Content
- Valerian Indications
- When can I give my dog valerian?
- How to give valerian to my dog?
- Before administering valerian to your dog...
We are becoming more and more aware of the need to treat our pets in the most natural and respectful way possible, as this implies, in most cases, less damage to their body and less change in its physiology.
However, we must be clear that the term natural is not always synonymous with harmless, even less when we talk about medicinal plants, since they contain one or several active principles that interact with our body and are metabolized as if it were a drug.
In order for medicinal plants to become allies of our pet's health, we must use them responsibly, for this reason, in this article by PeritoAnimal, let us answer the question of whether can you give valerian to your dog.
Valerian Indications
Valerian is a perennial herb whose root is harvested in autumn and it is precisely at the root where we find multiple active ingredients that make this plant one of the best known and most used medicinal herbs.
The main properties and indications of valerian can be summarized as follows:
- Sedating properties: It is indicated in any nervousness, anxiety or stress disorder, also in depressive behaviors.
- hypnotic properties: Indicated to improve insomnia, especially when there is great difficulty in relaxing in the sleep conciliation phase.
- relaxing properties: Although few people are aware of this fact, valerian acts as a muscle relaxant, reducing pain and spasms.
Valerian root has been the subject of multiple studies and no toxic or secondary effects have been observed in humans or animals, whenever it has been used properly, therefore, yes you can give valerian to your dog.
When can I give my dog valerian?
Treating our pets with natural therapies is always a good choice, but as we mentioned at the beginning, this decision must be made with knowledge and responsibility. valerian is a excellent medicine for dogs in the following cases:
- anxiety
- nervousness
- irritability
- stress
We can also offer valerian to our dog in situations that generate great stress on the dog (travel, in the case of fireworks, etc.), as well as for those who suffer from difficulty in falling asleep or changes in the sleep cycle.
How to give valerian to my dog?
Nowadays we can find valerian in multiple presentations, the most common being capsules, tablets and liquid extract. The dry extract is generally stronger than the liquid extract, however, the administration of valerian in liquid form becomes much easier to give to our pets.
There are several methods and recommendations for valerian dose for dogs:
- 5 drops, 3-4 times a day.
- 10-20% of the dose for humans.
- 10 drops for small dogs (Yorkshire genus).
- 15-20 drops for small to medium puppies (Schnauzer, Poodle).
- 30-40 drops for medium puppies (Bull Terrier).
- 60 drops for large dogs (Siberian Husky, Berne Cattle).
If you administer valerian to your dog because he suffers from insomnia, you should take into account that the first dose should be taken in the afternoon and the second dose in the evening, otherwise administer valerian even before nighttime, could be counterproductive and cause even more insomnia, an earlier dose is needed to lower the alert threshold.
Before administering valerian to your dog...
If you are going to administer valerian to your puppy, it is essential that you take into account the following recommendations:
- Each dog deserves individual attention, so we recommend that you consult your veterinarian if you detect changes in your pet's behavior. Keep in mind that anxiety and irritability can mask more serious conditions.
- The recommendations regarding the doses of valerian in puppies do not have a scientific consensus, the best person to evaluate the dose that your puppy requires is the veterinarian.
- the valerian it should not be administered to pregnant or lactating bitches, your safety has not been evaluated in that context.
- Valerian root is quite safe, but it can interact with some drugs, especially those that act on the central nervous system. In this case, it is necessary to veterinary supervision of treatment.
- Consult the veterinarian whenever you have questions.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.