What is passionflower for dogs?
Passiflower, also known as passion flower or passiflora, is a plant known worldwide not only for producing the appreciated passion fruit, but also for its effects relaxing.
The dry extract of this plant, obtained from its flowers and leaves, contains a series of flavonoids that give the plant a calming and anxiolytic effect, which is why it has traditionally been used as a medicine homeopathic for stress treatment in both human and veterinary medicine.
Don't hesitate to consult the following article on our site with 10 signs of stress in dogs.
What is passiflora good for in dogs?
Stress is undoubtedly one of the main causes of behavioral problems affecting dogs. The hustle and bustle of our daily lives can be difficult for our pets to manage, and can lead to behavioral disorders that require appropriate treatment.
That is why, with relative frequency, dog sitters go to their veterinary clinic asking what types of painkillers can be given to a dog.
Well, today, there are many synthetic drugs with tranquilizing properties. However, there is also a wide variety of natural products that are effective for treating stress and anxiety in dogs, especially in mild or moderate cases.
One of these products is passionflower. The flavonoids present in its dry extract have a calming and anxiolytic effect which, together with appropriate behavioral therapy, can be the solution to many behavioral problems related to stress, fear, or anxiety.
As a curiosity, it should be noted that currently there is no veterinary medicine with passionflower approved by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Products (AEMPs). A few years ago there was a homeopathic veterinary medicine on the market for dogs, cats and horses, which contained Passiflora among its active ingredients, but it stopped being marketed in 2020.
However, there are medicines intended for use in humans that contain passionflower and that can be prescribed by a veterinarian using the so-called “cascade prescription”, which consists of prescribing a drug that is not authorized for a specific animal species when there is a therapeutic gap.
In any case, you should know that, although it is a homeopathic product, it is a medicine subject to veterinary prescription that should only be administered under the control or supervision of a professional veterinary.
Dose of passionflower for dogs
The dose of passionflower should always be Guidelined by a veterinary professional, as this may vary depending on the disorder to be treated, the concentration of passionflower in the product administered and whether the passionflower is not accompanied by other substances tranquilizers.
How to give a dog passionflower?
Currently, there are homeopathic medicines for human use that contain passionflower as the only active ingredient. Specifically, these medicines come in the form of coated tablets, so their administration is simple. You simply have to administer the dose prescribed by your veterinarian (breaking the tablet if necessary) orally, one hour before of the moment in which your effect.
Furthermore, in herbal shops it is possible to find passionflower in the form of an extract for the preparation of infusions. However, its administration to dogs in the form of an infusion can be more complicated, so it is preferable to opt for tablets.
Passionflower side effects for dogs
Toxicity studies of passionflower extracts have shown a low toxicity of this substance in dogs, both in toxicity studies acute and chronic toxicity tests.
In addition, to date there have been no reported adverse reactions of passionflower in dogs, so it is considered a fairly sure. However, in case of starting a treatment with this or any other medicinal plant, it is important to monitor the possible appearance of side effects and immediately notify the veterinarian who established the treatment.
Passionflower contraindications for dogs
Despite being an apparently safe product, the administration of passionflower can be counterproductive in certain situations:
- Allergy or hypersensitivity to passionflower: or to any of the excipients that accompany the active ingredient.
- Pregnancy and lactation: since the safety of the veterinary drug has not been demonstrated in these physiological states.
- Concomitant use is not recommended: together with synthetic sedatives, such as benzodiazepines.
- In general, should not be mixed with other veterinary medicinal products: due to the absence of compatibility studies.
