All pets have their own personalities. Whether it’s down to nature or nurture, some dogs can be more anxious, sensitive or hyperactive than others. Some are prone to nervous barking, some cower at the sound of fireworks, some can’t cope with a trip to the vet, while others tremble at the sight of a visitor to the house. A recommended animal behaviourist should be able to advise on practical steps you can take to manage and calm your dog’s anxiety, but there are also tried and trusted calming treatments geared at supporting your dog’s brain development which can help. The best calming supplements for dogs may take the form of tablets or liquid. You can also buy other dog calming products, such as calming collars, calming beds and calming treats.
There are a huge number of calming aids on the market – and bear in mind that the supplement market is not subject to the same regulation standards as veterinary medicines. Often, the efficacy of a certain product is simply anecdotal, as calmers can be marketed as such without scientific evidence. Ingredients that have been proven to make a difference include casein, tryptophan, melatonin and L-theanine. However, there are also herbal remedies that have anecdotal backing.
If your dog shows any form of aggression in his anxious state, seek help from a professional, such as a vet or behaviourist.
Best calming tablets for dogs
VetIQ Serene Calming +Plus
Format: Tablet
Sizes: 30, 60 or 120 tablets
RRP: £7 for 30 tablets
These tablets are recommended by vets to help dogs cope with being home alone, noise phobias and fireworks, travel anxiety, as well as curb excessive barking, bad behaviour and hyperactivity. They are designed to ensure your pet remains calm during periods of stress and anxiety without having a sedative effect.
The key active ingredient is L-tryptophan, a naturally occurring amino acid found in many foods. When the body absorbs it, it increases the level of serotonin, which is responsible for feelings of happiness, relaxation and wellbeing.
Also available in ointment or liquid drops.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, petsandfriends.co.uk or petsathome.com
YuMOVE Calming Care
Form: Tablet
Sizes: 60 or 120 tablets
RRP: £18.90 for 60 tablets
A calming natural supplement to help reduce stress, support calm behaviour and ease anxiety. It consists of a unique combination of scientifically proven ingredients, including L-trpytophan, L-arginine, B vitamins, natural GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter) and lemon balm, to help maintain the calming pathways in the brain and support relaxation.
It contains a special blend of natural fish protein hydrolysates which “support your dog’s brain, and help the calming signals find the right spot”.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, yumove.co.uk or petsathome.com
Dorwest Herbs Scullcap & Valerian
Form: Tablet
Sizes: 100, 200, 500 or 1000 tablets
RRP: £11.09 for 100
These tablets are formulated to relieve anxiety naturally to allow dogs to feel more alert, focused and calm. Contains carefully selected natural ingredients, such as active herbs – valerian, scullcap, mistletoe and gentian – that support calming pathways within the nervous system to reduce anxiety without immobilising muscles or causing drowsiness.
They are designed to help dogs cope with common anxious situations such as fireworks and thunderstorms, separation anxiety, travelling, hyperactivity and so on, but should be given daily to support pets with long-term stress.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or petsathome.com
In the US? View now at amazon.com
Zylkene Calming Supplement
Format: Capsules
Options: Small, medium or large dog
RRP: From £13.49 for 20 small dog tablets
Branded as the UK’s no 1 calming supplement and widely trusted by vets, Zylkene is designed to help pets cope with separation anxiety and stressful situations in and outside the home.
It contains a natural milk protein, alpha caseophine, with clinically proven calming effects without causing drowsiness.
To administer, split the capsule and sprinkle on to your pet’s food for easy consumption.
In the UK? View at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk
NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Chews
Form: Soft chews
Sizes: 70, 180 or 240 chews
RRP: £26.93 for 70
A health supplement that helps promote normal nervous system function to calm your dog in stressful situations. Each chew is enhanced with melatonin, ginger, L-tryptophan, chamomile, passion flower and thiamin, to reduce tension and stress.
Formulated and recommended by vets.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk
In the US? View now at amazon.com
SettleMe Calming Support Liquid
Format: Liquid
Flavour: Salmon
Sizes: 120ml
RRP: £24.99
Also available in capsules and chews, this is a handy alternative for dogs with a fussy palate or dental issues as you can either drop on to their food or administer directly into the mouth with the dropper. The tasty salmon flavour and addition of catnip is said to be popular with dogs.
It contains a concentrated blend of ingredients, including L-tryptophan, L-theanine and valerian root extract, believed to be helpful in supporting calm behaviour and in reducing anxiety, stress-related behaviours and over-activity.
In the UK? View at viovet.co.uk
How we chose the best calming supplements for dogs
As far as possible, we wanted to recommend products – ideally with veterinary endorsement – made of natural ingredients with known calming effects. Some of these sound chemical, such as casein, tryptophan, melatonin and L-theanine, but these are in fact naturally occurring hormones, amino acids or proteins found in many foods such as tea leaves and milk, and are scientifically proven to have calming effects. Herbs such as lemon balm, valerian, scullcap, chamomile and lavender also feature, as many dog owners have had great results with these ingredients. However, the evidence for herbal remedies is largely anecdotal.
We also wanted to give options for fussy or sensitive dogs, as some won’t readily swallow capsules. For them liquid drops or chews might be an easier route.
What do vets recommend for calming dogs?
Some dogs, in severely anxious states, may need professional sedation. Vets may also prescribe medication such as gabapentin, trazodone or benzodiazepines to help dogs cope with stressful situations such as thunderstorms, vet visits or travelling. Vets will consider the individual dog, its symptoms and their severity, the dog’s medical history and the cause of anxiety. The may prescribe daily medication for a longer period of time.
However, to start off with vets are likely to recommend things that you can do at home.
- The primary advice would be training and behaviour modification to help the dog learn to be less afraid and responsive to triggers.
- This may be easier to achieve in conjunction with a low-key calmer that you can administer yourself at home. Vet would typically recommend this for mild anxiety, prior to prescribing a sedative or anxiety medication. They may suggest one of the natural calming products listed above, especially containing L-theanine, melatonin, casein and tryptophan.
- Pheromone products, such as Adaptil Transport (for sale on Amazon), which mimics natural pheromones released by dog mothers, are also recommended.
- Another veterinary tip is to try a Thundershirt (as seen on Amazon), which gives the dog a feeling of being swaddled like a puppy in the cosiness of the litter, relieving anxiety.
What is the best calming ingredient?
As far as buying calming supplements over the counter – without a prescription – is concerned, the key ingredients that have been proven to work are:
- Casein
- Tryptophan
- Melatonin
- L-theanine
These compounds may sound alien, but they are natural ingredients. Casein is a milk protein which works on the neurotransmitters to the brain to promote relaxation. Tryptophan (an amino acid found predominantly in animal products) helps regulate mood and sleep. Melatonin is a natural hormone, found in the body and some foods such as eggs and nuts, and promotes sleep and relaxation. L-theanine is an amino acid found mostly in tea (and mushrooms), which increase the mood-boosters serotonin and dopamine.
There are also calming properties found in many herbs, such as valerian, chamomile and passionflower.
Research in this area is limited, so always consult your vet as you monitor the dog’s behaviour.
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