The hormone melatonin is present in both humans and dogs. It can also be taken as a supplement and it comes in tablets, gummies, and liquids.
If your dog eats melatonin, check how much melatonin they actually ate.
A high dosage or amount of melatonin ingested will be harmful to your pet, especially if it contains xylitol. Otherwise, melatonin is mostly harmless for dogs.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats Melatonin?
You can estimate how many tablets of Melatonin your dog has consumed and then check the label to determine how many mg they have ingested.
Human melatonin products are similar to dogs’ and they are safe if used in the correct dosage.
Dogs should take 1 mg for every 5 kg of body weight, or not more than 30 mg per day. This is because large dogs are often unable to consume this amount.
If you suspect your dog may have eaten more than that, contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline to know how to proceed.
They may suggest you induce vomiting in your dog to get the tablets out if the amount is deemed too dangerous to be digested.
You should immediately take your dog to the vet if they have taken melatonin pills.
Uses Of Melatonin In Dogs
Melatonin is actually used as a therapy for dogs as well as humans and there are many melatonin-related products on the market targeted specifically for dogs, including melatonin treats.
Dogs are given melatonin to help them sleep.
As with every change in your dogs diet and therapy, you should never start this new supplement without consulting your veterinarian first.
The use of melatonin has proved useful in alleviating several conditions that often affect dogs, like separation anxiety and insomnia.
Given in the right dosage, this hormone is completely safe and can only bring benefits for your dog.
Anxiety
Many dogs are anxious by nature or breed, and many others suffer from separation anxiety because theyre forced to spend many hours a day alone at home while their owners are at work.
Melatonin could also help dogs face difficult situations such as fireworks, thunderstorms, periodic medical examinations, a visit to the groomer, or a long car ride.
Melatonin does not work in the brain to relieve anxiety.
This supplement can also be used to treat epilepsy-afflicted dogs and hyperactive dogs.
Insomnia
Our health starts with our sleep pattern and melatonin helps regulate our internal clock, the one that tells our bodies whether its time to sleep or to be awake.
Puppies often have trouble sleeping at night, mainly because they sleep a lot during the day, but it is usually just a phase they grow out of when they become adults.
The fact that melatonin is a hormone our bodies produce at night means that the levels in the dogs’ bodies will change with the seasons.
Sometimes, this can lead even adult dogs to develop insomnia or problems sleeping more than a few consecutive hours.
Old dogs that are starting to develop cognitive dysfunctions may have problems regulating their internal clock.
This is where melatonin can be a great help. It helps regulate their biorhythms, and allows them to sleep peacefully at nights.
Alopecia
Dogs that suffer from hair loss sometimes find benefits in a melatonin treatment.
Although melatonin’s role in hair restoration isn’t proven scientifically, it is worth trying.
There are two types:
- Seasonal Flank Alopecia: As the name says, this kind of Alopecia comes and goes with seasons;
- AlopeciaX: This condition is similar to seasonal alopecia but may be more severe.
Alopecia can cause hair loss in dogs. It is characterized by one or more hairless spots on either side of the body. This can also be a problem for the dog’s eyes.
Sometimes a dogs hair grows back once theyve been neutered. However, if this isnt the choice you want to make for your pooch, melatonin is definitely something you could try.
Cushing’s Disease
Cushings disease happens when a dog has an overproduction of the cortisol hormone.
Cortisol is useful to the body because it helps to manage stress and modulates the immune system, but too much cortisol in the body can be harmful.
Cushing’s disease is often caused by benign pituitary tumours. Heavy medications can cause severe side effects like vomiting and diarrhea, even kidney failure.
For mild Cushing’s disease cases, melatonin may be preferred as it is an effective natural way to block the absorption high levels cortisol.
Can Melatonin Harm A Dog?
It is safe for dogs to be given the correct amount of melatonin according to their size and weight. Some veterinarians recommend it for natural treatment of different conditions.
If you have human melatonin at home and your dog happens to eat some, depending on the dose your dog may experience side effects.
