Melatonin For Dogs Buyer’s Guide
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the dog’s brain. We won’t turn this into a science class by going into all that it does- which is actually a whole lot. With melatonin supplements, it is effects like promoting sleep and relieving anxiety that should matter the most to you as the dog owner.
With this in mind, there are specific considerations you need to make in order to ensure that you end up making the very best decision. This information will come in handy when choosing from the several seemingly similar options on the market. That way you know what matters and is valuable and what will not help you with your specific problems. So here is what you need to factor in:
Consider the melatonin dosage
Different formulations of melatonin supplements come with different dosages of the hormone. Specialists recommend a dosage of between 2 and 5 mg of the active ingredient as being safe for the dog.
The dosage counts as it determines the effect that the supplement will have. If it is below 2 mg, it will have more of a calming effect on the dog. This makes it fantastic if you are dealing with something like anxiety, restlessness, or phobias.
Dosages of between 3 and 5 mg, on the other hand, will come in handy when dealing with sleeping issues like insomnia and frequent sleep interruption. Higher doses also help with management of medical conditions like Cushing’s and alopecia.
What form do the supplements come in?
The form in which the supplement comes determines how easy it will be for you to administer it to your dog. There are multiple options in this case including solid oral preparations, drinkable liquids and injectables.
Solid oral preparations like tablets, capsules and chewables are without a doubt the easiest to administer. With chewables in particular, you can give them directly as treats or sneak them into your dog’s food. Hard tablets are also easy to administer using the same tricks or crushing and adding to water.
Injectables, on the other hand, are available for professional use. They are usually the more potent and useful for managing medical conditions. So you might not find these as easily. Even if you did, it is not advisable to have them for at-home use.
The flavor profile matters
With oral preparations whether it is a soft chew kibble or a tablet, the flavor matters a lot. Dogs have very sensitive palates. This means if anything sticks out as unusual they will spit it out thereby missing out on all the wonderful benefits that the melatonin supplement has to offer.
It is therefore crucial here to find something that your dog will really enjoy. It could be anything from meat flavoring as with our top pick to flavorful ingredients like ginger or peppermint. Whatever the case, the point is to ensure that the dog is excited for the supplement as a treat which makes administering it a lot easier for you.
Factor in your desired effects
Think about what exactly it is you need help with when it comes to choosing the right melatonin supplement for you. If you want help dealing with your dog’s anxiety, you should settle for formulas that are specially designed to offer calming effects. In this case, drowsiness would be an undesired side effect so check on the melatonin dosage. You could also go for something with additional ingredients that help with promoting sleep.
If, on the other hand, you want something that will help put your dog to sleep, it is best to work with formulas that are specifically designed for this purpose. Calming supplements will not work as well and those used for medical conditions like alopecia might be too strong. So go for something that hits that sweet middle spot and your dog should be enjoying an effortless snooze cycle in no time.
Melatonin-only vs. combination formulas
Melatonin-only formulas, as the name suggests, have only melatonin as the key active ingredient. These are ideal for dealing with sleeping troubles. However, they are not as versatile if you are looking for something to offer your dog multiple benefits.
Combination formulas on the other hand include multiple ingredients sharing the active substance spotlight. Some of the most commonly-used extracts include hemp oil, chamomile, Thiamine and L-tryptophan. These have a calming effect which boosts the anxiety-relief effects of melatonin. They are perfect for both calming and sleep aid formulations.
Are the ingredients pet friendly?
With oral preparations like chewables, there is the active ingredient and what are considered fillers. These are what give the supplement bulk and carry the melatonin for easy consumption. It is important while making your choice of what brand to settle for that you factor in the ingredients used for the filler.
These are usually things like grains, heavy starches like potatoes or even peas. Whatever the case, you have to make sure that you do not compromise on your dog’s overall health by exposing them to harmful ingredients like artificial flavors and colorings. In case your dog is allergic to gluten then you will never go wrong with the grain-free varieties.
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