Dog Anxiety Medication: A Complete Guide for Pet Owners

Medically reviewed by Dr Alex Crow MRCVS

Does your dog struggle with anxiety? Just like their owners, dogs can experience stressful situations that trigger anxiety. But how do you calm your dog down when they’re feeling overwhelmed? Knowing how to best support your pup is critical to their health no matter what causes it – fireworks, thunder, separation anxiety from their family, travel anxieties, social anxiety, or otherwise. The good news is that anxious pups can find a lot of relief with a combination of behaviour training and pet anxiety medication.

In this complete guide, we cover everything you need to know about dog anxiety medication. We break down the most common types of dog anxiety, the best calming meds for dogs, and tips for finding the right medication to treat your dog’s specific anxiety. Plus we explain natural vs prescription anxiety medications and the pros and cons for each treatment.

Key Triggers & Types of Pet Anxiety

Just like humans, dogs experience anxiety differently depending on the cause. Before treating your pup for anxiety, it’s important to know what type of anxiety they’re experiencing. Finding the right dog anxiety medication starts with discovering its root cause. Dogs of all ages, backgrounds, environments, and personality types can suffer from anxiety. We cover the four most common triggers of dog anxiety below.

Separation Anxiety

Dogs who experience anxiety when left alone from their owners can suffer from separation anxiety. Symptoms include:

• Continuous barking/howling
• Destroying furniture through chewing, digging, scratching windows or doors
• Urinating or defecating in the house
• Pacing around your home when you pick up your keys or leave the house

Noise Phobia

Loud noises such as fireworks, thunderstorms, or even household appliances like vacuums can be scary for dogs. Trembling, hiding, barking, and trying to escape are all common reactions to loud noises. For noise phobia specifically, there’s a purpose-made medicine, dexmedetomidine oromucosal gel (Sileo®). Unlike heavy sedatives, Sileo for dogs is non-drowsy allowing your dog to remain alert while feeling calm. You can apply this gel at home directly into the pocket between the dog’s cheek and gum, where it is absorbed. It must not be swallowed, as it will not work properly.

Travel Anxiety

Does your dog pant, drool, whimper, vomit, or pace when riding in the car? Dogs who suffer from travel anxiety tend to find car rides, visiting the veterinarian, or family vacations unpleasant. Visitors come to your home less when your dog ages dramatically because of this anxiety around people.

Social Anxiety

Does your pup bark, growl, shy excessively, or try to avoid crowded places? Your dog could have social anxiety when around other dogs, strangers, or in loud places.

Talk to your veterinarian about identifying anxiety triggers in your dog. As you identify triggers and symptoms your dog exhibits, you’ll start to narrow down the best behavioural medication to support them.

Common Anxiety Meds for Dogs

Once you know what causes your pup’s anxiety, there are a variety of dog anxiety medications you can use to calm your dog. Here are the most common anxiety medications for pets.

1. SSRIs & Antidepressants

Dogs with chronic and extreme anxiety may need daily medication to curb their symptoms. Veterinarians will often recommend selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine. Fluoxetine for dogs works by altering levels of serotonin in your dog’s brain which can help with feelings of anxiety when triggered. SSRIs can take 4–6 weeks to start working and they shouldn’t be stopped abruptly, rather tapered off. Your vet will advise on how to taper off the dose safely for your dog.

Best used for: chronic/social anxiety, separation anxiety, compulsive behaviours.

2. Benzodiazepines (Valium for Dogs and Xanax for Dogs)

Dogs who experience anxiety only during certain events may benefit from faster acting medications. Benzodiazepines like diazepam or alprazolam are commonly prescribed to dogs who suffer from anxiety during sudden situations. Paradoxically, benzodiazepines can cause the opposite reaction at times. In some dogs they increase agitation or lower bite inhibition rather than calming – a genuine safety caveat that owners should know to watch for and report.

Best used for: situational or unpredictable triggers that cause anxiety.

