What can you give dogs to calm them down?

You can give a dog Benadryl, but it is not the best solution for when you need to calm him down. While Benadryl is generally safe for dogs in correct doses, this shouldn't be your first option when dealing with a very active, or even an anxious, dog. Also, always talk to your vet before giving your pet any type of over-the-counter medication.

Benadryl's Purpose and Calming Side Effect 

Vets often prescribe Benadryl for dogs, but it's usually for allergies or itching. One of the side effects is drowsiness, which is why some pet owners turn to the drug as a way to calm a dog. It's important to remember, however, that just because something has the desired effect doesn't mean it's the best way to achieve the results you need.

As with any drug, using it regularly over a long period of time can have negative effects on your dog's health. It can also cause immediate health concerns in dogs that have certain health conditions such as heart failure, glaucoma, lung disease, and more. 

Drug-Free Ways to Calm Your Pet 

While there are many websites that talk about how safe Benadryl is, responsible pet owners will always check with their vet before dosing their dogs. There are times when drugs will be the best option, but there are often other ways to deal with very active or anxious dogs. These include:

More Exercise

Giving your active dog plenty of time to run is a great way to calm him down. Long walks, time at a doggy day care, trips to the dog park, or tossing a ball around your yard are a few ways to allow your dog to be more active. 

Prevent Boredom

Giving your dog's brain a workout is just as important as giving his body a workout. A puzzle toy that makes your pup work for a treat is a great way to engage your dog's brain and help curb boredom. 

Proper Training

One common complaint among dog owners with very active dogs is that it's difficult to walk them because they are always pulling on the lead or otherwise misbehaving. This conduct can be changed with proper training. Even the most energetic dogs can be taught to "leave it," "stay," and "sit," and most owners are surprised how quickly the training kicks in. 

Change His Food

This is one option that many pet owners don't consider, but food can have a big impact on your dog's behavior. What do you think would happen if you ate nothing but junk food? Dogs are subject to the same negative effects of food as humans. If you're feeding lower-quality food, upgrade to a premium product. If you're not sure how to choose the best food for your dog, check out our Dog and Cat Nutrition page or talk to your vet for advice.  

So, can you give your dog Benadryl to calm him down? Yes, but there are likely much better and safer ways to deal with the issue. Talk to your vet, trainer, or other animal expert to discuss the specific needs of your pet and to develop a plan that will give you the best chance of success. 

Tincture

If you use a tincture, add to water or food or put directly in her mouth.

1 to 20 lbs … 1-4 drops, 2-3 times daily20 to 50 lbs … 5-10 drops, 2-3 times daily

50 to 100 lbs … 10-20 drops, 2-3 times daily

Capsule

If you give your dog a capsule, open it up and put it on your dog’s food. You can also place it in a chunk of meat, cheese or banana and give it to your dog that way.

1 to 20 lbs … 1/2 – 1 capsule, 1-3 times daily20 to 50 lbs … 1 or 2 capsules, 2-3 times daily

50 to 100 lbs … 1 or 2 capsules, 3-4 times daily

#3 Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathic remedies are effective because they’re chosen to match specific symptoms. They’re also very safe.

To give these remedies, mix 3 of the little pellets in a glass of filtered water (try not to touch them with your hands). Mix them with a spoon and place some of the liquid on your dog’s gums using a teaspoon or clean dropper).

Pinpoint what’s causing the fear and use one of these remedies for fast relief. Generally, you want to start with 3 doses, 12 hours apart, then stop and wait for changes before dosing again.

Aconite 30C

Aconite is a good remedy to start with. It helps with fear in general and you can give it every 15 minutes during a storm. Continue only until you see improvement. If you don’t see improvement, try another remedy.

Phosphorus 30C

Phosphorus is good for all noise phobias. You can give it once or twice a day.

Pulsatilla 6C or 30C

This is a good remedy for dogs with separation anxiety.

Borax 6C

Borax is specific for fears of thunderstorms and you can give it twice a day.

#4 Bach Flower Essences

About 75 years ago, English physician Edward Bach found that the essence of certain flowers helps restore emotional balance. That makes them perfect for relieving stress and calming down an anxious dog. (It’s also good for your own stress too).

These remedies are gentle, non-toxic and your dog can’t overdose on them. You can use individual essences that fit your dog’s specific anxiety and fears or you can use the well-known blend, Rescue Remedy. It’s available at most health stores.

Rescue Remedy is a pre-made blend of Bach Flower Remedies:

• Star of Bethlehem
• Rock Rose
• Cherry Plum
• Impatiens
• Clematis

It can help in all kinds of stressful situations. Use it to relieve stress before going to the vet or the groomer. It’s also good for separation anxiety or for situations you know will cause fear.

RELATED: Read more about flower remedies for dogs …

#5 Essential Oils

Essential oils like lavender and violet leaf are great for calming your dog’s anxiety. You can also try blending oils. These blends are from aromatherapist Joy Musacchio:

1. Separation anxiety: Neroli, Violet Leaf, Vetiver, