{"id":306,"date":"2013-12-08T21:09:18","date_gmt":"2013-12-08T21:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nouvelleresearch.j96fp4es-liquidwebsites.com\/2013\/12\/08\/reducing-the-effects-of-stress-and-anxiety-on-health-with-ashwaghanda\/"},"modified":"2021-07-25T12:36:10","modified_gmt":"2021-07-25T17:36:10","slug":"managing-stress-horse-dog-ashwaghanda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nouvelleresearch.com\/index.php\/articles\/306-managing-stress-horse-dog-ashwaghanda","title":{"rendered":"Managing Stress in the Horse and Dog with Ashwaghanda"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stress. It impacts every dog and horse, leading to anxiety, behavioral problems, and many negative health implications. It affects them all on different levels and considering the health effects, the best option would be to just eliminate stress, but that is not always possible.\u00a0 The impact of stress on health is obvious and well known, but often we neglect to realize the same impact in the average dog or horse.\u00a0 Those effects are real, but the question comes as to what is the best way to manage them?\u00a0 Let’s take a look at one promising option, which is the powerful adaptogen, Ashwaghanda.<\/p>\n

Anxiety and stress are a part of life in every dog or horse, but often we just accept the consequences and move forward in our life patterns.\u00a0 On a basic level, stress is the response to a stimulus, whether if that is environmental, dietary, physical, psychological or other<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 In most instances, it results in the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, increases cortisol release by the adrenal glands, and negatively impacts the physical and mental well being of every dog or horse.<\/p>\n

Clinical Effects of Stress in the Horse and Dog<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Stress
Stress and Ashwaghanda in the Horse and Dog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hans Selye<\/a> can be considered one of forefathers of stress research and impact on health. \u00a0In the 1930’s and 40’s, Hans focused his work on rats and mice, determining the clinical impact of stressors such as cold, electrical shock and various medications on the body. \u00a0He began to recognize that all of these forces were actually ‘stressors’ and their impact on the body was the response of ‘stress’. \u00a0So, stress…as we know it, based on this definition, is the response, physiologically, by the body to various stressors. \u00a0Hans helped to define these terms in the realm of clinical medicine.<\/p>\n

As Selye experimented with various stressors, he began to recognize that no matter the stressor, the physiological response by the body was the same. During prolonged exposure to the stressor, three distinct things began to happen to the body; enlarged adrenal glands, reduced size of the lymph nodes and thymus, and finally, gastric ulceration<\/span>. \u00a0This was a ‘triad’, as he described it, again with all three happening no matter what that stressor may be.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All three of these events are important, impacting health in the dog or horse on many levels. \u00a0The enlarged adrenal glands are connected to an increase in cortisol production and release within the body, which is favorable in the short term, but detrimental with continued elevations. \u00a0The decreased size of the lymph nodes actually indicate a potential loss or decrease in immune function, likely connected to the rise in cortisol. \u00a0Finally, the gastric ulceration is also important as not only do we contend with this heavily in human and equine medicine, but it also goes to show the clinical impact of stress on the GI tract.<\/p>\n

In the horse, the impact of stress manifests as:<\/strong><\/p>\n