3. Clonidine for Dogs or Trazodone for Dogs

We often recommend these prescriptions be used alongside another anxiety medication. Clonidine and Trazodone are commonly prescribed to dogs who experience travel anxiety, noise anxiety, and who may need reassurance when placed in a new environment.

Best used for: dogs who need lightweight support and sedation.

4. Gabapentin for Dogs

Gabapentin for dogs is another veterinary-prescription medication that is used to help curb anxiety in general, and anxiety due to thunderstorm phobia or stress from vet visits in particular. Gabapentin is a human medication and because of this its use in animals is considered “off-label” or not approved by the TGA for use in pets. While how Gabapentin works to relieve anxiety in dogs is not known, it is believed that it works by decreasing the amount of excitatory neurotransmitters released in the brain which prevents anxiety from escalating and allows your dog to feel more “chilled-out”. The main potential side effect of gabapentin is sedation, which will vary from dog to dog. Your veterinarian will determine if your dog needs this medication.

5. CBD Oil in Dogs

CBD’s potential effects on anxiety and stress-related behaviours in dogs has been explored in early studies. Preliminary findings indicate that the active ingredient in CBD oil, cannabidiol, may impact some pathways involved in stress responses as well as stress-related behaviours. However, more research is needed as dosing has varied and studies have used different forms of CBD. If you have a dog with behaviour issues, CBD oil is just one tool you can use among behaviour modification, environmental management and traditional therapies.

Things to remember about CBD for dogs:

• Provide products made for pets: Never give your dog a CBD product designed for human consumption. Human edibles can contain ingredients that are toxic to pets like xylitol, or they have formulas with concentrations that aren’t safe for pets to ingest.
• THC isn’t safe for pets and can even be toxic and CBD products need to have 0% or near 0% THC in them. So it’s important to ensure that the THC is below the legal limit. Use only accredited and certified compounding pharmacy providers.
• Safety: The best-documented effect of CBD in dogs is a dose-dependent rise in liver enzymes, and CBD interferes with the liver enzymes that metabolise other medicines so it can interact with other anxiety medications if your dog is also taking these. Liver monitoring and vet oversight is important when CBD is used alongside other medication.
• Method of use: Oils typically placed under the gum allow for quick absorption. CBD chews work great for situational remedies like vet visits, travel, grooming, etc.
• Regular use: You can typically see results within one to two hours when used for specific anxious triggers. For constant support, CBD levels will need to build over time.

While CBD can help ease anxious behaviours, it often works best when paired with positive behavioural training and desensitisation.

We at Pills for Paws use only trusted and accredited Pharmacists to formulate tailor-made CBD formulations that are safe for your dog. You can learn more about our tailored CBD dog-safe formulations by calling us at 1300 676 746 or emailing us at info@pillsforpaws.com.au.

6. Natural & Calming Aids

Over-the-counter supplements, dog appeasing pheromones, and natural chews can help dogs with mild anxiety or anxiety triggers. Popular natural ingredients include L-theanine, Valerian root and camomile. (Always check with your vet to ensure these natural ingredients are legal in your state before administering.)

Best used for: mild anxiety symptoms and as a supplement to behaviour training.

Formulations: How to Give Your Dog Their Medicine

After you’ve identified the best medication for your dog, administering their medication is the next challenge. The good news is that with so many formulations of pet anxiety medications, there’s sure to be one your dog will take happily. Here are the most common medication formulations.

• Tablets & capsules – Most medicine comes in tablet form. The easiest way to administer pills is to hide them in your dog’s food or a pill pocket treat.
• Chewable tablets – Same as above but these tablets are coated with tasty flavours like chicken, beef, or liver. Flavoured chewable tablets are the closest thing to giving your dog a treat!
• Suspensions & liquids – For dogs who refuse pills of any kind, we recommend liquids. Liquid medications can be precisely measured with droppers or syringes and can be mixed in with food or directly administered.
• Transdermal gels – These prescription anxiety gels are applied directly to your dog’s skin (typically the inner ear). This is a good option if you’ve tried everything and your dog refuses oral medication.

