Most Effective Anti-Anxiety Dog Supplement in 2022
Discover what to look out for when giving your dog anxiety suplement and which are worth buying
by Gill Ritcher updated on
Gill is our resident pet health and nutrition expert who recently retired from a 14-year career in veterinary teaching to pursue writing and researching.
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Importance of Anxiety Prevention
It’s immensely hard for a caring pet owner to witness their dog experiencing anxiety. Preventing anxiety from snowballing into destructive, aggressive or difficult behaviors is vital.
Anxiety in dogs comes in several different forms, such as fear-based (such as car rides, new environments or loud noises), separation anxiety (the inability to calm themselves when left alone), and age-based anxiety which worsens as they get older. Knowing how to prevent anxiety and alleviate your dog’s stress is a key part of their wellbeing.
Nature provides us with the perfect ingredients for soothing and easing our four-legged friends.
Symptoms of Anxiety in Dogs
Your dog is a unique being, so you will need to learn the signs of anxiety in your dog, which may be different from another. However, there are some common symptoms:
- Destructive behavior
- Aggression
- Panting and drooling
- Urinating/defecating inside
- Low mood/depression
- Excessive barking
- Growling
- Restlessness and/or pacing
- Compulsive behaviors
- Unsettled stomach, nausea and vomiting
Benefits of Chamomile Flower Powder & L-Tryptophan
Choosing natural ingredients with scientifically-proven benefits ensures you choose the right anti-anxiety supplement for your dog, to get him happy and content once more. Chamomile Flower Powder and L-Tryptophan have been shown to be enormously beneficial for anxious dogs:
High Quality Dog Anxiety Suplement:
✓ Chamomile is known for being a natural gentle sedative.
✓ Alleviates stress and promotes calm.
✓ L-Tryptophan is converted into the feel good hormone, serotonin.
✓ Serotonin brings a sense of ease, and aids sleep.
✓ Works to reduce aggression.
What Ingredients to Look for in an Anxiety-Relief Supplement
It can be confusing to know what to give your dog to help alleviate their anxiety, and to help prevent it. We recommend choosing natural supplements with the following evidence-based ingredients:
Chamomile Flower Powder
To naturally relieve the feelings of stress and anxiety.
L-Tryptophan
To promote serotonin production to soothe and facilitate good sleep.
Ginger Root Powder
To calm an anxious stomach and alleviate nausea.
Passion Flower Powder
To help reduce anxiety and bring a feeling of ease.
Definitive Checklist for Canine Anxiety-Relief Supplements
When choosing an anxiety-relief supplement for your dog, make sure to look for:
✓L-Tryptophan
L-Tryptophan is an essential ingredient as it helps the dog’s own system work more harmoniously to reduce anxiety.
✓Serving Sizes
Natural ingredients are less likely to cause high levels of drowsiness compared to medications, but you still need to know the right amount to give based on size.
✓Money-Back Guarantee
Be sure that you’re choosing a reliable and responsible brand by checking for a money-back guarantee.
✓Tasty Chew
Anxious dogs do better with a tasty chew, rather than the additional stress of a pill.
✓All-Natural
Choose a supplement which uses all-natural ingredients to give your dog the best.
How We Evaluated The Top 5
Our product comparisons go through a very strict review, of both internal expertise as well as external research such as product reviews and professional opinion. We assess a score based on each of the following criteria to determine the best products:
Effectiveness
Ingredients
Value for Money
Customer Service
Overall Ranking
Overall Ranking
A+Grade
A+Overall Ranking
Pros
✓ Contains Passion Flower ✓ Contains Chamomile ✓ High Dose of L-Trypophan ✓ Made in USA ✓ Soft Chew Form ✓ Moneyback Guarantee ✓ Recommended by VetsCons
✓ Only Available Online ✓ Sometimes Out of Stock ✓ Express Delivery Is ExtraThe Bottom Line
Of every dog probiotic supplement we tested, Pawfy's Calming Soft Chews provide the best all round calming supplement, by combining high potency dosages of good quality ingredients. Pawfy's Calming Soft Chews contain Passion Flower andChamomile to give a powerful calming effect. In addition, it contains Ginger Root which helps ease dogs stomachs when they are anxious or stressed. Most importantly, it has a high dose of L-Tryptophan which helps reduce aggression and stress in dogs. This supplement is contained in a flavoured soft chew which is helpful for picky dogs. Other benefits of this product include a moneyback guarantee and free shipping.
2. Calm with Melatonin
by Waggedy
Overall Ranking
Overall Ranking
B+Grade
B+Overall Ranking
Pros
✓ Contains Chamomile
✓ Made in USA
✓ Free Shipping
Cons
✓ Contains Melatonin (Side Effects)
✓ Low Dosages of Chamomile
✓ Expensive
The Bottom Line
Waggedy's supplements come second, as their ingredients are natural and it contains doses of chamomile. However, it's dosages are not as potent and therefore you require a larger serving size. In addition, it contains Melatonin which can be unsafe for dogs in high doses and it's inclusion can cause many side effects. Side effects include drowsiness, sickness, itching and an increased heart rate. We do not recommend giving your dog melatonin and would advise opting for an all natural supplement that contains L-Trypophan instead.
3. Every Dog's Calming Aid
by NexPaw
Overall Ranking
Overall Ranking
BGrade
BOverall Ranking
Pros
✓ Made in USA
✓ Free Shipping
Cons
✓ Contains Melatonin (Side Effects)
✓ Lacks L-Trypophan
✓ Bad Customer Reviews
The Bottom Line
This calming aid has a poor ingredient mix, but it is all natural and made in the USA which is a plus. The main concern with this is the inclusion of melatonin and the side effects that could affect dogs as a result. Furthermore, poor customer reviews on the internet demonstrate that the effectiveness of this product is questionable.
4. Calming Chews
by Supps For Pets
Overall Ranking
Overall Ranking
B-Grade
B-Overall Ranking
Pros
✓ Contains Passion Flower
✓ Contains Ginger Root
✓ Made in USA
Cons
✓ Contains Melatonin (Side Effects)
✓ Lacks Chamomile
✓ Slow Shipping
The Bottom Line
These calming chews come in flavoured soft chew form which is great for ensuring your dog takes them. However, again the inclusion of melatonin could be dangerous at worst and cause side effects at best for your dog. Furthermore, this product lacks chamomile which is one of the best ingredients for calming and de-stressing your dog.
5. Vetriscience Calming Treats
by Vetriscience
Overall Ranking
Overall Ranking
CGrade
C
Overall Ranking
Pros
✓ Contains Thiamine
✓ Made in USA
✓ Free Shipping
Cons
✓ Low Dosages
✓ Harmful Inactive Ingredients
✓ Slow Shipping
The Bottom Line
The inclusion of Theamine in this product makes it a good contender, but it falls short on the harmful inactive ingredients. Inactive ingredients are those in small doses and so while it is not dangerous for your dog, there are known side effects of the ingredients whcih are used in this product. Furthermore, customer complaints of slow shipping and poor demonstrable results lower the ranking of this calming aid.
Overall, Pawfy's Calming Soft Chew Supplement provides the best bang for your buck and contains scientifically proven ingredients to relax your pup. These supplements are recommended for any owner of a dog that suffers from separation anxiety, general anxiety, agitation or stress.
Made in U.S.A
Free Shipping
Money-Back Guarantee