Since we received so much feedback and so many questions from you regarding our article“CBD for a Stress-Free New Year’s Eve!”, we’ve summarized our knowledge on the topic once again and put together a brief overview of other common methods for dealing with “New Year’s Eve anxiety.” You’ll quickly see why many conventional medical approaches—and even some home remedies—aren’t really the best way to make New Year’s Eve easier for our dogs.
Until a few years ago, many veterinarians frequently prescribed phenothiazine derivatives for New Year’s Eve. You may be familiar with their active ingredient, acepromazine, under the brand names Vetranquil, Sedalin, Calmivet, or Prequillan. Under no circumstances should you give your dog such medication, as it merely gives the impression that the dog is “calm.” However, recent findings have shown that these medications do not have “anxiolytic” properties, but rather render dogs completely incapacitated. This means that while the dog is physically unable to relieve or express stress, it is still fully aware of everything internally. This is truly cruel and, fortunately, is rarely used anymore.
Another option is medication such as alprazolam. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine with a moderate duration of action that is used for the short-term treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. With this option, administration must begin early and the medication must be tapered off slowly after New Year’s Eve; otherwise, so-called rebound phenomena—such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, and seizures—may occur. These tablets are available only through a veterinarian, and user experiences vary widely.
The recommendation to give dogs eggnog on New Year’s Eve remains popular. According to some dog owners’ experiences, a small amount can have a positive effect on certain dogs. However, it’s important to remember that alcohol is generally toxic to dogs, and high doses can lead to ataxia (loss of coordination) or even more serious consequences.
It’s great that our nacani products, which contain natural CBD, can help calm your dogs in a 100% natural way. Other commonly used alternatives include Bach flower remedies, homeopathy, ThunderShirts (or so-called “anxiety shirts”), and the Tellington TTouch® method. These methods can easily be combined with CBD supplementation.
Finally, we’d like to remind you that safety is the top priority, especially for anxious and insecure dogs. During stressful times like New Year’s Eve, please make sure to keep your dog securely on a leash, with a collar, and/or a harness. For some dogs, it can also help to darken the room by closing the blinds, which helps to dampen noise and light. You should be there for your dog, but excessive “mothering” can be interpreted by some dogs as a sign of weakness and may push them deeper into their fear. And last but not least, “exercise reduces stress,” so feel free to move around the home with your dog to help them relieve stress.
Under no circumstances should you leave your anxious dog alone on New Year's Eve. If you really have no other choice, please find a reliable and competent dog sitter to look after your dog.
Read the article“CBD for a Stress-Free New Year’s Eve!”
