7 best calming aids for dogs, according to vets

Dogs, like humans, are prone to anxiety. Sometimes, it’s situational — loud noises, such as thunder or fireworks, can stress out our furry friends. Other dogs are anxious more frequently, perhaps because of a previous traumatic experience.

We want our pups to be happy and healthy, physically and mentally. The best calming aids may help your dog feel less anxious, but you’ll need to find the right fit for your pup. Our team reviewed and tested four calming chews for dogs. We also tested toys and collars and gave our best recommendation for a relaxing pet bed.

While there are many reasons why dogs experience stress, managing it is critical. Scientists say anxiety in dogs is more prevalent than was previously understood, leading to higher than necessary rates of relinquishment and euthanasia. Calming treats, supplements, and other aids may help with:

• Separation anxiety
• Situational anxiety
• Sleep issues

For dogs with persistent anxiety, daily supplements may be necessary. For dogs with situational anxieties, try a supplement 1 to 2 hours before the anxiety-causing event. In either case, calming supplements are most effective in dogs with mild general and situational anxiety.

Signs of anxiety in dogs

Dogs can develop anxiety at any stage of their life. It will sometimes be present as early as puppyhood. Other times, it will manifest later in life for seemingly no clear reason. You may notice:

• Inappropriate urination or defecation
• Excessive neediness
• Shaking, trembling
• Excessive panting
• Restlessness, pacing
• Overgrooming, excessive licking
• Destructive behavior
• Excessive vocalization (whining or barking)
• Unexplained aggression

If you’ve noticed behavioral changes like these, see your veterinarian to make sure there’s no underlying medical reason why your dog is acting out of sorts.

Vetriscience teams up with veterinarians and nutritionists, making it a respected brand by vets around the country. These calming soft chews live up to the brand’s reputation — we love the simple and safe active ingredients list. We found that the chews work best during the day and for situational anxiety issues, like car rides.

• Ingredients. Vetriscience treats contain L-theanine, which is known to help soothe canine anxiety. Colostrum is another active ingredient. Though there isn’t much research on it yet, it’s thought that some of the proteins in this milk for newborns can help induce calmness.
• Drowsiness. These chews don’t have any ingredients known to induce drowsiness, making them great for daytime use.
• Consistency. These brown, bone-shaped chews are soft.
• Palatability. Vetriscience’s chews are highly palatable for dogs. Pet parents can choose from several flavors, including bacon and chicken liver.
• Smell. This supplement has a light-but-enticing meaty smell.
• Packaging. The chews are in a white bag that looks clean and streamlined. The bag seals easily, so your pup’s chews will stay fresh.

Native Pet doesn’t do long, confusing ingredient lists. Instead, it leans into natural solutions. These air-dried calming chews have eight ingredients, including L-theanine. The real chicken smells great and our pups got excited (in a good way) to take the treat.

One word of caution: These chews contain melatonin, which induces sleep but doesn’t help with anxiety. We don’t recommend giving these treats to your dog during the day, particularly before you want to play. Hemp seed powder is a trendy ingredient, but it’s not proven to help with canine anxiety. Dr. Irish says clinical trials would be helpful for pet parents and vets.

• Ingredients. L-theanine Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. Go to source is proven to help soothe anxious pets, and the real chicken smells and tastes great (according to our furry friends’ reactions).
• Drowsiness. The melatonin in this chew caused some drowsiness in our dogs. Again, avoid giving the chews to your dog during the day. Doing so may disrupt your pup’s natural sleep pattern.
• Consistency. The Native Pet Calming Chews are light brown and have a natural shape and hard consistency. Because they’re natural, they’re not all the same shape.
• Palatability. Our dogs LOVED these chews! This supplement is one of the most palatable options on our list.
• Smell. These chews have a strong, meaty scent. One whiff of them, and your dog will be begging for a second before they’ve even devoured their first.
• Packaging. Native Pet’s clean, simple packaging is refreshing and modern. The lid is a bit difficult to twist off at first, but you’ll get the hang of it in no time.

Sometimes, our tummies hurt when we get stressed. Dogs are no exception. But anxious pups with sensitive stomachs deserve some tender loving care, too. Premium Care’s Calming Chews are soothing for situational-induced stressors without causing GI flare-ups. If you’re hesitant to spring for these chews, we have good news: You can buy them, let your pup try them, and return them if they don’t work. Premium Care offers a 100% money-back guarantee.

• Ingredients. Premium Care’s zen-inducing chews contain chamomile, valerian root, and L-tryptophan. They’re also made with hemp oil, which isn’t scientifically proven effective yet.
• Drowsiness. Though chamomile, valerian root, and L-tryptophan are considered safe and effective at quelling anxiety, these ingredients made our dogs a little sleepy.
• Consistency. Natural is the name of the game here. These dye-free chews are light green and very soft.
• Palatability. These calming duck-flavored chews double as tasty, highly-edible treats.
• Smell. The chews have a light hemp smell.
• Packaging. Premium Care’s calming chews come in a simple container with easy-to-read ingredients and instructions. The solid-freshness seal ensures the product will last.

If you’re looking for an alternative with hemp seed oil and L-tryptophan, these chews by Vets Preferred contain these ingredients plus L-theanine.

These calming chews from Zesty Paws come in a fun orange container. But though the package is bright and cheery, the formula is soothing. Chamomile and L-theanine are among the main ingredients.

