Hallo Paw’s mission is to foster the happiness of both dogs and their owners by supporting the health of each doggy customer. This veterinarian-run company manufactures several dog supplements in its FDA-registered facility that complies with the current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). For the purpose of this review, we will focus only on Hemp Chews.
Organic Hemp by Hallow Paw comes in two flavors: bacon and duck. While some dog owners have had to sneak these chews into their dog’s food, we appreciate that there are two flavor options in case your pooch is picky. Of course, every treat should have a good flavor, but what’s just as important is if they are effective at calming your doggy.
Is Hallo Paw’s Organic Hemp Effective For Calming Dogs?
This product’s main selling point is its 250 mg Hemp Seed oil and 150 mg Hemp powder. The reason these ingredients are important is because Hemp is high in omega-3 and omega-6 which have anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory benefits. Hemp also contains antioxidant properties, as well as protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. For a calming supplement, this is a great start.
We were also pleased to see Chamomile and Passionflower on the ingredient list even if there is only 60 mg of Chamomile instead of 100 mg like in our top pick. Chamomile is a natural relaxant for calming nerves and has mild sedative effects. Passionflower raises GABA levels in the brain which lowers brain activity in order to facilitate relaxation and sleep. Both of these are ingredients that we think all calming chews should have.
There are some other active ingredients in this formula that deserve a mention. For starters, Ginger is included for reducing inflammation and settling an upset stomach. However, this contains only a little more than half the amount of Ginger in our top pick. This ingredient is especially important if you are traveling with your dog, because motion sickness could be the reason your dog is intolerable when you need to take a car ride together. The anti-inflammatory aspect of Ginger may reduce swelling in the joints which could be causing your dog’s discomfort and moodiness. Hemp oil alone might not provide the necessary strength of anti-inflammatory action to fully help your dog.
Additionally, we were pleased to see L-Tryptophan on the list because it can influence dogs’ moods. You know how you get moody when you’re hungry? Just like you do, when your dog doesn’t have the nutrients it needs, it can become moody. A deficiency of the amino acid L-Tryptophan may lead dogs to behave aggressively or even become depressed. Making sure your dog is getting enough L-Tryptophan could be the key to relieving your pooch’s anxiety or aggression. This ingredient offers benefits with no side effects, and definitely should be included in a calming Hemp chew.
Before we wrap up this section, we should discuss the fourth and last active ingredient in Hallo Paw Organic Hemp: Valerian Root. This earthy herb boosts sedative qualities in your dog. It is believed to work by increasing GABA which blocks neuron activity to stimulate calm. It is safe for most dogs but there are some who should not consume it.
There were also some ingredients we didn’t see that we felt would have made this product better. For example, for a really beneficial product, Melatonin should have been included. Sleep is one of the most invaluable medicines in life. Anxiety and stress are some of the main saboteurs of sleep and can completely destroy mood. Melatonin has anxiolytic properties, improves mood, and helps your dog to get quality sleep, which could affect his or her mood in the long term.
We also did not see any Thiamine Mononitrate, AKA Vitamin B1, in this product. Vitamin B1 is an essential vitamin for maintaining a balanced mood and a deficiency could be one of the factors behind your dog’s aggression or nervous behavior. Many Hemp chews include this valuable ingredient. Unfortunately, Hallo Paw didn’t choose to follow their example.
After examining the formula of a product, we always look at the reviews to get real-life data on how these products work. There were a disconcerting number of reviewers who wrote that they could not get their dog to take these or that after sneaking these chews into their dog’s food, they saw no results. Naturally, the effectiveness of any supplement depends also on who takes it. Some customers are satisfied and some are not.
Are Hallo Paw Organic Hemp Chews Safe?
In general, this product is likely safe for most dogs and is even third-party tested. However, Valerian Root should not be taken by dogs who are still puppies, nor by old dogs, or dogs with known health issues. As with any supplement, we would definitely advise consulting with your veterinarian prior to giving your dog any new health supplement, especially one containing Valerian Root.
Summary
Hallo Paw Organic Hemp dog treats had the right start for a quality calming supplement for your pet pooch. It has many active ingredients, including Hemp, Chamomile, Passionflower, Ginger, L-Tryptophan, and Valerian Root. In our opinion, this product was lacking due to the omission of Thiamine Mononitrate for supplementing a mood-affecting deficiency, and the lack of Melatonin for helping your pooch to catch up on vital sleep. Many customers found this product to be effective for their dogs while some couldn’t even get their dogs to try it. Hallo Paw backs this product with a 100% money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied for any reason. The bottom line is this: this product is good, but our concern is that it may help relax your dog only a bit. We’re just not sure it will really pack the punch that you and your pooch need in order to make it through the stressful times.
