Therapeutic aids for dog anxiety and aggression

There are several therapeutic aids available to help reduce stress, anxiety and improve aggression in dogs. These aids range from supplements and medications to environmental adjustments. Some have powerful effects. Therefore, it’s crucial to consult with your vet before using supplements alone or in combination with medications.

Supplements for Anxious and Aggressive Dogs

Some dog owners might choose supplements over medication for their aggressive dogs for these reasons:

• Preference for a natural approach
• Concerns about side effects of medication
• Addressing mild to moderate aggression

In an ideal scenario, try single-ingredient supplements first. This allows you to determine their effectiveness for your dog. However, these may be difficult to find, since many supplements for dogs are combinations of compounds. Combinations can offer enhanced benefits but could also mean they contain more of the cheaper ingredients.

Supplements can have potent effects despite being natural and not all dogs respond the same way to supplements. Keep detailed records of dosage, timing, and food intake, and observe behaviors closely.

Additionally, different supplements may take different amounts of time to show benefits. Some, like as 5-HTP can take weeks to show full results. This is due to the slow changes in neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA. While others like l-theanine have only short-term effects but can act within an hour. All can work differently for your dog’s particular symptoms.

L-theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves and mushrooms. It is known for its calming effects on the brain. It increases levels of certain neurotransmitters which are chemical messengers in the brain. L-theanine acts on GABA, which in turn, can increase dopamine and serotonin (^{1, 2, 3} ). These neurotransmitters can affect mood and behavior. As a result, l-theanine can help regulate mood and behavior. L-theanine is effective for short-term or situational anxiety and can complement behavior modification efforts.

Learn more about L-theanine for anti-anxiety effects in dogs.

Anxitane (L-theanine for pets)

Anxitane M & L (L-Theanine) Chewable Tablets

Axitane for Small Dogs

Anxitane tablets containing L-theanine have shown benefits in reducing fear-related aggression in dogs. Thus, they are recommended for use alongside desensitization practices. Read more about ANXITANE^® tablets showing benefit in helping to reduce fear of human beings in a laboratory model of anxiety-related behavior. ⁽⁴⁾

Effective Ingredients: L-theanine

What it is used for: Behavior Modification, Acute anxiety, reducing fear toward unfamiliar people, storm sensitivity

Hemp Oil and other hemp products

Hemp oil, also called CBD oil, derives from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). It’s rich in essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, crucial for healthy skin, hair, and nails, and high in vitamin E, a strong antioxidant. However, the important quality in hemp oil contains compounds known for their anti-anxiety effects. Learn more about hemp oil here.

It’s essential to consider that responses to hemp oil can vary, and further research is necessary to fully grasp its anti-anxiety properties. Therefore, consult a healthcare provider before using supplements for managing anxiety or other health concerns.

You can find hemp oil products for pets on Amazon here.

Calming Treats for Dogs

Discovering effective ways to calm your dog can be crucial for their well-being, especially during stressful situations. Moreover, calming treats for dogs, such as Hemp Calming Treats and other hemp-based products, often offer potential benefits. They can do increase the impact through additional ingredients like passionflower, chamomile, valerian root, and organic ginger root. These ingredients are known for their anti-anxiety properties, although research on their specific effects in dogs is limited.

Choosing the Right Calming Treats

It’s overwhelming to decide what treats to try, particularly when buying online. Here are some suggestions to make choosing the right calming treat easier:

Ingredients

When considering hemp-based calming treats, read the ingredients list. Many often prioritize cost-effective components. As a result, this can affect how well they work. Additionally, it’s important to know which compounds do what for your dog before deciding to use them.

Remember, each dog’s response can vary. So monitoring their reaction and discussing any concerns with your vet are crucial steps in finding the right calming solution for your pet.

Reviews

Reading reviews goes a long way to deciding whether a product might be effective. However, remember all dogs react differently. Furthermore, you don’t know what other supplements, training, or other environmental conditions might affect the results.

Veterinarian Consultation

Consult with your veterinarian when you would like to try something new for your dog. Not all veterinarians are up to date on over-the-counter medications, natural remedies, or supplements for dogs. However, they have access to research and clinicians that you might not. The most important reason to talk to your vet is if your dog has any other allergies, medical conditions, or prescriptions.

recommended products to start with:

There may be additional products that have come on the market since this was written, but here are a few we recommend to get you started.

Pet Calming Supplements (DOG Calming Chews)(#ad)

Ingredients: Passionflower, chamomile, valerian root, and organic ginger root.

This hemp product also includes chamomile, and valerian root which are both known to have anti-anxiety effects but there is limited research on its effect on dogs.

Other Hemp Dog Chews (#ad)

Note that Premium Care Hemp Dog Chews, for example, also include valerian root, l-tryptophan (see below), chamomile as well as hemp oil and organic hemp.

As with all combined ingredient products, you may be getting more of the cheaper ingredients in the mix.

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5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) and tryptophan

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) and tryptophan are closely related in the body’s production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood, sleep, appetite, and pain perception. It is the effect on mood that influences aggression and anxiety in dogs. Learn more about the relationship between 5-HTP and Tryptophan.