A dog that ate 10 mg melatonin, even if just a few tablets, will be more likely to get sick than a dog that ate the same amount of tablets but in 1 mg doses.
Luckily, however, melatonin is mostly innocuous alone.
Nonetheless, it would be better to give your dog melatonin products designed for pets, rather than human melatonin, because you will gain peace of mind about side effects and you will also avoid nasty ingredients like xylitol.
Xylitol
Xylitol, an industrial sweetener, is used to replace sugar in many foods and products.
It is meant for human consumption and its particularly appreciated by people who dont want to give up on something sweet during a diet.
This sweetener is unfortunately extremely dangerous for dogsbecause it takes a very little amount of xylitol to cause hypoglycemia in dogs.
Hypoglycemia (or low blood sugar) is when glucose levels in the blood are too low to allow the body’s proper functioning.
Its a medical emergency because when the glucose level drops too low it can be fatal.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Tremors
- Weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Inability to walk or move
- Seizures
- Collapse
These symptoms can occur around 30 minutes after your dog has ingested the xylitol. They can also last for up to 12 hours.
Sometimes xylitol is slowly absorbed by the body, so symptoms do not actually show up before 12 hours in, and then quickly escalate to seizures and collapse. Dogs who consume large amounts of xylitol will usually be admitted to the hospital for at least 24 hours.
Another risk related to xylitol is hepatic necrosis, which means that liver tissue gets destroyed by this chemical compound within 8-12 hours from ingestion.
It is important to note that not all dogs that experience hepatic neoplasm have had an episode of hypoglycemia before.
Although it is not clear how xylitol causes hepatic necrosis it is usually caused by a high dose of xylitol. Sometimes it can lead to liver failure and internal hemorhage.
Higher dosages are more likely to cause complications. If your dog has consumed a bottle of melatonin containing xylitol and is not responding to treatment, it’s best to bring the matter up immediately.
What Happens If A Dog Eats Melatonin?
Melatonin is safe for dogs if you follow your veterinarians therapy and make sure they dont have access to the supplement on their own.
Even when accidental ingestion happens, melatonin in itself isnt particularly harmful to dogs and certainly, it would take quite a good amount of it for any kind of adverse reaction to show up.
So if your dog ate a melatonin gummy, watch them go on their merry way with no problems.
Side Effects Of Melatonin In Dogs
Your dog may feel irritable if they have taken too much melatonin.
These are side effects of melatonin for dogs.
- Drowsiness: the most common side-effect of mild melatonin intoxication is sleepiness. You may notice your dog feeling a bit more tired or lethargic than usual. You may notice a decrease in their interest in play or other activities.
- Upset stomach: Another very common side-effect for mild intoxication. This is not usually very serious, but it can be helped by giving your dog lots of water and withholding food for a while.
- Insulin resistance Sometimes, but not always, a high dose of melatonin may cause insulin resistance in diabetic dogs. This is when the body cannot absorb insulin as well as it did before. They may also need more units to digest the same amount of food.
- An increase in heart rate: Melatonin may cause an increased heart rate in older dogs, dogs who have pre-existing conditions or dogs who are more sensitive to it.
- Allergies: This is an unpredictable side-effect, but as with any other medication, food, or product, it may happen that your dog is simply allergic to melatonin. You may notice symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or unusual behavior and you should bring your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
- Other medications: Before giving your dog melatonin, remember to consult with your veterinarian to make sure the supplement doesnt interfere with other medications your dog is taking. Mixing medications can lead to serious side effects or even death for your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Melatonin?
Melatonin is deemed safe for dogs and treatments with this supplement are sometimes encouraged for the benefits they could bring to dogs with conditions such as anxiety, alopecia, and insomnia.
Always consult your vet before giving melatonin to your dog. This will ensure that the correct treatment is given to your pet and the right dosage.
An excess of melatonin in a healthy dog is usually harmless, however, in the presence of other medical conditions and treatments, it could be harmful.
If your dog ate melatonin that contains xylitol, it is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment and hospitalization.
You should make sure that your dog does not have access to your melatonin products.
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