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Anxiety is a common condition in dogs that can make normal situations extremely difficult for them. A routine visit to the vet or a thunderstorm can cause your dog to shake, pant, whine, and cower in fear.
If you aren’t keen on using prescription drugs to treat your dog’s phobia, there are a lot of natural remedies for dog anxiety you can try!
Unlike some prescription meds, natural anti-anxiety remedies aren’t addictive and won’t knock your dog senseless.
And while you may be skeptical about their efficacy, natural remedies actually work and are very helpful.
There are a lot of natural remedies that can calm an anxious dog and give them relief. But, not all are as effective for different types of anxiety.
To help you keep your dog calm in any situation, I’ve found the best natural remedies that offer anxiety relief in all sorts of stressful situations.
Separation anxiety, fear of loud noises, or travel anxiety – I’ve got you covered!
Keep on reading to find the best natural anti-anxiety remedy for your dog and to learn how to pick the right product.
Quick Links To Natural Anxiety Relief For Dogs
- Thundershirt Sport Dog Anxiety Jacket – Best Overall
- Max Hemp Organic Hemp Oil For Dogs
- Bach Rescue Remedy For Pets
- Relaxivet Dog Calming Pheromone Diffuser
- My Peaceful Paws Essential Oil Calming Blend For Dogs – Best Budget
Natural Dog Anxiety Medication Reviews
Anxiety in dogs manifests in different forms and is usually triggered by fears and phobias. Depression, aggression, destructive chewing, persistent barking, whining, and shaking are all associated with anxiety in dogs.
Certain human medications, such as Prozac and Zoloft, are used and prescribed by vets to treat anxiety in dogs. However, a side effect of prescription meds is that they often make dogs drowsy and lifeless, like they are in some sort of haze.
The main problem with prescription drugs is that you have to choose between having an anxious dog or a drugged dog! Thankfully, there are many natural calming remedies for dogs that work and can soothe your dog’s anxiety without dulling their senses.
Listed below, you will find different types of products that provide natural calming for dogs suffering from anxiety. All of these natural remedies are safe, non-habit-forming, and can be used on a regular basis. The only thing you need to do is figure out which one works best for your canine companion.
1. Thundershirt Sport Dog Anxiety Jacket – Best Overall
The Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Jacket is a calming wrap that provides a drug-free, soothing effect to anxious dogs. This jacket is designed to apply gentle and continuous pressure around the dog’s torso, similar to swaddling a baby.
The Thundershirt is large enough for an adult Lab and is also available in other sizes, from XX-small to XX-large.
Key Features
- Made of durable polyester
- Washable
- Easy to put on and take off
With an over 80% success rate in reducing the symptoms of anxiety in dogs, the Thundershirt is recommended by vets and dog trainers as a highly effective way of calming an anxious dog naturally. Due to its wrap-like design, this jacket gives a dog the feeling of a continuous comforting hug that has calming properties.
The jacket’s name can make you assume that it only works when dogs are scared of thunder. But the Thundershirt is just as effective at soothing dogs with separation or travel anxiety as it is at calming anxious dogs during thunderstorms.
Your dog won’t need any training or medication for the jacket to work and provide anxiety relief. And if you are by any chance not satisfied with your purchase, the manufacturer offers a full refund.
Pros:
- The soft material is breathable and won’t irritate your dog’s skin
- Soothes anxiety by providing gentle pressure
- Super easy to put on, even if your dog isn’t used to wearing clothes
- Designed to fit any dog breed, from a tiny Chihuahua to a giant Great Dane
Cons:
- Sewing may come loose if a dog plays while wearing the jacket
You can use the Thundershirt on just about any dog and expect it to provide anxiety relief during stressful situations.
2. Max Hemp Organic Hemp Oil For Dogs
If you are looking for natural anti-anxiety relief for dogs, the Max Hemp Organic Hemp Oil may tick all the boxes. Besides providing calming effects, this CBD oil also offers pain relief and supports healthy skin and coat. Most importantly, this is a non-habit forming and safe natural product.
Key Features
- 100% natural hemp extract
- GMP-tested and certified
- GMO-free
The Max Hemp Organic Hemp Oil is a high-quality CBD oil made with premium cold pressure technology. Furthermore, this product is manufactured in a GMP-approved facility and tested by an independent laboratory for purity and potency.