L-Tryptophan

The “L” in L-Tryptophan is a form of the tryptophan amino acid that our bodies can readily use.

L-tryptophan serves in the development of serotonin which is a vital neurotransmitter in the brain linked to anxiety and aggression in dogs. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning your body can’t produce it and you must get it from your diet.

Diets supplemented with L-tryptophan may have limited effects on anxiety-related behaviors in dogs if they don’t have clear signs of abnormal behavior. ⁽⁵⁾ Additionally, several L-tryptophan supplements for dogs also contain other compounds, complicating the determination of which is effective.

Using L-tryptophan or 5-HTP as dietary supplements should be supervised by a healthcare professional due to potential serious side effects and interactions with other medications.

5-HTP

L-tryptophan converts into 5-HTP. 5-HTP is a chemical byproduct created in the body when tryptophan is broken down. 5-HTP then crosses the blood-brain barrier and is converted into serotonin. It’s important to research the side effects and cautions associated with L-tryptophan and 5-HTP before use. Before using, read up on side effects and warnings of L-tryptophan and 5-HTP use.

L-tryptophan and 5-HTP Products to look into:

Liquid NutRicalm

5HTP PLUS (ONLY IS available in the USA)

Learn more about L-Tryptophan and 5-HTP.

In conclusion, supplements offer a natural approach to help calm dogs. However, their effectiveness can vary. But they won’t work for every dog. Talk to your vet first. They can pick the right thing for your dog and make sure it won’t mess with any meds. Supplements usually work best with behavior modification. We’ll explore additional therapeutic aids, including medication and non-supplemental options, in the next section.

Medication for dog Aggression

There are reasons why a veterinarian might recommend medication instead of (or in addition to) supplements for dog aggression. Let’s look at them:

• Severity of Aggression: In cases of severe aggression that poses a safety risk to people or other animals, medication might offer a faster and more reliable way to manage the behavior. Supplements may not be strong enough on their own for these situations.
• Underlying Medical Conditions: Sometimes, aggression can stem from medical conditions like thyroid problems or pain. Medication for the underlying condition might be the most effective way to address the aggression.
• Rapid Behavior Modification: If a dog needs to participate in behavior modification training or specific socialization exercises, medication can help create a calmer and more receptive learning environment. This allows for faster progress in behavior modification.
• Limited Success with Supplements: If supplements haven’t shown significant improvement after a reasonable trial period, medication might be necessary for better aggression management.
• Combined Approach: Occasionally veterinarians often recommend a combination of medication and supplements for a more comprehensive approach. Medication can provide immediate behavior control, while supplements can work alongside it to support long-term nervous system regulation.

Talk to your vet/vet behaviorist if your dog may be a candidate. In most cases, an in-person evaluation and history taking can indicate if your dog is showing signs that there is a need.

Learn more about behavioral medication for dog aggression and anxiety, and which medication should be used for dog aggression and anxiety.

Calming Vests and blankets

Typically, any jacket, vest, or weighted blanket is safe for your dog because they will indicate if they dislike it. However, if you encounter difficulty putting on or removing clothing, boots, or similar items, it’s advisable to desensitize your dog to wearing them beforehand.

As with any new introduction to dogs, it’s best not to make too many changes at once. Proceed cautiously by initially trying the vest or blanket for short periods to assess their tolerance before evaluating any potential positive effects.

Research has suggested that deep-pressure vests show positive effects on dogs from reducing stress to helping dogs recover from stress.

Learn about how deep pressure vests may help recovery from stress in dogs in this study, The effect of a pressure vest on the behaviour, salivary cortisol, and urine oxytocin of noise-phobic dogs in a controlled test.

Learn about the effectiveness and safety of using vests in thunderstorm phobic dogs in this study, The effectiveness of the Anxiety Wrap in the treatment of canine thunderstorm phobia: An open-label trial.

What it is used for: Stress recovery, thunderstorm phobia.

Anxiety blankets

Weighted blanket for dogs (different sizes)(#ad)

What it is used for: Stress recovery, thunderstorm phobia, dogs that do not enjoy handling that may benefit from pressure.

Calming music & Sound

White Noise

White noise consists of many frequencies with equal intensities, often used to mask other sounds.

Although research on white noise with dogs is limited, studies involving elderly individuals indicate its efficacy in reducing state anxiety.⁽⁸⁾ Plus, it has demonstrated benefits in lowering anxiety among patients in cardiac care units,⁽⁹⁾ as well as reducing anxiety, blood pressure and pain in general.⁽¹⁰⁾

So white noise may be helpful for dogs experiencing separation anxiety or sensitivity to loud noises from children, visitors, noisy neighbors, or outdoor sounds.

There are a variety of different white noise machines on Amazon with a large number of great reviews at a variety of price points.

Music

Classical music may have some calming influences on dogs. ⁽⁶⁾ Heavy metal music should be avoided as it appears to increase anxiety ⁽⁷⁾

Watch the video to learn more about music for dogs

What it is used for: Helping soothe dogs.

Remember, each dog is an individual and will respond uniquely.  Always talk to a vet to determine whether your dog could benefit from any supplements or natural remedies.

References

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