The nervous system; the most overlooked factor in your dog's health.
Veterinary and herbal medicine disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary or medical advice. Herbal dosages provided are general guidelines only and may not be appropriate for every animal. Always consult a qualified veterinarian and a certified clinical herbalist before introducing herbal medicines to your dog’s health plan, particularly if your dog has existing health conditions or is currently on any medication.
The canine nervous system is one of the most powerful and most overlooked influences on your dog’s overall health. When a dog becomes stuck in a chronic stress response, the downstream effects can include immune dysregulation, digestive dysfunction, skin disorders and chronic inflammation, conditions that often appear unrelated but frequently share a common root. In this article, internationally recognised clinical herbalist Rita Hogan explains how the nervous system communicates with every organ in the body, what poor vagal tone looks like in practice and which herbal medicines can help restore balance.
Why do so many chronic dog health problems seem connected?
When discussing canine health, most conversations focus on nutrition, exercise, genetics, environmental exposures and disease management. While these factors undoubtedly influence health, one of the most overlooked aspects of both canine disease prevention and recovery is the nervous system. Many people and practitioners don’t realize that it serves as a communication network that coordinates and influences every other system in the body.
When we work with the nervous system, the focus for addressing disease prevention and recovery is the relationship between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic nervous system that supports digestion, immune regulation, tissue repair, organ function and recovery. A healthy dog moves fluidly between these states as circumstances change. Problems arise when a dog’s body becomes stuck in a prolonged state of sympathetic activation and remains focused on survival rather than maintenance and repair.
Persistent activation of the stress response can actually alter immune function, promote inflammatory signaling, impair healing and place additional demands on the liver and lymphatic system. Over time, this can play out as chronic inflammation, immune imbalance, digestive dysfunction, endocrine disturbances and reduced resilience throughout the body.
These concepts and focus is particularly relevant because many modern dogs live in a state of chronic low grade sympathetic activation. Some display obvious signs such as anxiety, reactivity, hypervigilance, excessive alertness or difficulty settling. Others may develop chronic digestive issues, skin disorders, recurrent infections, sleep disturbances or inflammatory conditions. Although these symptoms may appear unrelated, they often share a common denominator: a dysregulated nervous system that has difficulty shifting out of a prolonged stress response.
What is the vagus nerve and why does it matter for your dog?
The vagus nerve is a dog’s longest cranial nerves and serves as a connection between the nervous system, brain, digestive tract, microbiome, immune system, heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, spine and other organs. Rather than operating independently, these systems continuously exchange information through the vagal communication pathway, allowing the body to monitor internal conditions and coordinate appropriate responses.
This interconnected relationship, especially between the vagus nerve, gastrointestinal tract and the liver, helps explain why digestive disorders and behavioural concerns frequently occur together. Dogs experiencing chronic gastrointestinal dysfunction often display anxiety, reactivity or behavioral changes. Likewise, dogs exposed to prolonged stress may develop altered appetite, food sensitivities or inflammatory bowel conditions. Clinically, poor vagal communication often presents itself as remaining hyperaware, startling easily, excessive panting, muscular tension or chronic digestive disturbances.
Reduced vagal communication has also been associated with increased inflammatory activity, while healthier vagal function appears to support more balanced immune regulation. This relationship may help explain why prolonged sympathetic activation is associated with such a wide variety of chronic health conditions.
Research is increasingly showing how closely the vagus nerve, nervous system, organ function, immune health and stress responses are connected. When we begin to view the body through this lens, it becomes easier to understand why supporting the nervous system can have far reaching effects throughout the entire dog-as-ecosytem.
Fortunately, herbal medicine offers a number of valuable tools that can help nourish the nervous system, improve resilience to stress, support healthy vagal communication, and encourage the body to shift back into the restorative state.
Nourishing the nervous system with herbal medicine.
Milky Oats (Avena sativa) help dogs experiencing chronic stress, nervous exhaustion, hypervigilance or prolonged sympathetic activation. Rich in minerals, polysaccharides, and nervine compounds, Milky Oats help restore depleted nervous tissue and support a healthier stress response.
Dosage: 1 drop per 1–2 kg of body weight, 2–3 times daily.