The effectiveness of CBD oils depends largely on their quality and manufacturing process. With Max Hemp oil, you can rest assured your dog will reap all the benefits CBD oils have to offer.
This hemp oil provides a natural calming effect that can help your dog deal with separation anxiety, fear of thunder, car trips, or any other stressful situations. To take full advantage of its anti-anxiety properties, give your dog Max Hemp oil 30 to 60 minutes before any stressful event.
You can mix this oil with your dog’s food, water, or treats, or use the dropper to squirt oil straight into their mouth.
Pros:
- Made from 100% organic hemp
- Provides a calming effect in different stressful situations
- Completely safe and non-addictive product
- Has an anti-inflammatory and pain relieving-effect
Cons:
- A few owners noted that their dogs didn’t like the taste of the oil
Overall, the Max Hemp is a high-quality CBD oil that is completely safe for dogs and provides anxiety relief in stressful situations.
3. Bach Rescue Remedy For Pets
The Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets is made using the essence of certain flowers that have a soothing effect. This natural anxiety relief for dogs is gentle and non-toxic, and your dog can’t overdose on it. You can safely use this natural remedy to soothe your dog’s occasional anxiety.
Key Features:
- Natural herbal calming effect
- Helps restore emotional balance
- Works for all types of anxiety
The Bach Rescue Remedy is a blend of pre-made essences of rock rose, clematis, impatiens, cherry plum, and Star of Bethlehem.
Each of these helps with all kinds of stressful situations and can soothe your dog’s anxiety naturally. Rock rose, for example, is a remedy used to help with panic and hysteria, and impatiens soothes irritability and agitation.
Combined, these essences soothe anxiety and can help keep your dog calm in a variety of different situations. From stressful car rides and visits to the vet, to separation anxiety or fear fireworks,this holistic remedy can help.
To soothe your dog’s anxiety, administer four drops of this essence orally, or mix it with your dog’s food or treats. This natural calming remedy for dogs is recommended for occasional use in stressful situations.
Pros:
- Provides a calming effect without drugging your dog
- Can be used in all sorts of stressful situations
- Nice flavor – even picky eaters don’t have complaints
- Easy to administer and can be mixed with food, water, or treats
Cons:
- The recommended dose may be too low for dogs with severe anxiety
If you are looking for a holistic and completely natural anxiety remedy for your dog, the Bach Rescue Remedy is a great option. It provides calming effects in all sorts of stressful situations and is completely safe for dogs.
4. Relaxivet Dog Calming Pheromone Diffuser
Relaxivet Dog Calming Pheromone Diffuser provides a fast and long-acting calming effect to dogs in stressful situations. This product has essential oils and a dog-appeasing pheromone that contains a hormone that nursing dogs produce to calm their puppies.
Key Features
- Long-lasting calming effect
- Prevents stress
- Contains only natural ingredients
The Relaxivet kit contains a diffuser and a refill bottle that can last up to 30 days with continuous use. Once plugged into an electrical outlet, the diffuser starts releasing pheromones into the air, thus offering instant anti-anxiety relief to your dog.
Pheromones have a calming effect on dogs, and you can use this diffuser to reduce your dog’s anxiety in many different stressful situations. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety or is afraid of thunder, fireworks, or other loud noises, pheromones can help keep your dog calm and relaxed.
Pros:
- Almost instant calming effect
- Easy to assemble and use
- Dogs become much calmer throughout the day
- Helps soothe nighttime anxiety in older dogs
Cons:
- The scent can be a bit strong when the diffuser is first plugged in
The Relaxivet Dog Calming Pheromone Diffuser contains natural ingredients that soothe anxious dogs in stressful situations. Since it has to be plugged into an electrical outlet, this diffuser is best used for separation anxiety or other stressful events at home.
5. My Peaceful Paws Essential Oil Calming Blend For Dogs – Best Budget
My Peaceful Paws is an essential oil blend that has calming properties and can help soothe anxious dogs. Completely natural and safe to use on dogs older than 10 weeks of age, this blend helps with separation anxiety and fear caused by loud noises or trips to the vet.
Key Features
- Made in the USA
- For external use only
- Fast-acting calming effect
This calming blend contains sweet marjoram, mandarin, petitgrain, neroli, and spikenard pure essential oils that are blended in safflower oil. It is formulated to provide fast-acting anxiety relief through external use.