If none of these formulations work for your dog there are compounded medications. Compounded medications are specially created for your dog at a pharmacy. Not only can you change the strength of the medicine, but you can also change the flavour as well as change from a pill to a liquid formulation. Speak with your veterinarian or pharmacist about customising your dog’s medication.

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Natural vs Prescription Dog Anxiety Pills

If this is your dog’s first time experiencing anxiety, you may wonder if natural dog anxiety supplements can solve your problem. How do you know if you need to push your veterinarian for anxiety medication or if something over-the-counter can provide relief? It all depends on how severe your dog’s anxiety is and how they react to each medication.

Natural Dog Anxiety Supplements

If your dog only experiences anxiety during birthdays, thunderstorms, or on occasion, natural supplements may be the best route. Natural medications can be taken daily as a preventative or as needed for more occasional symptoms. Many natural medications come with less side-effects and are tolerated very well with most dogs. However, every dog reacts differently to medications. Depending on your dog’s reaction, you may decide to switch from natural remedies to prescription medications.

Pros of Natural Dog Meds:

• No prescription required
• Easy administration (chews, sprays, supplements)
• Fewer side-effects

Cons of Natural Dog Meds:

• Not as strong as prescription medications
• Will not treat any underlying causes
• May not work for severe anxiety symptoms

Prescription Vet Meds for Anxiety

Prescription medications can be the best option if your dog experiences anxiety in varying degrees or almost every day. Your veterinarian will help you decide what medication, how much to give your dog, and the length of time you should be administering the medication.

Pros of Prescription Dog Meds:

• Clinically tested and proven
• Can be tailored to your dog’s needs
• Come in many formulations – chewable tablets, liquids, transdermal gels
• Can treat underlying causes

Cons of Prescription Dog Meds:

• Require a vet’s prescription
• May cause side-effects such as an upset stomach or drowsiness
• Will need to periodically visit veterinarian to check progress and make changes

You can always start with natural remedies and work your way up to medication. Every dog reacts differently to anxiety medication. Your best bet is to consult with your vet on any concerns or questions you may have.

Vet Tips & Recommended Behaviour Training

As mentioned earlier, anxiety medication alone will not cure your dog. The holistic approach to treating your pup includes behaviour training and anxious support. Ensure you’re creating a treatment plan that includes anxiety medication as well as training.

Behavioural training includes the following:

See your vet. Before you even think about medication, make an appointment with your veterinarian. They can do a general check-up on your dog and determine if medication is the right route for you.

Follow instructions – Whether you’re using prescription or natural medication for your dog, follow the instructions on the bottle. Giving your dog too little medication may cause no effect. But too much medication can also cause unwanted symptoms.

Behaviour Training Tips

Don’t neglect training! Consistently training your dog will help alleviate their symptoms.

• Desensitisation – The goal is to slowly expose your pup to their triggers until they are no longer afraid of that stimulus.
• Counter conditioning – Reward your dog when they’re exposed to their trigger. Rewarding good behaviour when they’re anxious can create positive associations with that particular trigger.
• Routine – Dogs thrive off consistency and when your dog knows what to expect each day, they’ll feel more relaxed.
• Work with a dog trainer – If you’re struggling to manage your dog’s anxiety, consider working with a dog trainer for extra support. Dog trainers can offer customised advice for your dog’s unique struggles.

Monitor your dog’s progress. Improving your dog’s anxiety takes time, there will be good days and bad days. Monitor any changes in your dog – positive or negative. If you notice any changes in behaviour or negative reactions to medication, reach out to your veterinarian.

Our dogs enrich our lives in more ways than we could imagine. Just because your dog has anxiety, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy all they have to offer. With the right training and medication, your dog can live a happy and safe life free of anxiety.

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