For dogs experiencing significant nervous exhaustion, chronic stress or prolonged sympathetic activation, the dosage can be increased to 1 drop per 0.5 kg of body weight, 2–3 times daily.
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is a relaxing nervine used for tension, reactivity, restlessness and nervous system overstimulation. Its flavonoids, including baicalin and scutellarin, help calm excessive neurologic excitability and support a healthier shift toward parasympathetic activity.
Dosage: 1 drop per 1.5–2.5 kg of body weight, 2–3 times daily.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) functions as an adaptogen, helping regulate the body’s response to chronic stress while supporting endocrine balance, immune function and resilience. Through its withanolides, Ashwagandha helps moderate the physiologic consequences of prolonged sympathetic activation and improve recovery from chronic stress.
Dried herb dosage: 33–66 mg per kg of body weight daily.
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a medicinal mushroom with a unique affinity for the nervous system. Its bioactive compounds, including erinacines and hericenones, support nerve growth factor production, neuronal communication and neurologic repair. Lion’s Mane helps support cognitive function, emotional resilience and recovery from chronic stress related neurologic changes. Dried mushroom extract dosage: 22–44 mg per kg of body weight daily.
READ the full article and more in the JUNE 2026 Magazine.
FAQ Section
Q: How does the nervous system affect my dog’s health?
A: The canine nervous system acts as the body’s central communication network, coordinating immune function, digestion, tissue repair and organ health. When a dog experiences prolonged stress and becomes locked in sympathetic activation, this disrupts normal healing processes, contributing to chronic inflammation, immune imbalance, digestive problems and reduced resilience. Supporting canine nervous system health is therefore a key part of both disease prevention and recovery.
Q: What are the signs of a dysregulated nervous system in dogs?
A: Signs vary between dogs. Some display obvious behavioural signs such as anxiety, reactivity, hypervigilance, excessive alertness or difficulty settling. Others present with physical symptoms including chronic digestive issues, skin disorders, recurrent infections, sleep disturbances, excessive panting or muscular tension. Because these symptoms can appear unrelated, the underlying nervous system component is often missed.
Q: What is the vagus nerve in dogs and why is it important?
A: The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in a dog’s body. It connects the nervous system and brain to the digestive tract, microbiome, immune system, heart, liver, lungs and kidneys. Healthy vagal communication allows these systems to exchange information and coordinate responses. Reduced vagal tone has been associated with increased inflammatory activity, immune dysregulation and a higher likelihood of chronic health conditions developing alongside behavioural concerns.
Q: Are herbs safe to use for supporting a dog’s nervous system?
A: Several herbal medicines have a long history of use in supporting the canine nervous system, including Milky Oats, Skullcap, Ashwagandha and Lion’s Mane mushroom. Each works differently. Some restore depleted nervous tissue, others calm overstimulation and some function as adaptogens to improve stress resilience. Dosage is weight-dependent and varies by herb. Always consult a qualified veterinarian or certified clinical herbalist before introducing herbal medicines, particularly if your dog has existing health conditions or is on medication.
Q: Can stress really cause physical illness in dogs?
A: Yes. Persistent activation of the stress response alters immune function, promotes inflammatory signalling, impairs tissue healing and places additional demands on the liver and lymphatic system. Over time, this contributes to chronic inflammation, endocrine disturbances, digestive dysfunction and reduced overall resilience. Many dogs living in modern environments experience a state of chronic low-grade sympathetic activation that, while not always obvious, has measurable effects on long-term health.
Rita Hogan, Certified Herbalist (C.H.), author of The Herbal Dog.
Rita Hogan is an internationally recognised clinical herbalist with more than 20 years in holistic canine herbalism. Her methods include nutrition, herbs, flower essences, oils, mushrooms and phytoembryonic therapy. She is a member of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association, where she participates in a collaborative network of veterinarians and herbal professionals working to strengthen the role of botanical medicine in animal care. She is the founder of The Ethos School of Canine Herbalism, offering a structured, online training program for those seeking true proficiency and certification in holistic canine herbalism. Rita is a keynote speaker at The African Pet Health Summit 2026.