• Ingredients. This product packs a ton of proven and potentially soothing ingredients into a small chew. Chamomile and L–theanine are proven to help calm dogs. Other ingredients, like adaptogens and hemp oil, are still being studied. Zesty Paws’ chews also have melatonin, which can disrupt sleep cycles. Stick to giving these chews to your pup at night.
• Drowsiness. There’s melatonin in these chews, so expect them to make your pup yawn.
• Consistency. Zesty Paws’ calming bites are brown and soft for dogs to chew.
• Palatability. These chews come in multiple flavors, including turkey and peanut butter. Our dogs thought they were tasty.
• Smell. These chews even smell soothing. Expect a light, hemp-turkey scent.
• Packaging. The bright package stands out. It’s tightly sealed to ensure freshness.

Why we recommend this bed

A safe space, a designated place your dog can call its own is one way to soothe an anxious dog. This luxurious dog bed has the bonus of being one of our favorite chew-proof choices. Like other memory foam beds, it’s pricey but balances a durable exterior with a supportive and comfortable insert. If your anxious pup is also older or suffers from an underlying medical condition, it may be worth the splurge. Keep in mind that our sample size is small — what’s a good fit for our dogs may not be right for yours.

Why we recommend this toy

Dogs often chew when they’re stressed, and anyone who has parented a super chewer knows how quickly you can go through toys. Like other Kong products, the Kong Extreme is one of the few truly indestructible dog toys we’ve tested, though you should always supervise your dog to make sure they don’t ingest any small pieces that might break off. You may fill it with one of the treats on this list or a puree of your dog’s favorite filling.

Why we recommend this collar

We’ve tested Sentry calming collars on dogs and cats and found them to be effective for both. Our veterinary advisors are fans, too. “The calming collars may help a dog or cat that has mild anxiety around other pets or is being introduced into a new home,” Dr. Michelle Diener says. “These collars would not be worth trying on a dog or cat that has severe anxiety.”

Dr. Irish helped us formulate this list. She took a close look at the calming supplements on our list to ensure they’re safe and effective for your pup to use. We then tested each chew in the field with our dogs so we can recommend the best calming treats that actually work. We also tested them in the betterpet lab to make sure the consistency, smell, packaging, and other factors lived up to manufacturer descriptions and veterinarian expectations.

Calming supplements alone may not be enough to soothe your anxious pet. That’s why we also suggested other products we’ve tested: a comfortable bed, a challenging toy, and a calming collar. Dr. Irish also recommends calming probiotics like Purina ProPlan’s Calming Care — we’ve rounded up the best probiotics for dogs here.

👉 Your veterinarian can help you make a plan for soothing your anxious dog. Severe anxiety may require anxiety medications or behavioral training. 

Ingredients to look for in calming chews

Calming supplements usually work best if they have a variety of ingredients that can work in conjunction to reduce anxiety.

Valerian root. Many researchers believe valerian root Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. Go to source increases the amount of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain. GABA provides a calming effect on the brain, allowing your pup to relax. The supplement has a sedative effect, so expect your dog to become a little drowsy.

Melatonin. Melatonin can also increase the functioning of GABA in the brain and reduce the feeling of fear. Melatonin is generally considered safe by vets, but there aren’t many canine-specific studies. As always, consult your vet before giving your dog melatonin-based supplements. Watch out for ones with xylitol as an ingredient.

L-theanine. L-theanine works by increasing serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, which produces a calming effect. It’s the main ingredient in most calming supplements for dogs and can be used for a variety of anxious conditions. Give your dog a supplement about one hour before an anticipated anxious event.

L-tryptophan. Low levels of L-tryptophan in the body have been associated with anxiety, mood disorders, and depressive symptoms. So it makes sense that if you provide extra tryptophan in the body, feelings of anxiety may be reduced. Tryptophan also increases the amount of serotonin, the happy hormone, in your pup’s brain.

Chamomile. Chamomile Trusted Source VCA Hospitals Community of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information. Go to source is an herbal extract with anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and muscle-relaxing properties. It can help with relaxation though it has mildly sedative properties, thus helping to relieve anxiety. It can also decrease anxiety-related gastrointestinal disturbances, such as gas, pain, and bloating.

Hemp oil. Hemp oil and CBD oil are incredibly popular among dog owners these days. While there’s anecdotal evidence that CBD is effective, there’s still a lot of research to do. Scientific findings Trusted Source American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Not-for-profit organization representing 97,000+ vets. Go to source have yet to prove the oil’s consistent efficacy and safety profile.

If you do try CBD oil with your dog, make sure it’s manufactured specifically for dogs and follow the label instructions precisely to avoid adverse reactions. Dr. Irish also recommends looking for companies that readily provide laboratory data ensuring their products do not contain THC, the compound found in marijuana that leads to changes in consciousness and perception.

Passionflower. Passionflower is a natural herbal supplement that’s considered to be a mood enhancer. It can produce a calming effect in your pup but is best if given before a trigger sets them off.

Colostrum. Colostrum Trusted Source VCA Hospitals Community of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information. Go to source is a milk protein that is derived from the first milk produced by a lactating female. The colostrum used in supplements is typically obtained from cows. There’s also evidence that certain milk proteins may help with anxiety as well.