Melatonin And Dog And Dosage
What Is The Correct Melatonin Dosage For My Dog?
Melatonin is a natural sedative for calming anxious dogs. It is a much better alternative to using tranquilizers in situations where your dog may get het up, such as during a thunder storm, when taking him to the vet, or when around people in general. Dogs that are easily perturbed generally become worse during the night, perhaps due to the combination of the day’s activities which may stress the pet. Melatonin is also commonly employed in dogs to ease the trauma associated with a painful injury. With all of these points, getting the melatonin and dog and dosage right is important.
Melatonin itself is a naturally-occurring hormone that is produced by the pineal gland. It is part of the endocrine system that also has the ability to fight free radicals through an anti-oxidant that takes on these rogue oxygen atoms. Melatonin’s main use in humans is to aid insomniacs by inducing sleep, while in dogs it is mainly employed to reduce hypertension and prevent brain deterioration. Melatonin also increases immune function and can stave off dementia in dogs and cats.
Melatonin comes in pill form in 300 mcg, 1 mg and 3 mg dosages. A small melatonin and dog and dosage is considered between 500 mcg to 1 mg every eight hours, while a large dose for dogs is between 3 mg and 9 mg. Melatonin is taken orally and can be added to your dog’s food. For using melatonin for sleep-related problems in dogs, administer the med just before they retire for the night. If you find your dog gets more restful sleep you can lower the dosage and eventually wean them off it altogether. In the case of jittery dogs and thunderstorms, administer the melatonin just before the storm hits.
Side effects of melatonin are generally minimal, although there have been reported cases of headaches, nausea, and irritability. More commonly, it simply makes dogs drowsy, or may have no effect them at all or their anxiety or insomnia. It has also been known to alter the time an un-spayed female dog comes into heat and may also interact with internal body processes, or other meds such as corticosteroids. Speaking with your vet about this is the main concern on whether or not you should treat your dog with melatonin. It is also very important not to administer melatonin to dogs that was meant for humans as the human version is a lot stronger. Overdosing on melatonin can also have detrimental effects, including vomiting, diarrhea, in-coordination, high blood pressure, and even seizures.
You can obtain melatonin over the counter, yet should always speak with a vet before considering administering it to your dog. It is important you get the melatonin and dog and dosage right and check on possible interactions with any existing medications your pet may be on. While you don’t need to see your vet for a prescription for melatonin, they can still sell it to you and this is the best option for convenience. To save money, however, it is best to buy melatonin online in bulk.
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