Natural Remedies For Dog Anxiety
For dogs that suffer from anxiety, it can cause destructive behavior and a lack of attention. Natural solutions that don’t involve sedatives can help your dog cope.
For example, calming herbs like chamomile, peppermint, St. John’s wort, passion flower, and valerian root help calm the nervous system. You can also use diluted essential oil hydrosols which are safer for dogs or this calming spray.
1. Exercise
If your dog becomes agitated in public places or during storms, a short walk or a quick game of fetch will help tire them out and reduce their stress. Just as in humans, exercise releases endorphins that can calm dogs and make them feel good.
Herbal supplements can also be beneficial in calming a dog with anxiety. Chamomile, for example, is a natural sedative with the added benefits of soothing the digestive tract and helping your dog sleep. Add a few drops of chamomile tincture to your pet’s water or food up to twice daily. Other herbal solutions that can be helpful include St. John’s Wort (which has similar effects to Prozak for humans), Passionflower, Skullcap, and Oatstraw.
If training and other remedies don’t help, your veterinarian may prescribe a medication to alleviate anxiety and even depression in some dogs. These drugs may have some side effects, so you should always consult your veterinarian before trying any medication.
2. Massage
Just like humans, dogs can benefit from massages, particularly if they are anxious. They help reduce stress, increase relaxation, and improve the bond between pet and owner.
Brandenburg recommends starting with a basic backstroke, or effleurage technique, which uses broad, soothing strokes all over the body to initiate relaxation. She says to use the flat of your palm and slowly stroke down the dog’s spine with continuous, gliding motions.
After effleurage, you can move to gentle kneading movements, which are especially helpful for releasing tension in the neck area and at the ‘Gates of Consciousness’ located at the base of the skull. She also suggests massaging the ears, which are great pressure points for stress relief.
Finally, she suggests gently massaging the front paws with small up-and-down vibrational movements to stimulate the intercostal muscles. She adds that incorporating regular massage into a daily routine boosts trust, helps shy pups feel comfortable with touch, and enhances the bond between owners.
3. Music
Music is known to relax people, and research suggests it can also calm dogs. Studies have shown that soothing music can reduce heart rate and blood pressure, as well as inhibit the release of stress hormones.
Different types of music seem to produce the most calming effects. Reggae and soft rock are relaxing for most dogs, while classical and some electronic music can also be effective. However, heavy metal and rhythmic tempos appear to agitate dogs and increase their anxiety level.
Many owners play background noise, such as the radio or television, to help their dogs feel comfortable when they leave the house. However, there is specialized calming music specifically designed for dogs available that may work even better. One example is Through a Dog’s Ear, which features simple sounds designed to minimize intricate auditory information. Be aware that some dogs get used to the calming music and stop responding after a week, so change the playlist frequently.
4. Essential Oils
Aromatherapy is a great way to calm a dog’s anxiety and relax their body. There are a variety of essential oils that have calming effects including Lavender, Chamomile, and Egyptian Geranium (especially for noise phobias). These can be used in spray bottles or diffusers. They must be diluted and applied properly to ensure your dog is not getting any of the toxic chemicals found in synthetic fragrances.
You can also find pre-mixed aromatherapy products that contain a blend of natural herbs and flowers for stress relief. Rescue Remedy is a popular option for many dogs and works well for general anxiety, fear of thunderstorms, and travel anxiety.
Adding lavender to your dog’s food or using a calming herbal spray like this one from Rita Hogan can help reduce their anxiety. Lavender oil has a compound that interacts with your dog’s brain to produce a calming effect. Other calming scents such as vanilla can also help as they are associated with the bonding hormone oxytocin.
5. Supplements
There are many supplements that can help calm dogs and they’re often safer than drugs. Herbs and flowers like chamomile, valerian root, St John’s wort, and passion flower all work to calm your dog and focus their mind. You can give them as a tea, tincture, or capsule. Rescue Remedy is a popular homeopathic treatment that works to ease anxiety by addressing the root cause of the issue.
Medications like Zylkene, CBD, Melatonin, and L-tryptophan are available in tablet form and are generally considered safe for pets but consult your veterinarian before adding any new supplement to your pet’s diet. You may need to try a few different ones to find the one that helps them best.
If your dog has situational anxiety like going to the vet or groomer or when you know a storm is coming you can use treats like Wholesome Pride Functional Calming Support Jerky Bites that contain ingredients like melatonin, l-theanine and chamomile to help keep your dog calm. They are delicious and easy to administer.
6. The Thundershirt
This garment resembles a large, comfortable hug and is designed to calm pups with anxiety by applying gentle pressure similar to that of swaddling an infant. It’s recommended for storm phobias, fireworks phobias, travel anxieties, and separation anxiety. It may also help dogs who are excessively excitable or crate-shy.
Dog owners have reported that the vest works well with many dogs, helping to soothe them during a thunderstorm, at the vet or while traveling on a plane or car ride. It can also be worn during walks while playing brain games and in the crate to help alleviate fears and anxieties caused by noise, commotion, and other distractions.
However, some pets may not take to the Thundershirt. For them, a calming supplement or homeopathic medicine may be more effective. Additionally, it’s not the right solution for a hyperactive dog suffering from overstimulation due to a lack of daily exercise.
