's important for owners to recognize when their dog is acting this way due to anxiety, as scolding or punishing a dog for these behaviors can end up making the problem much worse. Scolding him may make the dog even more anxious about his anxiety-reducing behavior, and can perpetuate the behavior instead of help. As a general rule, an anxious dog moves very slow and avoids eye contact as well as touch.

Anxiety in Cats

Feline body language tends to be very subtle as a default, so recognizing the signs of anxiety in a cat can take a bit of finesse. Just like dogs, obvious signs such as hissing, back arching, and a puffed-out tail will often show up in the worst-case scenario, and may even mean that the cat is so stressed they are about to attack. Some of the less obvious signs may be as subtle as an increase in grooming activities when your cat's typical personality lends to more time sitting still. Unlike with dogs, if anxious, a cat might focus intently on a person or object with dilated pupils even when they are not playing. Crouching, when approached, is another behavior that may seem like typical feline behavior but can also be an indicator that the cat is very nervous. As a general rule, an anxious cat is either rigidly still or twitchy fast and carefully studies anyone in the vicinity.

Do you recognize any of these common signs of anxiety in your pet? If so you might be wondering if there is anything you can do to help. You may also be nervous to medicate your pet due to the potential of negative side effects including possible damage to the kidneys, liver, or digestive tract. Alternative options do exist! For instance, hemp CBD might be a great solution for you.

CBD for Pets

Organic full-spectrum CBD oil is a great natural, plant-based alternative for reducing anxiety in pets. One study published by the Brazillian Journal of Psychiatry states that "The number of publications on CBD has increased remarkably over the last years and support the view that CBD has a vast array of possible therapeutic effects. Among these possibilities, the anxiolytic and antipsychotic properties of CBD stand out. 7-10 CBD's anxiolytic effects are apparently similar to those of approved drugs to treat anxiety" (Alexandre Rafael de Mello Schier 2012). Aside from anxiety, CBD has also been shown to have health benefits for animals struggling with symptoms and side effects of cancer, seizures, nausea, stress, arthritis, back pain, and gastrointestinal issues. Using the proper dosage of CBD could have a life-changing positive impact in your pet's life. CBD is known to be a healthy, organic and safe alternative to many traditional medications for your pet. A good starting place for dosage is around 1-4 mg of CBD per 10 lbs of body weight. Make sure to always consult your trusted veterinarian first to see if hemp CBD is the best choice for your furry friend.