5 Calming Foods To Go From Anxious Dog To Relaxed Dog

Assisting and managing a dog that struggles with anxiety or has an abundance of energy is a daily task. If you’re a new pet owner, it’s common to wonder when your energetic and anxious dog will become peaceful and tranquil.

Believe me, we’ve been there with our Buck…

And while there’s a number of things you can try, from training to medication, we bet you haven’t considered this…

Food! That’s right! The simple act of tweaking his diet could well turn out to be the code to unlock a relaxed dog.

Of course, this won’t work in all cases, and it certainly is not a singular solution. You still need to do some heavy lifting.

However, changing your dog’s food could certainly accelerate the process. Heard of the phrase “we are what we eat”?

5 Great Calming Foods to Help You Find Your Pup’s Relaxed Dog Mode

Now a change in your pup’s diet can certainly help in dealing with anxiety, aggression, hyperactivity, etc. But hang on…

Don’t be in a hurry when it comes to switching up doggy diets!

You might be anxious to see a relaxed dog for a change. But there’s a lot to consider first.

To start with, make sure to consult your vet before introducing anything your dog isn’t used to, or any major change in his diet. The new ingredients might not be toxic to dogs, but your puppy could have food allergies you’re unaware of, and they can be dangerous.

Besides, remember that any change in the diet should be implemented bit by bit, gradually, over several weeks. If you completely replace his current food with a new kind right away, he is bound to have digestive problems – to begin with.

And, as we said before, don’t abandon other means that could help calm your dog. Be it more immediate solutions like calming chews for dogs, or long-term behavioral therapy and conditioning.

Now with that in mind, here are a few foods that are known to have a calming effect on dogs…

1. Oily Fish

Is fish oil good for dogs? YES!!

It has been found that the omega-3 fatty acids in certain fish like salmon help diminish the effect of adrenaline in anxious or hyperactive dogs. Adrenaline is usually a major factor in cases of anxiety, aggression, or hyperactivity.

And the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties that these fatty acids provide can also help senior dogs. They’re shown to reduce the impact of cognitive decline in old age.

So just increasing the intake of oily fish that contain these omega-3 fatty acids can have a beneficial effect. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

2. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are known to contain components that help synthesize anti-stress neurochemicals in the body. Just what you need to turn your pooch into a more chilled out and relaxed dog!

Besides, pumpkin seeds are also a source of selenium, a deficiency of which is known to cause anxiety, depression, and fatigue.

3. Quinoa

There’s a reason behind the recent quinoa craze in the first world, and why it’s being touted as a superfood. Because it’s chock full of essential nutrients.

B vitamins, zinc, potassium, calcium, iron – quinoa got it all for dogs. And the fact that it contains a bunch of essential amino makes it a good source of protein too.

Convinced?

In all seriousness though, despite it being so nutritious, dogs can have trouble digesting quinoa. Make sure you consult your vet and are careful while preparing it. A thorough wash and proper cooking is a must.

4. Blueberries

Besides being delicious, blueberries are also power-packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are stress-busters. Especially the wild kind.

You can’t really have him feed on blueberries for meals. But they’re great for snacking in between or just as a tasty add-on to regular meals.

5. Hemp Seed Oil

Another addition to the long line of superfoods, hemp seed oil or hemp oil for dogs can be another great addition to your relaxed dog diet. It has a lot of benefits, like:

• Improving cardiovascular health
• Easing joint pain or inflammation
• Improving the health of your dog’s skin and coat
• Improving digestion

Keeping in mind that last one, a number of owners tend to add a teaspoonful of hemp seed oil to doggy meals that contain a lot of meat or other heavy food.

Hemp seed oil is a lot like fish oil – more so than other plant-based oils, and that makes it really stand out.

We hope you found this post on the best calming foods to turn your anxious dog into a relaxed dog useful. Check out our dog training tips for more tips like these on dog anxiety and more. If you’re aware of any other foods or diets that help calm a puppy down, do let us know in the comments section below!

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