For best results, start introducing this anti-anxiety relief to your dog while they are still calm. This way, your dog will associate the scent with feeling calm and safe, which can make the blend even more effective in the long run.
Before stressful situations, you can apply the calming blend to your dog’s neck and chest. Alternatively, you can drip a few drops on their collar or a bandana and tie it around their neck approximately 15 minutes before a stressful event.
Pros:
- Completely natural and non-addictive
- Has a quick calming effect
- Easy to apply and use
- Can be used for various stressful situations
Cons:
- The scent of essential oils may be too strong for some dogs
My Peaceful Paws Essential Oils Calming Blend for Dogs provides quick relief and soothes anxious and fearful dogs. Overall, this is a great product if you want to use essential oils to reduce your dog’s stress.
Best Natural Remedies For Dog Anxiety Buyer’s Guide
With so many different types of natural calming products for dogs, you may wonder which one is best for your pup. Depending on the type of anxiety and its severity, you may find that a combination of two products is often more effective.
Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for natural medication for dog anxiety:
1. Type Of Anxiety
The type of anxiety your dog is suffering from may affect your choice of natural remedy. If your dog has separation anxiety, for example, a pheromone diffuser might be the best choice, since you can plug it in whenever you go to work. However, if your dog becomes anxious every time they go to the vet, a diffuser won’t be of much help.
2. Key Features
The main goal of every natural remedy for dog anxiety is to calm and help an anxious dog in stressful situations. However, while all-natural remedies are non-addictive and safe, they may contain different ingredients that promote tranquility.
Plug-in diffusers, for example, use pheromones to keep a dog calm, while hemp oils contain CBD, CBG, and CBC that have cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties.
3. Palatability
Most natural anti-anxiety remedies don’t have added artificial flavors that will make them more palatable. This is an important factor to consider, especially if your pooch turns up its nose to new smells and is a picky eater.
If palatability is an issue, your dog may refuse to take the natural remedy and you’ll be back at square one. Before purchasing any product, read online reviews to see what other owners say. Chances are, if the majority of dogs found a particular remedy tasty, your dog will, too.
FAQs About Natural Calming Remedies For Dogs
How Can I Calm My Dog’s Anxiety Naturally?
Many natural remedies can effectively calm an anxious dog. Depending on the type of anxiety your dog is experiencing, you may want to try essential oils, pheromone diffusers, CBD oil, calming jackets, calming sprays, or calming collars.
What Can You Give A Dog To Relax Them?
You can try natural calming remedies to help your dog relax and stay calm during stressful situations. If you need to keep your dog relaxed at home, a pheromone diffuser may work for you and keep your dog calm all day long.
On the other hand, you may want to consider essential oils, a calming vest, or hemp oil if your dog gets anxious when going to the vet.
Where To Rub The Dog To Calm Them Down?
Massaging the top of your dog’s head, paw pads, and ears is a great way to calm an anxious dog. As these are natural pressure points, a 10- to 15-minute massage every day can make a huge difference in your dog’s anxiety level.
What Do Vets Give Dogs For Anxiety?
Fluoxetine and clomipramine are often prescribed by vets and used to treat separation anxiety and other types of anxiety in dogs. Anxiolytic antidepressants are often given to dogs and should be used daily on a regular basis to provide a calming effect.
Can I Give My Dog CBD Oil To Calm Them Down?
CBD oil can be an effective natural and non-addictive option for calming anxious dogs. Hemp CBD oil has a soothing effect and can also relieve pain and reduce inflammation. You can give your dog CBD oil mixed with their food or treats, or administer it orally if your dog likes the taste.
When used as recommended, CBD oil is completely safe for dogs and can be extremely helpful for managing your dog’s anxiety levels.
Conclusion
Anxiety is a big problem for many dogs, and prescription meds often do more harm than good in the long run. If you feel that medication isn’t the best way to treat your dog’s fears and phobias, know that there are many natural remedies for dog anxiety that provide fast relief.
Ultimately, the type of your dog’s anxiety will determine what kind of natural remedy can offer the fastest-acting and most calming effect.
You can’t go wrong by choosing any of the anti-anxiety remedies listed above, but the Thundershirt Sport Dog Anxiety Jacket works best for my pooch. It provides gentle hug-like pressure to a dog’s torso that has a calming effect that works for all types of anxiety.
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