The best way of treating anxiety is by talking to a veterinarian. They are going to help in identifying the type of anxiety the dog is suffering from and what causes the trigger. He/she can determine whether the dog’s anxiety is situational, or it is an overwhelming issue for the dog. The vet will also rule out any medical conditions that are known to have such symptoms.
The vet will come up with the best treatment plan. Anxiety is usually caused by a number of factors, and treating them is going to involve combining different preventing and training strategies. There are some cases where medication is going to be needed.
Training and Counterconditioning
Owners have many options when it comes to training strategies for treating anxiety. Counterconditioning is one of the options. The purpose of this training is to change the response of the dog to the stimuli causing the anxiety. This will involve replacing the dog’s anxious or aggressive behaviour with good behaviour, like focusing on its owner.
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Another training option is desensitization. This is done by introducing the dog to the course of anxiety. It starts by introducing it in small doses then increases it slowly. Rewarding positive behaviour and repeated exposure will help manage the anxiety of the dog.
It is a good idea to talk to a professional dog trainer who can help you when choosing the best approach to use for your dog. It is not always easy to train an anxious dog.
Anxiety Medications
The vet might recommend natural therapies or medication when your dog has a serious anxiety disorder. Antidepressants and SSRIs can be prescribed when the dog has serious anxiety, including clomipramine and fluoxetine. If the source of the anxiety is predictable events like fireworks, thunderstorms, or car rides, the vet can prescribe medication like benzodiazepine to be alongside an antidepressant. This approach is going to help the dog deal with the stress.
Selegiline is a drug that can benefit senior dogs with cognitive dysfunction. This is because it reduces CDS symptoms. Selegiline is a treatment used for the treatment of chronic anxiety in Europe.
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Natural therapies have also been shown to be effective when it comes to helping dogs suffering from anxiety. There are products that are going to deliver great results when used alongside other medications, while some can be used alone, but this depends on the specific case. Natural products use aromatherapy and pheromones to reduce anxiety. Talk to your vet to see whether there is a natural product you can use to deal with your dog’s anxiety.
Using CBD Oil
There are dog owners who have seen great results when they used CBD oil when treating anxiety in dogs. CBD is a compound found in hemp and cannabis that has been shown to be effective when treating a number of health conditions both in humans and dogs. CBD can be an effective treatment for dog anxiety.
One thing to note is, there are many humans using CBD oil to treat anxiety, there has been no scientific data showing its effect on dogs. The CBD market is not yet regulated, which means the purity and consistency of these medications are not always validated. If you want to use CBD oil to treat dog anxiety, make sure you talk with a vet. Your vet is going to determine whether it is a good treatment for your dog, and also help you learn more about the different products, including the risks and side effects.
