Can CBD Actually Help Dogs with Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety in dogs is a common yet challenging issue for pet owners. Signs like excessive barking, destructive behavior, and pacing often indicate your dog is struggling with being alone. 

If you’ve tried everything in terms of training to calm your anxious pup without success, CBD might be the solution you’re looking for. But can CBD really help dogs with separation anxiety? 

Let’s explore the science, benefits, and tips for using CBD to improve your dog’s quality of life.

What Is Separation Anxiety in Dogs?

Separation anxiety occurs when a dog experiences stress or fear when left alone. Common symptoms include:

• Barking or whining excessively
• Chewing furniture or other items
• Shaking or trembling
• Pacing or restlessness
• Accidents indoors despite being housetrained

If left untreated, separation anxiety can worsen over time, making it essential to address the issue promptly. 

The scary thing with separation anxiety is when dogs experience such intense separation anxiety, they can get into dangerous situations that can harm themselves, like trying to break down a door or chewing through a wall or couch and ingesting a toxin or breaking a bone.

Separation anxiety can be caused by things like:

• Never being left alone while young
• Genetics
• Trauma
• Being unfamiliar with the home
• Fear of something in the home
• Other causes

How CBD Can Help Dogs with Separation Anxiety

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural compound derived from the hemp plant. It interacts with a dog’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps regulate mood, stress, and overall well-being. Contrary to semi-popular belief, CBD products for dogs do not contain THC (has to be less than 0.3% as THC is toxic for dogs), so it does not cause any sort of high in your dog.

For dogs with separation anxiety, CBD may help by:

Promoting Calmness: CBD has been shown to help dogs (and humans) feel more calm without feeling drowsy or confused.

Reducing Stress Responses: CBD may decrease physical symptoms like trembling or panting by calming the nervous system.

Improving Sleep: Dogs with separation anxiety often struggle with restful sleep, and CBD can help regulate their sleep patterns.

Choosing the Best CBD for Dogs

Not all CBD products are created equal. To ensure your dog gets the best results, look for organic products, highly-rated products, products that have lab-tested certification, have less than 0.3% THC (or ideally less), and are transparent on sourcing. Plus, CBD oil is usually a better bet than CBD treats because oil is easier to dose, and also is a more pure form of it to ensure it is effective.

For more info on choosing the best CBD product, check out our blog post on this topic.

How to Use CBD for Separation Anxiety in Dogs

When introducing CBD to your dog, the first step is to consult your veterinarian, especially if your dog has underlying issues or is taking medication.

Then, start by administering a very low dose to your dog with their meal, and see if they have any side effects. By very low dose, it means to look at the proper dosage according to their weight, and then doing less than that (maybe start with half!). 

Your dog should not exhibit signs of feeling drowsy or dizzy or confused; rather, they should pretty much remain their same old selves, just a bit calmer! WIth such a small dose, you likely won’t even notice a difference.

Once your dog seems fine with such a small dose, give a proper dosage at a time when you will be home for the day, according to the dosage on the label / weight. The reason you want to stay home is because it’s the first time your dog is getting a proper dosage of CBD, and just in case of the rare occasion of something happening, you want to be there.

If your dog seems to tolerate it fine, then you can start incorporating it into your dog’s separation anxiety training and also when being left alone for real.

When using CBD with separation anxiety, you have to keep in mind that this is not a bandaid that will fix the problem forever and that’s it. Rather, use it almost like training wheels like a bike, where the CBD gets your dog to a mental state where they are calmer and more receptive to training and being alone, so that your training can really help.

So, you can give the CBD with something like a frozen KONG toy, and then leave the house for 3 minutes, then come back. Then, do it for 4 minutes. Then 5. And so on and forth. A more detailed training on separation anxiety can be found here on my dog training channel.

If your dog’s separation anxiety is quite bad, definitely consult with a professional dog trainer in your area.

Success Stories: CBD for Separation Anxiety

As a dog trainer, I encounter lots of dogs with separation anxiety, but one case that sticks out at the moment is a Dachshund I trained named Aabi.

His separation anxiety was so bad, he couldn’t even stay in a room alone for 10 seconds without pacing, barking, and shaking. Of course, the first solution to try is not CBD, but rather training with treats, positive reinforcement, desensitization, and counterconditioning only.

However, Aabi simply could not even focus during the super easy trainings because he was, put simply, an incredibly anxious dog overall.

So, I suggested that Aabi’s owner talk to their vet about trying CBD, and the results were great. Not only did separation anxiety training actually start to become effective, but it also improved his overall quality of life.

Some dogs are simply, like humans, extremely anxious, and CBD can be a great addition to their lives, and I personally think CBD is a great option to try after training doesn’t seem effective, but you don’t want to jump to prescription drugs just yet.

Final Thoughts

So, can CBD help dogs with separation anxiety? The answer is a resounding yes for many pets. By promoting calmness, reducing stress responses, and improving sleep, CBD offers a natural and effective way to support your dog’s mental health.

If your dog struggles with being alone, consider adding high-quality CBD to their routine. With patience, training, and the right product, you can help your floof feel more secure and at ease.