Melatonin is commonly used as a calming supplement that can help improve sleep cycles. It doesn’t require a prescription and is generally safe to give to dogs. Dogs can experience the many benefits of melatonin, including better sleep, reducing anxiety and stress, and addressing certain skin issues.
Although melatonin is safe for dogs, it’s still not recommended to give your dog melatonin without consulting your veterinarian first. If your dog is experiencing sleep issues or other health concerns, it’s much more beneficial for them to be examined and diagnosed by a veterinarian properly. This will determine if melatonin will be an appropriate and effective treatment for your dog’s issues.
Can Dogs Have Melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that’s secreted by the pineal gland as a response to darkness. It serves multiple functions and is most known for regulating sleep-wake cycles. It also plays a role in regulating mood and reproduction.
Melatonin, in the form of a supplement, is safe for dogs to consume, and overdosing is extremely rare because dogs must eat a substantially large amount before they experience significantly adverse effects. Therefore, if your dog accidentally swallows a melatonin tablet, it’s highly unlikely for them to experience negative effects from the melatonin content in the tablet.
Benefits of Giving Melatonin to Your Dog
Several limited research studies have been conducted to observe the effects of melatonin on dogs. Along with helping dogs fall asleep faster and more easily, limited studies have found that melatonin can help reduce stress and anxiety in dogs. Melatonin may help dogs with noise-related phobias who may feel significant anxiety when they hear loud sounds like fireworks, sirens, and thunderstorms.
Melatonin can also treat seasonal flank alopecia and pattern baldness because it can stimulate hair growth. Some dogs with certain immune-mediated diseases may benefit from taking melatonin, but further research is needed in this area as most of the available information is extrapolated from human data.
Dangers of Giving Melatonin to Your Dog
While melatonin may provide significant benefits, not all dogs should start taking melatonin supplements. Some dogs may experience negative side effects. Although it’s relatively uncommon, dogs may feel dizziness, nausea, and lethargy after consuming melatonin.
Melatonin may not be safe for dogs that are taking medication. Melatonin can interfere with certain kinds of prescription drugs, including clonidine, amlodipine, and diltiazem. It can also put dogs taking blood thinners at a higher risk of bleeding. It may also cause insulin resistance and is therefore best avoided in diabetic dogs.
It’s also important to note that human melatonin supplements may contain active and inactive ingredients that are harmful to dogs. For example, xylitol is a sweetener that’s often used in melatonin tablets and gummies, and it’s extremely toxic to dogs.
Lastly, giving your dog melatonin before consulting your veterinarian may inhibit them from getting the correct treatment that they need. Anxiety, stress, and sleep issues are often signs of an underlying, more serious health issue. Therefore, we cannot stress enough how important it is to consult your veterinarian before feeding your dog melatonin supplements. If melatonin is appropriate for your dog, your veterinarian can recommend specific brands that are safe for dogs to consume.
How to Give Melatonin to Dogs
Melatonin dosages are typically determined by your dog’s size and the type of health issue they’re targeting. Veterinarians will be able to provide the proper dosage once they thoroughly examine your dog and deem melatonin therapy as an appropriate treatment.
Melatonin is administered orally. You can find a variety of melatonin products, including tablets, gummies, sprays, and capsules. In most cases, tablets and capsules are recommended for dogs because they’re less likely to contain potentially harmful ingredients. However, if your dog refuses to swallow tablets, you may have better luck with feeding them a liquid melatonin supplement.
As with any supplement, consistency is vital and plays an essential role in melatonin therapy. Therefore, make sure to schedule reminders so that you don’t forget to give your dog melatonin. It’s also helpful to ask your veterinarian what you should do in case you miss a dose. In general, it’s not recommended to give your dog double doses of melatonin as an attempt to make up for the dose you missed.
Conclusion
Melatonin can benefit some dogs. It can help calm anxious dogs and improve dogs’ sleep cycles. In some cases, melatonin may be recommended to help treat skin and coat issues. While melatonin isn’t toxic to dogs, it’s still best to consult your veterinarian before giving it to your dog. Melatonin may interfere with some medications, and some dogs may experience negative side effects from taking melatonin.
Featured Image Credit: luchschenF, Shutterstock
