Best Dog Anxiety Supplements
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Anxiety can be a big problem in dogs. It can make it hard for them to be left alone, to travel, to socialize with people and other dogs; worst of all it can make them unhappy — and witnessing an unhappy dog can be heartbreaking for a pet parent.
At Dog Food Advisor, we’ve already explained how diet can impact a dog’s behavior in many ways, including being a cause of stress. We took a deeper dive into the relationship between food and anxiety here, explaining how food can help an anxious dog.
Providing a balanced diet for your pup can really help — and many pet parents may also look to introduce a dog anxiety supplement, too. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best dog anxiety supplements available to buy. There’s no viable way to give a star rating to dog food supplements so, as with our other supplement lists, we have developed criteria that allow us to approve certain products.
When it comes to dog anxiety supplements, we require a selection of the following to be included:
- Probiotics
- Prebiotics
- Beta glucans
- GABA
- L-Tryptophan
- L-Theanine
- L-threonine
- Glutamic acid
- Herbs (such as passiflora extract, chamomile, lemon balm)
The one exception is any CBD product targeted at anxiety.
As with all our approved supplements, they must not contain artificial antioxidants or preservatives, sugar, artificial colors or flavors.
Our expert pet nutritionist Laura Ward makes an important point, however. “We must add some important context here,” she says. “While nutritional measures can support mental health and stress, anxiety is a complicated behavior that is affected by many different things and feeding a supplement alone is unlikely to ease anxiety behaviors. Supplements are best combined with training and other measures to help dogs cope with the stressor.
“For example, if your dog has separation anxiety, no supplement on its own will mean he or she can be calmly left alone for hours – combining a supplement with training to give dogs the tools to manage a stressful situation is recommended. Owners who believe that feeding a supplement — with no other changes — are often left disappointed.”
But supplements, together with training, can help. Please find below our choice of the best dog anxiety supplements and links to buy them if you wish.
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ThorneVET Peaceful Pet Calming Powder Supplement for Dogs
With extracts from soothing herbs including passionflower and lemon balm, this powder supplement can reduce stress and manage anxiousness in dogs. It’s fortified by L-Theanine, which helps to alleviate anxiety, and two forms of Vitamin B. Though this supplement is also available as a soft chew version, this powder is easy to add to your pup’s food.
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Finn Calming Aid Soft Chew Dog Supplement
While pets parents will be interested to learn of the active ingredients list — L-Tryptophan, L-Theanine, organic passionflower and organic chamomile can all help to calm stressed dogs — your pup’s attention will no doubt be focused on the beef liver, bacon and cheese flavor of these soft chews. This product is certified by the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC).
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Vibeful Calming Melatonin Peanut Butter
These soft chews — also available in turkey flavor as well as peanut butter — contain L-Tryptophan, passionflower, chamomile and valerian root but also melatonin, which is known to reduce stress and anxiety. Give the correct amount — depending on your dog’s weight — 30 minutes before an unexpected stressful situation, such as travel.
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Zen Frenz Zen Butter Peanut Butter Spread Calming Supplement
This peanut butter spread includes L-Theanine, L-Tryptophan, chamomile and valerian root, as well as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) which can help to manage stress and has a calming effect. It comes in a squeezable pouch, so you can spread it onto toys your dog likes to chew, or mix it directly into food. Because licking is a soothing behavior for dogs, this product added to a lickimat or Kong can be effective.
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Native Pet GutWell Stress Support Anxiety Relief
With a Probiotic and Prebiotic blend — including beta glucans — fortified by passionflower and magnesium, this supplement can help to regulate stress response and balances the gut-brain axis. It’s been formulated and developed by vets, and has no fillers or artificial flavours. It’s also chicken and grain free, which can be beneficial for some dogs with dietary sensitivities.
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Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Calming Hemp OraStix
These chew sticks are primarily effective for helping to calm nervous dogs, thanks to ingredients that include melatonin, L-Theanine (present as Suntheanine), chamomile and hemp seed. However, as an additional bonus they can be given to your dog to help promote good dental health; the peppermint flavour can freshen bad canine breath. Chewing is a calming behavior, so again, the chew format has a benefit.
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VetIQ Calming Soft Chew Calming Supplement
These NASC certified, hickory-flavored chews from VetIQ have been formulated to deliver a calming effect and promote relaxation within anxious dogs. Made in the US, active ingredients include camomile powder, theanine, L-Tryptophan and lavender extract. Depending on the size and weight of your dog, feed 1-5 soft chews a day for best results.
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Pet Honesty Calming Hemp Calming and Anxiety Chews
Pet Honesty states that 4 out of 5 pet parents — based on a survey of subscribers — reported seeing an improvement in their dog’s stressful behaviour after taking these chews. With L-Theanine and L-Tryptophan, plus passion flower, chamomile, valerian root and ashwagandha root all listed as active ingredients, these chews come in beef flavor as well as chicken.
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Chew + Heal Travel-Sized Anxiety and Stress Chews
Available in a ‘travel-sized’ tub which makes it conveniently portable to take everywhere with your dog, these chews are formulated with naturally soothing ingredients including passionflower, chamomile and lavender extract. They also contain L-Tryptophan, which can boost serotonin and are formulated with melatonin to encourage relaxation.
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MAEV Anxiety and Calming Human-Grade Supplement Bars
Made with human-grade ingredients — including proteins, fruits and vegetables — these bars contain L-Theanine but also Bovine Colostrum. This has powerful antibodies that can help to reduce anxiety as well as provide other health benefits, such as strengthening immunity. The peanut butter flavor is sure to go down well with dogs.
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Veterinary Formula Smart Vitality Pork Flavor Soft Pet Calm Supplement
Helping to provide a sense of relaxation without causing any drowsiness, this Pet Calm supplement comes in the form of pork-flavored chews. The vet-formulated recipes include L-Tryptophan and L-Theanine, which has been shown to promote calm behavior. Best used to reduce stress ahead of travel, routine changes or potentially disruptive events such as fireworks.
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Best Dog Anxiety Supplement
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Final word
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