The Big Bad Woof has an extensive apothecary section with products that address a variety of symptoms and issues that pets experience. A common question we hear is what's the difference between melatonin and CBD? They're both good for calming pets down, right? So which should you use?
Though they overlap in important ways, CBD and melatonin are very different from one another and ultimately serve different purposes in the animal kingdom. For our pets purposes the most important difference is the intended duration of use; CBD is better used long term for more chronic conditions like anxiety, pain or cancer, and melatonin is for shorter term, acute conditions like periods of insomnia or long car rides.
Another thing worth mentioning is that they are produced in entirely different ways. Melatonin is an antioxidant that's created through internal processes in the human body while CBD (cannabidiol) is an oil which is derived from the hemp plant.
Hemp by definition is the cannabis plant with 0.3% or less THC, so there are no psychoactive properties. Its other properties are remarkable because they are so varied. There is evidence that CBD has anti-cancer properties. CBD is antibacterial and good hand sanitizer. When used topically it's been shown to even have skin benefits. It's also been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, and its main purpose (as far as we know) is to regulate the wake-sleep cycle (circadian rhythm) in animals. The essential amino acid, tryptophan, is the precursor to melatonin. Melatonin happens two ways: You eat something with tryptophan in it, like turkey, and the body absorbs tryptophan from the bloodstream and converts it to melatonin, or you consume a synthetic or phytogenic melatonin supplement. The effects are the same.
Melatonin is for sleep regulation, and it's clutch because it works in 10-15 minutes day or night. More recently melatonin has been further studied and there is evidence that, as a powerful antioxidant, it provides immune system support, and has been shown to have an anti-oncogenic agent, inhibiting the growth, proliferation, and metastasis of several tumors.
What about melatonin and CBD? Neither have long term side effects, Short term side effects of CBD are lethargy and low blood pressure. Melatonin side effects include headache and dizziness. They can be used independently to treat separate issues, and they can be used in tandem for related issues like anxiety and insomnia.
Important things to keep in mind is that both CBD and melatonin affect the Central Nervous System and blood pressure so consult a vet before adding either supplement to your pet's routine. Also make sure that the CBD and melatonin are specifically manufactured for dogs and does not contain the sweetener xylitol which is toxic to dogs.
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