Ashwagandha for Dogs

Did you know that adding certain herbs to your dog’s diet may help improve their overall health and wellbeing? Ashwagandha is one such herb. This has become a buzzword for many in the holistic health world, and it has evoked a lot of curiosity for medical professionals and pet owners alike due to its promise for promoting animal and human health. So what exactly is ashwagandha, and how can it help your beloved pets? 

What is ashwagandha?

Scientifically known as Withania Somnifera Dunal, ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb traditionally used in India to promote health and wellbeing. From a scientific approach, ashwagandha contains a wide array of constituents such as withanolides, sitoindosides, and other alkaloids known to help manage normal stress, promote calmness, and support a healthy and normal inflammatory response.

For years, the Ayurvedic herb has been known to: 

• Support skin health
• Help maintain healthy joints and connective tissue
• Have a calming effect on nerves, promote calmness, and help maintain relaxation
• Supports normal blood pressure

Amazingly, ashwagandha has been used as a natural alternative to help mitigate unwanted symptoms that our beloved canine friends may suffer from. There have been many articles, books and guides for both pet owners and professionals who want to learn about the Ayurvedic approach and how its herbs, such as ashwagandha, through a scientific lens regarding the potential benefits it may have for our pets. (Here is a summary of one of the many great books written about this topic.) Everyday we see more and more pet owners turn to herbal and holistic products to help their pets. One common issue many pet owners face is how to help their dog or cat with stress. 

Ashwagandha for dog stress

No matter the breed, stress affects all dogs in one way or another. In some cases, it can be a normal and even a healthy response to their environment. However, excessive fear, separation, and even physical discomfort can cause unwanted, chronic stress in our canine friends. 

Surprisingly, ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen (non-toxic, health-promoting plants for a variety of things). This means that ashwagandha helps balance processes that help the body respond and manage stress. While there is no available scientific data specifically targeting ashwagandha for dogs, there are studies that involve ashwagandha and other animal models, such as rats. (If you want to read more about these kinds of studies, you can find them here.) Overall, ashwagandha could be a great solution to helping your dog cope with external stresses and maintain a normal and relaxed disposition. 

Here’s a great link that explores more potential benefits of ashwagandha. 

Chances are, if you’re thinking this may be right for you and your pet, you might also be wondering, “how do I go about giving this to my dog?!” 

Final thoughts 

Here at Holistic Hound we’ve taken the immune-supporting properties of functional mushrooms, the healthy inflammatory responses associated with Cannabidiol (CBD), and combined them with ashwagandha’s stress-managing benefits to create one irresistibly delicious soft chew. There’s nothing better than rewarding your pup with something tasty that also promotes their overall health and wellness. If you’re considering trying ashwagandha for your dog but still have some questions, please reach out to our customer service team and we’d be more than happy to help.