Unfortunately, dogs can become sick for a number of reasons. While taking good care of them can certainly reduce the risks, there are still other health issues that can occur and affect your pet’s life in the long run. For that reason, doing routine wellness exams can help you discover any health-related problems before they get out of control. Once the health condition is determined, your vet proposes different methods on how to help treat it.
While providing your dog with nutritious food is one method that helps ease symptoms of many diseases, vets often prescribe medications such as supplements that can further help with the treatment. Melatonin is one common treatment medication that has proven beneficial in treating several health conditions. Therefore, in this post, we are going to elaborate on what the many health benefits of using melatonin for dogs are as well as its proper dosage.
What is melatonin and what can it be used for?
It is a naturally-occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland. Its main function is to regulate the natural rhythm of sleeping and waking up. When it is dark outside, the body sends a signal to the pineal gland to produce more melatonin which results in tiredness. When the sun starts to come up, the body receives a signal to decrease the melatonin production, helping it to wake up.
For dogs, melatonin generally works as a sedative to provide a calming effect which not only helps with regulating the sleep cycle but has also been proven beneficial in treating other health conditions. And although it is a naturally-occurring hormone that a dog’s body already produces, sometimes the body needs more melatonin to get back on track. Here are several health conditions that can be treated using this supplement.
Cushing’s disease
Cushing’s disease occurs when a dog’s body produces too much of the hormone cortisol. The excess production of this hormone usually results in frequent urination, muscle weakness and lethargy. While a nutritious diet and other conventional treatment options are available for treating this disease, pet owners turn to melatonin along with flaxseed lignans to reduce cortisol levels.
Melatonin for dogs works by blocking the uptake of the excess cortisol which is produced either by the adrenal or pituitary gland. It also inhibits different enzymes that are used in cortisol production. Lastly, it helps regulate the hormonal balance in the body and reduces the symptom of hair loss.
Anxiety
About 20-40% of dogs suffer from separation anxiety which is characterized by emotional distress in loud and inconvenient ways. This distress can lead to more behavioral issues in dogs like excessive chewing of the bedding and other unhealthy coping mechanisms in different situations. Also, since dogs are naturally fearful of loud noises, things like thunderstorms and fireworks can easily trigger anxiety in dogs.
This is why pet owners use melatonin to reduce the stress symptoms that occur in such uneasy events and promote calmness in anxious dogs. For example, you can give melatonin to your dog before a potentially stressful experience in order to help your pet cope with the situation better.
Insomnia
Just like people, dogs can suffer from sleepless nights that may affect their daily routines and even lead to serious health issues such as lethargy. In general, insomnia usually manifests in dogs as they get older or as a result of behavioral problems like anxiety or stress.
If your dog has an unusual sleeping schedule or is being more anxious, it is possible that it suffers from insomnia. In this case, pet owners turn to melatonin to help their pets feel more alert and active during the day. By using this supplement you will be able to help your dog get its sleep pattern back on track.
Alopecia
During the winter months, some dogs experience a serious skin condition called seasonal flank alopecia. Dogs affected by this disease lose patches of hair during their early adulthood which often continues on a yearly basis for the rest of their life.
Although vets prescribe melatonin to ease these symptoms, it is still unclear how the supplement improves dog hair loss. A specialist in veterinary dermatology believes that melatonin works at a cellular level directly on the hair follicles or by stimulating growth hormones. Whatever the case may be, it brings comfort to pet owners that they are actively helping their dog fight alopecia.
Proper melatonin dosage for dogs
The proper melatonin dosage is usually determined according to your dog’s weight. For example, if your pet weighs less than 10 pounds, then the average melatonin dosage would be 1 mg. This can change as your dog’s weight increases.
Another factor that plays a major role in determining the proper melatonin dosage is your dog’s health condition, especially if it has some pre-existing illnesses.
In any case, vets usually recommend starting at a lower dosage and gradually increasing it if it is necessary. It is also very important that pet owners remember that the dosage should be given no more than three times a day with eight hours between each intake.
Potential side effects of melatonin
Most dogs usually won’t experience any side effects of melatonin especially when it is administered correctly. In fact, the lack of side effects is what makes this supplement a preferable choice over other tranquilizers.
However, there may be times when your dog will experience some side effects such as:
- Drowsiness
- Upset stomach and cramps
- Elevated heart rate
- Itching
- Confusion
- Fertility issues
- Insulin resistance in diabetic animals
If you notice any of these signs in your dog, it is important that you contact your vet immediately and lower the dosage or stop with the medication altogether if it is necessary. For this reason, it is important that you stick to the dosage given by your vet in order to avoid any undesired consequences.
Final thoughts
All in all, when it is used properly, melatonin is safe and can effectively help your dog combat several health conditions. Being acquainted with the health benefits and proper dosage of melatonin can help you and your dog get through any disease more easily. So make sure you keep this guide in mind so you will have all the information that is necessary for fighting such health conditions in dogs using the melatonin supplement.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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