How to Help an Anxious Dog Naturally: The Gut-Brain Connection
Does your dog become anxious when you leave the house? Perhaps they struggle with loud noises, unfamiliar situations or changes to their normal routine.
Anxiety and stress in dogs can show themselves in many different ways. You might notice excessive barking, pacing, panting, trembling, destructive behaviour, hiding or even changes to their digestion.
While training, routine and environment are extremely important when supporting an anxious dog, there's another fascinating area receiving increasing attention: the connection between the gut and the brain.
The gut and brain communicate with each other through what is known as the gut-brain axis. This has led to growing interest in whether supporting a healthy gut microbiome could form part of a wider approach to supporting canine wellbeing.
So, what can you do to support both your dog's gut and their overall wellbeing?
1. Support the Gut with Bone Broth
Bone broth can be an easy and nutritious addition to your dog's normal diet.
Naturally rich in amino acids, collagen and gelatin, a good-quality bone broth can provide additional nutrition while also encouraging hydration.
Bone broth can be particularly useful for fussy dogs because it can be mixed into meals or reconstituted into a tasty broth.
One amino acid naturally present in bone broth is glycine. Glycine performs numerous functions within the body and is involved in the nervous system, which makes it an interesting nutrient when looking at nutrition and overall wellbeing.
Most importantly, bone broth should be viewed as a nutritious food rather than a treatment for anxiety.
2. Introduce Fermented Foods Such as Water Kefir
Another way to support your dog's gut microbiome is through fermented foods.
Water kefir is a naturally fermented, dairy-free drink containing live cultures. Unlike milk kefir, it doesn't contain dairy, making it an alternative for dogs that don't tolerate dairy products well.
Fermented foods can introduce additional microorganisms into the diet and can form part of a varied, gut-friendly feeding routine.
When introducing water kefir, start with a small amount and gradually increase according to the feeding instructions and your dog's tolerance.
3. Don't Forget Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are important nutrients for dogs and contribute to numerous functions within the body.
Good dietary sources include oily fish and appropriately formulated fish oils. If you're considering an omega-3 supplement, choose one intended for dogs and follow the manufacturer's feeding recommendations.
Rather than assuming more is better, speak to your vet or veterinary nutritionist about an appropriate amount for your individual dog, particularly if they're already eating a complete diet.
4. Feed a Varied, Nutritious Diet
Diet doesn't need to become complicated.
Focus on providing appropriate nutrition and avoid making sudden dietary changes, particularly if your dog already has a sensitive digestive system.
You can also consider introducing suitable whole foods and fermented foods alongside your dog's normal diet.
A dog's microbiome is influenced by many factors, including diet, age, environment, medication and health, so there isn't one food or supplement that can create a healthy microbiome on its own.
5. Create a Predictable Routine
For an anxious dog, knowing what to expect can be reassuring.
Try to keep feeding, walks, bedtime and other everyday activities reasonably consistent.
Regular exercise can also provide both physical and mental stimulation, while sniffing, enrichment activities, training games and puzzle toys give dogs opportunities to use their brains.
A quiet, comfortable place where your dog can retreat without being disturbed can also be valuable, particularly in a busy household.
6. Look at What's Triggering Your Dog's Anxiety
Nutrition is only one piece of the puzzle.
Try to identify when your dog's behaviour changes.
Is it when you leave the house? When visitors arrive? During thunderstorms or fireworks? In the car? Around other dogs?
Understanding the trigger can make it much easier to decide how best to support them.
For example, separation-related anxiety requires a very different approach from fear of fireworks or nervousness around unfamiliar dogs.
7. The Fascinating Connection Between the Gut and Brain
Scientists increasingly recognise that the digestive system and brain don't operate completely independently.
The microorganisms living in the digestive tract interact with the body in extraordinarily complex ways, and researchers are continuing to investigate how the gut microbiome may influence behaviour, stress responses and neurological function.
This doesn't mean that changing your dog's diet will cure anxiety.
It does mean that gut health, nutrition, behaviour and overall wellbeing are interconnected areas worth considering together, rather than looking at each in isolation.
Can Bone Broth or Water Kefir Cure Dog Anxiety?
No food should be considered a cure for anxiety.
Bone broth and water kefir can form part of a nutritious, gut-friendly diet, but dogs experiencing anxiety may also need behavioural support, environmental changes and, in some cases, veterinary treatment.
If your dog's anxiety is severe, suddenly appears, is getting worse or is affecting their quality of life, speak to your vet. Pain and underlying health problems can sometimes cause behavioural changes too.
Supporting Your Dog from the Inside Out
Helping an anxious dog isn't usually about finding one miracle ingredient.
It's about looking at the whole dog.
A nutritious diet, healthy gut, regular exercise, enrichment, predictable routine, positive training and a safe environment can all contribute to your dog's overall wellbeing.
And as we continue to learn more about the relationship between the canine gut microbiome and the brain, looking after the gut may prove to be an increasingly important part of looking after the dog attached to it.
