Natural Supplements to Help Dogs Sleep

Sleep is a vital component of a dog’s health. It’s not just about getting enough rest; your pet needs to have quality sleep as well. If you notice your furry friend having trouble dozing off, it could be a sign of underlying health issues or an indication that they aren’t comfortable in their surroundings. Fortunately, there are natural supplements to help dogs sleep without resorting to pharmaceuticals.

In this article, we’ll discuss some sleep aids you can use at home, including essential oils and herbs, that can improve your dog’s quality of sleep and potentially help with falling asleep. 

We’ll also share some information on how much sleep dogs need, canine insomnia, and how to encourage good sleeping habits.

How Much Sleep Dogs Need

There’s no magic number when it comes to how much sleep your dog needs each night because every dog is different. Some dogs need more sleep than others, while some dogs require less rest than others during the day as well as at night. 

If you notice that your healthy dogs look tired but isn’t tired enough to fall asleep, here are some signs that can help you determine when it’s time for bed:

• Loss of interest in playtime. When dogs are tired, they typically show it by losing interest in their toys and other activities. If your pooch suddenly seems disinterested in playing or chasing their favorite toy, they may be ready for a nap.
• Excessive yawning. Dogs yawn for all sorts of reasons, but excessive yawning is usually a sign that they’re tired or bored — which means they could use some rest! The more often your dog yawns without any obvious reason (such as being exposed to extreme temperatures), the more likely it is that he needs sleep.
• Dilated pupils. Another surefire indicator that your pup needs to get some shut-eye? Dilated pupils (the result of dilation of the iris). 
  

Canine Insomnia

Canine insomnia is a common problem in dogs. It is a condition where the dog cannot sleep well and is restless at night. This can be caused by many factors. Some of these include:

• Discomfort 
• Boredom and stress 
• Separation anxiety
• Lack of exercise 
• Sudden changes in routine

Dogs that are struggling with insomnia often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. They might even wake up earlier than usual and be unable to get back to sleep. If your dog has these symptoms, they may have canine insomnia.

It’s important to note that not all animals with insomnia have the same problems. While some dogs may struggle with falling asleep, others might have trouble staying asleep or waking up much earlier than usual. In some cases, restless or anxious dogs may pace around or whine, but they won’t settle down enough to fall asleep again. They may also show other unusual behaviors that are atypical when they’re overly tired.

Natural Supplements to Help Dogs Sleep

Is your dog restless at night? Do they wake you up continuously moving around and looking for something to do? Are you tired of listening to the pitter-patter of little paws on the floor? If your dog has trouble sleeping, there are a number of natural supplements that can help them get some shut-eye. These supplements promote relaxation and help maintain normal sleeping habits.

Offering Melatonin 

The amount of melatonin that’s released into your dog’s body depends on how much light they see during the day and how dark it gets at night. This is why some dogs seem to need more sleep than others. Some dogs don’t get enough darkness at night or bright light during the day to stimulate their pineal glands into making enough of the natural hormone, melatonin. If your dog has trouble sleeping at night, you may want to offer melatonin supplements to help them get a good night’s rest.

In addition to helping with sleep disorders, melatonin may prove beneficial for dogs who have trouble adjusting to changes in their environment. For example, dogs may experience stress when something in their environment changes, like their daily routine. 

Melatonin can help ease this issue by resetting the body’s internal clock as well as maintaining contentment during separation, travel, motion sickness, and tension caused by changes in your pet’s daily routine so they can rest better at night.

L-Theanine for Dogs

L-Theanine for dogs is often used for anxiety, but it also has many other potential benefits. It can help animals maintain a normal and relaxed disposition, help support cognitive function, help animals cope with external stresses, and even help support normal behavior patterns.

When you give your dog L-theanine, it crosses into their bloodstream and travels to the brain. There, it attaches itself to receptors on nerve cells called GABA receptors. These receptors are responsible for relaxing your dog’s body, including their muscles and brain, promoting calming effects. 

Full-Spectrum Hemp Extract

If you have a sleep-deprived puppy or older dogs who have trouble getting restful sleep, full-spectrum hemp extract for sleep in dogs could be helpful. The cannabidiol found in cannabis has been shown to have many therapeutic benefits, including reducing hyperactivity and promoting relaxation.

Offering a combination of full-spectrum hemp extract and CBN for dogs can also promote restful sleep. CBN for dogs is safe, but mildly psychoactive, which can help dogs maintain a normal and relaxed disposition. Earth Buddy’s Sleep Support Hemp Extract offers this combination in a 4:1 ratio of CBN:CBD to promote relaxation. 

Valerian Root

Valerian root is another natural supplement that can be used to help dogs sleep. It’s often sold in both powder and capsule form, so you can find what works best for your dog. Valerian root is usually thought of as a short-term treatment, but if needed, it can also be used as a long-term solution with veterinary support. 

When using this supplement, it’s important to note that it may not work well with other medications or supplements. As with any supplement, pet safety must come first. If you’re using valerian root along with other supplements or medications, you must speak with your vet about any possible interactions between those substances.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are potent aromatic extracts that come from plants, flowers, and herbs. They are extracted through steam distillation or cold pressing, which is why they are so concentrated with beneficial properties. There are many different types of essential oils available on the market today, all with unique scents, benefits, and uses.

Here are some of the most popular essential oils that may promote relaxation: 

• Lavender: Lavender is one of the most commonly used essential oils for dogs because it helps keep your pet calm and relaxed. 
• Chamomile: Chamomile is another popular essential oil that helps calm dogs and provides help for restless animals. It’s also known as a wonderful sleep aid for both humans and pets alike!

Essential oils can be used in combination with other holistic therapies, such as acupuncture or massage therapy, to help your dog relax and fall asleep more easily.

To use essential oils for sleep, add a few drops of your preferred essential oil into a diffuser, or place a few drops on a cotton ball and place it under your dog’s bedding. 

How to Encourage Good Dog Sleep Habits

The good news is that you can encourage your dog to sleep more and

 be less hyperactive by providing a safe place for them to sleep and making sure they get enough exercise.

The first action you need to take is to provide your dog with a safe place to sleep. Pet safety is key and ensuring they feel secure in their environment is crucial. Dogs like to be able to curl up in a small space, so if you have an old blanket or pillow, put it in the corner of the room for them to use as a bed. If you don’t have anything for them, buy a pet bed or make one out of cardboard boxes and blankets.

Start Sleeping

We hope that this article has helped you understand how supplements can help make sure your dog sleeps better and feels more relaxed. It’s important for pet parents to remember that there are many other factors at play when it comes to sleep, including stress, diet, exercise, and socialization. With these tips in mind, we wish your pup and all pet parents a good night’s sleep!

For further reading, we recommend: 

• https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05344170
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33556640/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7401528/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4273450/
• https://www.vin.com/vetzinsight/default.aspx?pid=756&catId=-1&id=10160693
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19496667/