Is Melatonin Safe for Dogs?

Is Melatonin Safe for Dogs?

Is melatonin safe for dogs? This intriguing question is mainly asked by the people who love to keep pets in good condition. The straight answer to this question is yes. Melatonin, if supervised properly, brings safe results to the health of the dogs. A melatonin supplement can be helpful in many ways; on the other hand, its overdose is also capable of bringing harm to the health of the dogs. It depends on the usage and proper consultancy that when and how to use such supplements. 

Melatonin a Sleeping Aid

According to researchers, the brain carries a melatonin hormone in the pine cone-like gland known as pineal gland present in the back of the third ventricle. This smallest gland in the brain is competent enough to produce and regulate the schedule of the sleep. This neurohormone is also discharged by eye when it comes to contact with the darkness. Melatonin also works in the same way in dogs. Thus, if sleep routine is disturbed or some kind of anxiety is sensed in dogs, the supplement of melatonin is considered the best to treat dogs. Melatonin helps the dogs to maintain a tranquil sleep order. Melatonin is also suitable for treating the dogs which are going through phonophobia, separation anxiety, etc. Melatonin is a useful supplement helping dogs in many ways; some of them have corresponded here. 

1. Uneasiness: Due to certain circumstances, dogs experience anxiety and result in revealing unhealthy behavior. One of the leading causes of their anxiety can be separation distress. Sometimes dogs fail to cope with the situation and do things which are unacceptable; for example, they start chewing up household things or rubbing themselves to death. Apart from separation distress, some dogs also fail to grapple their fears like fear of riding in cars, etc. Such anxieties can be looked upon with the properly supervised supplements of melatonin. 
2. Sleeplessness:  Insomnia is an issue shared by both people and dogs. This inability to have a sound sleep is common in dogs also. Sleepless nights lead to anxiety, discomfort, and a lethargic day. Dogs suffer from sleeplessness result in mental dysfunction that usually ends in having limited or less sleep. A melatonin supplement can help owners of the dogs to give them a sound sleep during the night and a fresh active day.

3. Cushing’s Disease: This is a common disease; it occurs when the dog's body produces cortisol excessively. Cortisol is a hormone that helps to build a strong immune system and regulate stress responses to keep the body calm. The redundant amount of cortisol in the dog’s body initiates certain problems like weakness, muscle frailty, and frequent urination. Melatonin has the capability to ease cushing's disease. It is said to be the supplement that brings comfort in the symptoms of cushing’s disease. Melatonin is only helpful if dogs are not suffering from any tumor in the body. This medication should be consulted and taken properly. 
4. Alopecia: Alopecia is a hair loss disease that affects the dogs during winters and commonly known as seasonal flank alopecia. Dogs lose hair on some of the patches on their skin mysteriously. This mysterious phenomena is also treated by vets with melatonin medication that brought positive results. Though the melatonin supplement is not the proper treatment for alopecia but somehow it helps the dogs to grow back hair. 

These above mentioned problems can be treated by melatonin supplements and help the owners to give their dogs a healthy living. Properly given medication does not hurt the body, but an overdose of anything will have side effects. Let us see how much a dose of melatonin should be given to a dog.

Melatonin Dosage for Dogs

This information should be taken as general because the right amount of melatonin for dogs should be sought from a vet. This is because every dog has certain features that should be kept in mind before suggesting the dose. So, it would be beneficial to consult your vet before giving any dosage. Generally, pets are not habitual of taking pills, so it would be difficult to give pills, but you can mix medicine in their food. According to the majority of the vets, melatonin dosage should be increased gradually to make dog habitual of it, and if the required dosage can be increased. The dose of melatonin depends on the weight of the dogs; generally, the following table is used to describe the dosage requirement of a dog.

Special Note

One important thing that should be kept in your mind before giving melatonin pills to your dog is to read the label of medicine carefully. There is one chemical named ‘xylitol’ that is frequently used in medicines of pets to make the taste of medicine sweet. This chemical is very toxic, especially for dogs.

Different Ways of Giving Melatonin

As it is said earlier that it would not be easy to give pills to dogs, so let us explain a few ways of giving melatonin to dogs. Every method has its own benefits and some limitations. It is better to follow the way prescribed by the vet.

• By Liquid: A couple of organizations produce a fluid type of melatonin, which is normally bundled in a little vial with an eyedropper that is utilized to apportion the enhancement. Most such items prescribe basically applying the prescribed add up to your canine's food or a treat for accommodation' purpose.
• Pills: Pills are the most common method and can easily be found in medical stores and on some websites for online purchases. Not only pills, but capsules are also there. It is effortless for most of the dogs, and they can take it with no hesitation. Still, for other dogs, you need to add them in their food or make it sweet so that they are swallowed.
• Implanting Method: For this method, small devices are used and placed under the skin of the dog. This method is complicated; these small devices release the melatonin at a slower pace in the blood of the dog. These devices are needed to be changed after a few months, most likely four to five months. As this method requires some professional techniques so you cannot do it on your own, you have to go for a vet.
• The injection Method: It is used for those dogs who are already suffering from alopecia-x. This method requires very less professional technique, and you can also inject it after taking some crucial bits of advice from your vet. This method is preferred by many vets as it is safe and easy.

Besides all these different methods of giving melatonin to your dog, there are also special products that carry the melatonin in them. Some of them are including 3mg of k9 tablets with a very getable price. You can change the grammage according to the weight of your dog. Another product is a liquid named iron power super concentrate. This product will help to deal with those dogs who are not ready to take pills.

What to do After Giving Dog Melatonin?

After dosing your dog with melatonin pills, you need to observe it closely. This is to check any changes in the behavior or physical changes. Your observation will start after 10 to 15 minutes of taking the pill and keep observing till the next eight hours. However, melatonin is already in the body of an animal, and it will not create any problem, but still, you need to consider heartbeat, reproduction disorder in females, problems in the digestive system, itching, and in some cases the animal may get confused. 

Side Effects

Melatonin can help people with their dogs, but it also has its side effects that are not safe. Note that melatonin conveys a couple of dangers, so you ought to consistently talk with a veterinarian before offering it to your canine under any conditions. While it is, for the most part, thought to be protected, there has not been a lot of examination devoted to considering melatonin's impacts on canines. 

Numerous individuals accept that since it is as of now created by the body, it does not make a difference on the off chance that they get somewhat more. In any case, that thinking is misinformed. All things considered, your body produces adrenaline as well, yet unnecessary sums can without much of a stretch lead to death. Common adversities are as follows:

• Headaches
• Fast heartbeat
• Reproductive issues
• Digestion problems
• Itching
• Confusion

In the event that your canine displays any of these side effects, contact your veterinarian promptly and follow any counsel given. On the off chance that the manifestations are not extreme, your vet may encourage you to decrease the measurements, yet in genuine cases, it might be essential to go in for an office visit.

From the above discussion, we can say that melatonin can be given to dogs as it brings good results. Proper dose and consultation to a vet will also be required.

References

• https://wildearth.com/blogs/dog-knowledge/can-dogs-have-melatonin-uses-benefits-and-more#.Xy6nyIgzbDc
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256069831_Melatonin_Receptors_Mechanism_and_Uses
• https://www.k9ofmine.com/melatonin-for-dogs/
• https://www.1800petmeds.com/can-you-give-dog-melatonin/a230002.html#:~:text=The%20sedative%20qualities%20in%20melatonin,of%20phobias%20like%20loud%20noises.