FOMO Hits Our Furry Friends, Too

Do you have a fear of missing out? Well, so does your “ride-or-die” best friend.

FOMO is a common state of mind, especially among Millennials and Gen Z'ers raised on social media expectations. The fear of missing out, whether it’s an amazing party, a cool vacation, or even an entire lifestyle, is no joke. Many of us get anxious that others are experiencing better things and living better lives.

These fears are usually pointless—you’ve got to live your own life. And a lot of those Instagram stories are artificial. But the effects of FOMO aren’t.

?We can all take hits to self-esteem and second-guess whether or not we are in the right place at the right time. You might even feel like a loser if you’re not as built as the dude posting from the gym or as happy as that bestie with a “PERFECT!!!” relationship.

?Pretty stressful, right?

?Well … imagine how your dog feels.

Unconditional love causes uncomplicated anxiety

Most of the dogs I know don’t follow the Gram (though many of them are stars on it). Our little buddies don’t give a rip about followers or whether you’ve been to Burning Man. They just care about you.

OK, and food. Definitely food.

Think about the greeting that makes you smile when you walk in the door after a long day: the wagging tail, the licks, the earth-shaking demand for pets and rubs. Maybe little Chewbacca or Doc McDoggins shadows you throughout the house, happy just to be near you. It’s unconditional love and joy—and many pups feel the opposite when we leave. They don’t care about missing some party. You are the party.

And while no doggo likes it when an owner leaves the house, 20 to 40 percent of dogs presented to veterinary behavioral specialists suffer” from separation anxiety disorder. This condition is marked by severe anxiety and emotional distress “when their person leaves, even if just for a short time.”

Some dogs act out by wrecking the place while you’re gone, while others don’t wait for you to let them outside to do their business. A pup may bite his paws, refuse to eat, pant, drool, or cower. The effects vary in intensity based on personality, but some dogs experience massive anxiety along with their owners, who feel powerless to help.

Beyond separation, dogs can have other stressors, such as getting panicky at the dog park, a stranger showing up at home, or thunder that sends them running. And even the most well-adjusted pups get some FOMO when they’re left alone.

Who hasn’t felt guilty about that stare as you walk out the door? They don’t know where the hell you’re going, but they want to come along.

The Ballad of Good Boi Butters

Here at Sunday Scaries, we had a textbook case of doggie FOMO in the form of an amped-up Corgi named Butters. Like his [3]?sweet South Park namesake, Butters is a good, good boi. Maybe even the best boi.

Unless he’s stressing TF out about being alone, that is.

He’s my partner Beau’s dog, and whenever Beau would leave for work, he’d hear plaintive whining and scratching at the bottom of the door. Then Butters would freak out and tear circles around the house, releasing all that separation anxiety into spent energy. Even when Beau takes Butters to work, the poor little guy gets sad if everyone goes to lunch, and he wants to come along.

Beau and I know a little bit about experiencing anxiety and FOMO. We’ve also figured out ways to fight it, from exercise and meditation to taking perspective and CBD. And we just happen to own a CBD company.

?So, while it's unlikely Butters will take up yoga anytime soon, what about CBD? If this helpful cannabinoid can chill us out and quiet racing thoughts, what might it do for Butters and all the stressed-out dogs like him?

CBD and dogs: The research and reported reactions

Like the research on humans, CBD studies on dogs are still in their infancy but accumulating evidence fast. For example:

●?????A 2018 clinical trial examined the effect of CBD on dogs with osteoarthritis, showing a “reduction in pain scores when treated with CBD … with no negative side effects.”

●?????Another study published in 2020 backed this up, supporting “the safety and therapeutic potential of hemp-derived CBD for relieving arthritic pain.”

●?????Researchers have also found CBD helpful for controlling idiopathic seizures in dogs, with a study showing an “89% reduction in seizure frequency in dogs receiving CBD at 2.5 mg/kg q12h compared to a 43% reduction in the control group.”

No adverse effects were seen in the studies, so CBD is safe at the proper dosages. And researchers believe that CBD’s anti-inflammatory effect is responsible for much of the results. But what about helping doggie FOMO?

?

Unfortunately, there haven’t been definitive studies about CBD’s impact on dog anxiety—yet. But Veterinarian Gary Richter says that they’re coming, noting that researchers are “‘looking at CBD for other clinical indications beyond seizures and arthritis pain,’ including anxiety.”

?

What we do know is that there are a ton of reports from relieved pet owners who use CBD to chill their furry children out. And the substance is safe to use at the appropriate dosage and from a reputable supplier of quality CBD.

?

It’s gained enough popularity that the American Kennel Club created an FAQ page. AKC Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein says owners use it “because of its anti-inflammatory properties, cardiac benefits, anti-nausea effects, appetite stimulation, anti-anxiety impact, and for possible anti-cancer benefits, although there’s no conclusive data on this use.”

?

One thing the AKC warns about, however, is buying dodgy CBD:

?

“[Y]ou’ll want high-quality CBD oil to have a better chance of it working. […] A cheaper option could contain toxic substances such as pesticides, herbicides, or heavy metals. Make sure your CBD oil is free of additives.”

Enter FOMO Bones!

Sunday Scaries created FOMO Bones to give dogs the benefits we get from CBD, including relief from excessive worry. These soft, chewy treats have the right dose of broad-spectrum CBD and:

●?????Chamomile has been used for its calming effects for centuries

●?????Valerian root, which targets sleep issues and stress

●?????Passion flower’s suggested uses include generalized anxiety disorder and relief from “nervousness/excitability”

●?????L-Tryptophan: This essential amino acid helps the body make serotonin, the feel-good hormone

?FOMO Bones give dogs a good mix of calming ingredients designed to chill them out. And we publish our lab reports, so pet owners can feel confident they are getting a quality, safe product.

?Sunday Scaries dog owners love them. One of our customers gave the LA Times her progress report: “Within an hour, the dog was ‘totally chill,’ she said. ‘The difference was night and day.’”

But how did they work on Butters?

Great, we’re happy to report. Butters digs the taste, and FOMO Bones have helped stop the scratching and ad hoc interior decorating. Over the Fourth of July, we gave him some treats before the fireworks, and he handled the explosions like a champ.?

He still gets a little FOMO—heck, so do we—but that’s just because he loves us. We’re pretty sure Butters is now living his best life. As all of us should.

?Mike Sill is the co-founder of Sunday Scaries, a CBD e-commerce company on a mission to transform a worrisome nation into a chill one.

Not sure if Butters is a dude. If not, LMK and I’ll revise.