WHEN it comes to furkids, it should be no surprise that many will spend a fair chunk of change on toys and treats for their cats and dogs.
Recently, I purchased a catnip-infused ball for my cat to play with and after she was distracted by the fringed rug she was laying on, I found my dog looking longingly and sniffing the toybox where I had just kept the new toy.
After checking that it was safe, I brought out the ball and found that a typically-energetic dog became fairly relaxed and played calmly with the toy on the couch.
As this isn't usual, especially with a ball in the picture, I began to wonder; was he bored or does catnip work on dogs too?
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Nepeta cataria, more commonly known as catnip, is one of the 250 herb species from the mint family tree.
The essential oil found within the plant’s leaves is called nepetalactone and it is the active compound responsible for behavioral changes in a cat when sniffed or consumed.
So, how does catnip work on cats? According to veterinarian Dr Ramona Turner as quoted by the journal Scientific American, nepectalone sticks to an organ located in the back of their nose, where it is believed to bind to protein receptors that stimulate sensory neurons.
Dr Turner then explained that these cells then trigger a reaction in a cat's olfactory bulb, which projects to several brain regions including the amygdala and hypothalamus.
The amygdala is responsible for mediating emotional responses to stimuli and the hypothalamus is a gland in the brain that plays a role in controlling many functions ranging from emotions to hunger.
In the case of catnip, the hypothalamus regulates neuroendocrine responses through the pituitary gland, creating a "sexual response" while the amygdala fuses the information flow from the olfactory bulb cells and sends it to areas governing behavior responses.
Ultimately, a cat smelling catnip is reacting to an artificial cat pheromone.
Dogs also have these nasal organs along with over a 100 million scent receptors, however, they do not respond in the same way that cats do.
Research from the Animal Care Clinic states that while catnip acts as a stimulant to felines, it can be used as a mild sedative for dogs and to this end it has been used in holistic veterinary medicine for treating conditions such as anxiety, insomnia and travel sickness.
In addition to being power packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Magnesium, catnip is also a known remedy for repelling fleas and mosquitoes from attacking a dog.
If you’re thinking about introducing catnip to your dog for the first time, try sprinkling a few leaves into their water bowl or onto their food.
Be sure to monitor them closely as every pet will have a different reaction depending on the dosage and method of consumption.
If you’re feeling adventurous and your pet has already been exposed to it, one can also find catnip in the form of powders, sprays, toys and pillows along with its commonly found dried form in pet shops and online stores.
REFERENCES
https://www.petmd.com/cat/
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https://www.dailypaws.com/
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