The world can be a very stressful place for dogs, cats, and other companion animals. While it may be impossible to eliminate stressors from your fur baby’s life, there are things you can do to help them manage stress, and that includes adding adaptogens to their daily diet.
COMMON STRESSORS FOR DOGS AND CATS
Dogs and cats experience stress for reasons that can be physical, behavioral, and physiological. Depending on the animal and the situation, possible causes of stress can include:
- Being alone
- Loud noises
- Unfamiliar places
- Strangers
- Thirst and hunger
- Frustration
- Boredom
- Lack of exercise
Hiding, drooling, pacing, vocalizing, yawning, and changes in behavior and habits are all signs of stress in dogs and cats.
ADAPTOGENS AND THE BODY’S STRESS RESPONSE
When a dog or cat experiences stress, many organs get involved, including the brain and hypothalamus, and the endocrine, adrenal, and pituitary glands. Long-term stress can impact the immune system, shorten life expectancy, and leave your dog or cat more susceptible to disease.
Adaptogens are plants and mushrooms that support the organs involved in the stress response, making it easier for the body to adapt to stress. A plant or mushroom must affect the hypothalamus and the adrenal, endocrine, and pituitary glands to be an adaptogen.
A few commonly known adaptogens include licorice root, ashwagandha, and ginseng, among others, as well as mushrooms like Reishi and Cordyceps. Mushrooms such as Lion’s Mane also have a calming effect and are good for stressed animals, though they’re not adaptogens.
USING ADAPTOGENS TO HELP DOGS AND CATS MANAGE STRESS
By adding adaptogenic mushrooms to your dog or cat’s diet, you can help them better manage stress, which will make for a happier, healthier fur baby!
Adaptogenic mushrooms also offer numerous benefits for the body. Reishi helps fight seasonal allergies, supports the immune system, and has a calming effect. Similarly, Cordyceps helps support optimal kidney and lung function.
Reishi and Cordyceps nutraceutical supplements from Real Mushrooms are made with pure, organic, potency-guaranteed mushroom extracts to ensure your dog or cat gets the most benefit from each one. If your fur baby is experiencing stress, get them on a daily regimen of adaptogenic mushrooms.
Dr. Robert J. Silver is a 1982 graduate of Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He has pioneered the use of diet, herbs and nutraceuticals in his small animal integrative practice in Boulder, Colorado for the past 25 years. He writes and speaks both domestically and internationally to veterinary audiences on the value of blending holistic modalities with conventional medicine, and is a consultant to the pet food industry. He is also the Chief Medical Officer of Real Mushrooms for Pets.
