Best calming tablets for dogs to soothe and relax anxious pooches

Brown and white border collie lies down calmly — 2BT2C81 Cute brown and white Border Collie lays on the floor inside a house, looking up and away from the camera. Lazy day, calm dog

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

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.

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.

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.

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.