The hustle and bustle during New Year’s Eve can be a stressful time for dogs. Today, we feature 3 dog-safe herbs with calming and relaxing properties.
These herbs are perfect homeopathic remedies for pooches that are prone to experiencing anxiety and distress during the holidays.
Natural Calming Herb for Dogs #1: Lemon Balm
How this natural calming herb works on dogs:
Lemon balm houses a compound called hydroalcoholic extract, which reduces anxiety and promotes better mood in pooches.
It contains other substances, such as flavonoids, which are beneficial for restless dogs this New Year. They help improve sleep and soothe tummy troubles brought on by stress.
The recommended dosage of this natural dog-calming herb:
- Lemon balm as a food topper
Take fresh lemon balm leaves and chop them finely. When adding them to your dog’s food, the ideal dosage guideline to follow is 1 teaspoon per 15 pounds (6.8 kilos) of body weight.
A 30-pound (13.6-kilo) pooch can have at least 2 teaspoons of lemon balm in his dog food per day.
- Lemon balm as a tea
- Boil 2 tablespoons of chopped dried or fresh lemon balm leaves in 1 cup of water.
- Bring the water to a boil and let the lemon balm tea steep for 5–10 minutes.
- Strain out the leaves. Allow the tea to cool down to room temperature before serving it to your pooch. The tea can be given to your dog as is. Or you can mix it into his dog food or water.
- The dosage of lemon balm tea for dogs is one tablespoon per 20 pounds (9 kilos) of body weight. Double the amount if you are using it to remedy anxiety.
So, if you have a 60-pound (27.2-kilo) distressed dog, offer him around 6 teaspoons of tea. Give it to your furry pal 2–3 times a day.
Potential side effects of this natural dog-calming herb:
- Lemon balm hinders the proper absorption of iodine in the human body. Whilst it is unknown if the same effect can occur on dogs, err on the side of caution. Avoid using this herb on dogs with hypothyroidism.
- Going beyond the recommended dosage can cause mild unwanted adverse reactions in dogs. Some of the most common are nausea, dizziness, and increased hunger.
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Natural Calming Herb for Dogs #2: Catnip
How this natural calming herb works on dogs:
Catnip has a stimulating effect on cats, leading many of them to act high. Dog owners do not need to worry about this happening to their canine companions though.
The herb has the opposite effect on dogs, meaning it sedates them. The chemical called nepetalactone is believed to be responsible for soothing the nerves.
The recommended dosage of this natural dog-calming herb:
Small dogs can have around 1/8 teaspoon of fresh or dried catnip. Give large dogs up to half a teaspoon of the herb. To make catnip palatable for your canine friend, mince it finely and add it to his food or water.
We advise administering catnip to your dog 30 minutes before the stressful event. It allows the herb to work into his system. The herb’s soothing effect will wear off an hour or two after ingestion.
Potential side effects of this natural dog-calming herb:
- Using catnip on pregnant or lactating dogs is discouraged. Its natural compounds can induce uterine contractions, which can lead to premature birth.
- A dog under medication should not be given catnip as the herb can affect the drug’s potency.
- It is not recommended to administer catnip to dogs with heart problems or urinary issues. Otherwise, it can exacerbate their pre-existing ailments.
- Overdosing dogs with catnip may result in stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhoea, and bladder problems.
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Natural Calming Herb for Dogs #3: Echinacea
How this natural calming herb works on dogs:
Echinacea has naturally-occurring chemicals known as alkamides. In the right amount, they stimulate the trigger receptors in the brain that eases anxiety. It gives the herb the ability to soothe distraught dogs during New Year’s Eve.
The recommended dosage of this natural dog-calming herb:
Echinacea comes in many forms, most commonly powder, capsules, and tincture. Go for tincture, as it is easily absorbed in your dog’s body. Only use echinacea tinctures formulated for dogs to avoid the risk of poisoning.
Moreover, choose a product that contains no alcohol for safer administration. If you cannot find one, do not worry.
You can just evaporate the alcohol by adding an equal amount of boiling water to the tincture. Allow the mixture to cool down before giving it to your pooch.
Here is the dosage guideline according to your dog’s size:
- Small breeds: 1–5 drops of echinacea tincture
- Medium breeds: 10–15 drops of echinacea tincture
- Large breeds: 30–40 drops of echinacea tincture
Give your pooch the echinacea tincture at least 20–30 minutes before the stressful event. Administer at least 2–3 times a day.
The herb provides most of its health benefits within 2–3 weeks of use. Allow a week of rest before administering it to your furry pal again for higher potency.
Store the echinacea tincture in a proper place to retain its quality and increase its longevity. Alcohol tinctures can be placed in a cool, dark cabinet.
However, products that contain glycerine are better refrigerated as they tend to have a short shelf life. Never put them near heat or light sources. Moreover, their container should be closed tightly, or else moulds will grow inside.
Potential side effects of this natural dog-calming herb:
- Echinacea should be solely used on healthy dogs. It is off-limits to canines with abnormally functioning immune systems. The same goes for dogs suffering from auto-immune diseases, diabetes, or leukemia.
- Echinacea can be used on pregnant dogs, but it must be done with caution. Make sure to consult the vet first.
- Echinacea is found to cause drug interactions when taken together with antidepressants. Avoid giving this herb to dogs medicated with this type of drug.
- Echinacea may cause allergic reactions in pooches with daisy allergies. Thus, keep any form of this herb away from them.
- Overdosing dogs with echinacea may result in gastrointestinal distress. They are likely to experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
