L-Theanine for Dogs [Supplement Guide 2022]

With busy schedules and so many things on our minds, stress consumes us in our everyday lives. Similarly, dogs can get stressed out too, however, they may stress out for reasons you may not be aware of. No one wants to see their dog unhappy. Therefore, it is important to understand what causes stress in dogs and learn how you can treat it if your beloved companion is affected. A supplement backed by science, L-Theanine offers anti-stress and anti-anxiety effects that can help your dog in times of stress.

What is L-Theanine?

L-Theanine was discovered in 1949 as a component of green tea. It is an amino acid that can promote relaxation without drowsiness. It is most commonly found in tea leaves, black or green, but can also be found in fungal species. L-Theanine can be purchased as a dietary supplement in pill form from your local drugstore. It also is an ingredient you can find in certain pet treats.

Why do People Use L-Theanine for Dogs?

Before we go over the specific benefits of L-Theanine for dogs, let’s look at the main reason people give it to their dogs in the first place. Humans take L-Theanine because they believe it offers certain benefits such as reducing anxiety, lowering blood pressure, improving moods, and improving cognition. As for using L-Theanine for dogs, many owners believe it offers similar benefits. They generally use it as a safe addition to their dog’s diet to relieve anxiety without side effects.

If your dog ingests L-theanine it will absorb its bloodstream via digestion. Once the L-theanine is introduced into the blood system it crosses the blood-brain barrier intact. This means that the L-Theanine eventually reaches the brain where it can induce direct pharmacological effects (decrease anxiety). This is the process of how L-theanine induces anti-anxiety effects in the brain.

Anxiety in dogs is one of the most common problems for pet owners to deal with. Many dog owners prefer using natural anti-anxiety treatments instead of using unnatural, expensive, and risky prescriptions. This makes L-Theanine an ideal alternative to powerful drugs like Xanax, Valium, or Prozac, which are some of the common prescriptions prescribed by veterinarians for anxiety in dogs.

If you think your dog is suffering from any of these forms of anxiety L-Theanine may offer just the relief your dog needs.

The most common triggers of anxiety in dogs include:

Being Left Alone for Long Periods of Time

Most dog owners are familiar with the term "separation anxiety". One of the most common triggers for anxiety in dogs is being left alone for a long period of time. Dogs are social creatures and, like us, need interaction and attention from others. They can get scared of being alone too long.

Loss of a Family Member

Dogs see their family members as part of their pack, so the loss of any family members can have a serious impact on them. Also, if your dog grew up with another dog in the same household, one’s death can cause stress to the other one.

Traveling

Travel anxiety is another form of anxiety in dogs. Dogs are comfortable in their home, and in general, do not like change. Traveling is one of these changes, which can make your dog anxious and cause changes in behavior.

Loud Noises

You may enjoy the occasional personal studio session in your room, but your dog certainly will not, as loud sounds and music can make them scared. Because they have such sensitive hearing, loud sounds can overwhelm dogs and stress them out. Firework anxiety or loud noise anxiety is very common among dogs.

What are the Benefits of L-Theanine for Dogs?

Dogs are just as prone to experiencing negative feelings and anxiety as we are. We never want to see our pets stressed out and unhappy. Luckily, we can help them in these situations with the addition of L-Theanine to their diets.

L-Theanine is known to promote calmness and decrease negative behaviors that result from stress. In addition, L-Theanine supplements can reduce the risk of your dog displaying aggressive and dangerous behaviors that can potentially be harmful.

When dogs are under stress or anxiety they are more prone to lash out aggressively. Therefore if you decrease your dog's anxiety you will also be decreasing the chances of it acting out. Let’s look at how using L-theanine can reduce your dog's anxiety while simultaneously promoting a calmer lifestyle for you and your companion.

L-Theanine can reduce anxiety

Alpha waves in the brain are a characteristic of a calm, focused mental state. L-Theanine has a unique property of increasing these alpha waves in the brain. This, in turn, produces a calming effect on the body without the drowsiness you get with drugs like Xanax.

L-Theanine has a calming effect

GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and is responsible for slowing down neuronal messages. Using L-Theanine can help your dog to reach a state of less anxiety and arousal.

L-Theanine can promote better sleep

Due to the anti-anxiety properties of L-Theanine, dogs can feel more at ease during sleep. L-Theanine can reduce the sleep-disrupting effects of stress, making it easier for your dog to fall asleep.

Is L-Theanine Safe for Dogs?

L-Theanine has no known side effects for dogs, but this does not rule out the possibility of side effects. In humans, side effects such as headaches and low blood pressure have been reported.

The only risk for dogs is that L-Theanine may not even have a significant effect. Every dog is different, so trying out L-Theanine for your dog can be a low-risk treatment that may end up working well in the long run.

How Much L-Theanine Can I Give My Dog?

The recommended guidelines for dosage is listed below. Not all dogs are the same, so it may take some adjustment to achieve the desired effect in your dog. Note that you can start with a smaller dose at first, then gradually increase it each time until you reach the recommended dose for your dog’s weight group.

• 10-20 lbs: 100 mg every 6 hours
• 21-40 lbs: 200mg every 6 hours
• 41-60 lbs: 300 mg every 6 hours
• 61-80 lbs: 400 mg every 6 hours
• 81+ lbs: 500 mg every 6 hours

How to Use L-Theanine for Dogs

• Tablets - Tablets are a simple and easy way of providing your dog with L-Theanine. You can simply crush the tablet and mix it into your dog’s food to make it easy for your dog to eat.

• Treats - Dogs love treats more than anything else. That being said, there are certain CBD dog treats out there that can make your dog happy while supplying them with a healthy dose of L-Theanine.

Our CBD Dog Treats + Stress & Anxiety Relief are a popular product for owners of dogs experiencing stressful situations. We combine 100% natural ingredients and organic superfoods to formulate a yummy treat that your dog will find irresistible.

With delicious flavors like green apple and peanut butter, our Stress & Anxiety Relief dog treats include additional calming herbs like chamomile to further enhance the anti-anxiety effect of the treats.

CBD oil has a calming effect and may help with tense and stressful situations. Just like humans, dogs have an endocannabinoid system, too. This means that their bodies interact with natural cannabinoids like CBD and may see results because of it.

CBD is considered to be safe for dogs. CBD is all-natural and non-psychoactive, meaning that your dog will not get high from CBD. There are generally no serious side effects of CBD for dogs. Possible side effects may include dry mouth, lowered blood pressure, and drowsiness.

Conclusion

If you notice that your dog exhibits behaviors of anxiety and stress, L-Theanine may be a great option for you. L-Theanine is well-studied and is known for its anti-anxiety effects, so it is worth a try to see what it can do for your pet. You should always make sure that your dog is healthy (see more health guides here), and stress reduction is one way you can ensure that.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/l-theanine#dosage

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1053/theanine