There are many reasons dogs don’t like bonfire night. Not only do fireworks feel threatening, but most of the options to help them feel comfortable and safe are not nice and don’t work that well.

When it comes to calming down your dog for bonfire night,did you know you can also use natural foods? Better yet, did you know there are some that dogs love? That work well to calm your dog down no matter how crazy it gets…

Yes, there are special  foods containing amazing nutrients that offer big benefits to your dog. 

When taken at the right time in the right quantity they will help your dog stay happy and relaxed.

This makes them great for bonfire night. And great for you if you want to enjoy the fireworks.

To save you some research, we’ve put together this post to tell you all about some of the superfoods that could help you out this November 5th.

Let’s dive in and discuss them now…

Blueberries

Anxiety in dogs can be linked to a low antioxidant intake and blueberries are full of antioxidants. So throwing a handful of blueberries into your dog’s food once a week can really combat their anxiety. 

Blueberries also contain lots of vitamins and minerals, further protecting your dog against the effects of stress. 

You can add them directly to your dog’s food, or mix with natural yoghurt or goat’s milk.

Turkey

Turkey is a great source of a powerful calming ingredient called L-tryptophan.

“What is L-tryptophan?” You may ask.

Well, L-tryptophan is a chemical associated with the regulation of sleep. It also produces ‘feel good chemicals’ in the brain to help both humans and dogs feel cool, calm and collected.

Ever had a turkey hang-over at Christmas? That was the L-tryptophan helping you feel more relaxed.

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are one of the world’s ‘superfoods’ and are great for dogs as well as humans. They offer a huge variety of benefits:

• They are packed full of antioxidants which, as shown above, can help combat anxiety.
• Complex carbohydrates found within sweet potatoes help regulate blood sugar levels. This is important because fluctuations of blood sugar levels can happen with kibble-based diets and can make your dog feel anxious.
• They are a source of vitamins E, A, b6 and C as well as calcium and iron. 
• The potassium in sweet potatoes can promote a healthy heart function and reduce stress.
• They are a good source of fibre, which can help maintain a healthy digestive system. And a healthy digestive system can lead to less anxiety in your dog.

Oily Fish

Have you ever heard of the ‘fight or flight’ response?

If not, here are the basics:

You find yourself in a scary situation.

This causes a burst of adrenaline.

Your heart begins to beat faster, your breathing rate increases and you start to sweat. These changes are designed to give you a burst of energy and strength to fight off danger.

Once the danger has passed, your body returns to normal.

The problem is, any time we’re scared of something the fight-or-flight response happens even if we aren’t in trouble.

The same applies to dogs. If your dog is scared of fireworks, their body will begin the fight-or-flight response and their anxiety will increase even though they aren’t in any real danger.

Too much fear can lead to too much adrenaline, causing anxiety and sometimes even aggression.

Omega-3 fatty acids, the type found in oily fish, can help suppress the production of adrenaline that leads people and dogs to ‘fight or flight’.

Oily fish also contain vitamins A and D, which help battle stress.

Salmon is extra special because it also contains L-tryptophan. As we mentioned earlier, this helps to promote restfulness and ‘feel good’ brain chemicals.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens, like kale and spinach, are another antioxidant packed addition to your dog’s diet. 

They contain vitamins A, b6, C and k along with calcium, potassium and iron.

Spinach also has a high concentration of magnesium. This is used by over 300 different processes in the body, so it’s essential for your dog’s internal processes.

It also helps to regulate and balance the chemicals that cause anxiety, such as GABA. GABA is a chemical in the brain responsible for relaxing the nervous system. A GABA deficiency is often seen in dogs with anxiety and phobias.

Eggs

Eggs are one of the few complete food sources – they just have everything in them! They are high in zinc, which helps the immune system. And a happy immune system means a happy and less anxious dog.

Is There A Done-For-You Solution That Helps Dogs Stay Calm With These Foods?

What if we told you that you could get everything you need to relax your dog for bonfire night, all in one place?

Something that combines all the important ingredients mentioned above like L-Tryptophan, GABA, magnesium and vitamin b6 in one easy to eat treat?

Something that would save time buying and preparing so many ingredients?

If you would like the hard work done for you, you might want to try Relax+Restore.

Relax + Restore is a brand new dog chew loaded with 7 of the most naturally calming super nutrients available. To provide your dog with a relaxed energy. Plus an extra burst of vitamins just like those mentioned throughout this post, designed to protect dogs against the negative effects of stress. All delivered in one tasty bacon flavoured wrap.

Unlike traditional calming products that sometimes contain nasty chemicals, Relax+Restore is completely natural. And contains many of the amazing ingredients found in the foods we’ve talked about today.

You can learn more about this product by clicking to see it on our website.

References

https://www.thenaturalpetdoctor.com/post/top-11-foods-for-reducing-your-dog-s-anxiety

animalwellnessmagazine.com/11-foods-anxiety/