BORDER COLLIE SOLILOQUY

THE THOUGHTS OF A BORDER COLLIE

How Melatonin Might Help

If you have used Melatonin on your dog I would love to hear some feedback, please leave a comment.
 
Trooper suffers with noise phobia, he hates sudden loud noises like thunder, fireworks and gunshot etc. Last year I was searching the internet for info to help him and came across an article about Melatonin and how its been used to help reduce canine thunderstorm phobias. I purchased some and was amazed at the result, Trooper, who would hide away in the tightest darkest corner during a thunderstorm or fireworks just lay on the sofa next to me and shown no interest to what had feared him before. I now use melatonin during times of stress and with fireworks being used for any celebration besides November 5th these days melatonin has been a great help. I have also found melatoinin a good desensitiser with Troopers on leash fear of other dogs, without the melatonin I find I can't distract him even with the tastiest of treats, using the melatonin seems to make him calmer and indifferent, he isn't lethargic or sleepy so I'm still able to work with him in a less stressful manner.  
 
Read the article below on the research done by Dr Dodman and Dr Aronson, also click the link at the bottom of the page to see how melatonin has also helped dogs that suffer with canine epilepsy, I wished I had known about it when we had Chester.
 
Melatonin And Its Effects On Canine Thunder Phobia
 
An article in The Whole Dog Journal reports that one of the most effective treatments for thunderstorm phobia is melatonin, an over-the-counter hormone used by humans to treat insomnia.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman and his colleague Dr. Linda Aronson of the behavioral section at Tufts New England Veterinary Medical Center had been looking for something that would help reduce canine thunderstorm phobias when they discovered research papers on the effect of melatonin. Research indicated a positive effect of melatonin on dogs that continually lick their flanks as well as a calming effect on chickens in overcrowded conditions.

Drs. Dodman and Aronson wondered whether melatonin might work on noise phobic dogs. The first dog to try it was Dr. Aronson's own Bearded Collie who had severe thunder phobia after lightening struck very near her house. The effect of the melatonin was dramatic. The dog simply stopped being afraid instead of tearing around the house and digging at the carpets. The melatonin did not put her to sleep, she stayed awake and alert -- just not bothered by the thunder.

Drs. Dodman and Aronson then gave the melatonin to other dogs and produced the same result. Melatonin worked for other noise fears (one dog was afraid of songbirds) as well, including fireworks!

Melatonin is sold in capsules and tablets in health food stores, pharmacies and some supermarkets. It is sold in doses as low as 200 micrograms (mcg.). For most dogs, Aronson prescribes 3 milligrams (mg.) In a few cases, dogs weighing over one hundred pounds needed 6 mg. but that was unusual. Aronson usually gives dogs that weigh less than 30 pounds, 1.5 mg. Although they have not treated any phobic really tiny dogs, Aronson would reduce the dosage further for them.

It's important to read the labels on melatonin bottles very carefully. Some are mixed with herbs or nutrients that may not be safe for dogs. Make sure you buy the correct dosage for your size dog. Remember, there are 1,000 micrograms (mcg.) in a milligram (mg.) so a 200 mcg. pill contains only 1/15 of the amount recommended for a large dog.

Because melatonin is not regulated by any federal agency, the quality varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. If an inferior product is administered, it may not be effective in calming a dog whereas a higher quality product might be. We cannot recommend any particular brand that is best, so the best course of action is purchase the product from a supplier you trust and believe to carry better quality. Some holistic veterinarians sell melatonin and their products might be better quality.

You can give your dog melatonin before you leave for the day if thunderstorms are predicted because it remains effective for several hours. Otherwise, give it when thunder seems imminent. Give melatonin immediately when you see your dog becoming agitated. If your dog has autoimmune disease or severe liver or kidney disease, check with your veterinarian before giving melatonin.

The April 2000 issue of The Whole Dog Journal has a comprehensive five page article on remedies that do not use drugs. The May 2000 issue has a complete article on melatonin and other holistic phobia remedies. To purchase a copy, contact The Whole Dog Journal at (800) 424-7887 or customer_service@belvoir.com. This is an excellent publication that does not accept any advertising.

Also see MELATONIN  an article on how it could also be of help to epileptic dogs.

At the present time melatonin cannot be bought over the counter in the UK as it has not been licensed but it can be purchased over the internet, do a Google search for melatonin. I personally get my supply from ebay, again type melatonin in the ebay search engine.  For more info on melatonin and its general uses for human uses see Melatonin.com

The information above is not intended to replace diagnosis or treatment from a veterinarian or other qualified dog professional these are my own personal experiences of using melatonin on my noise phobic dog.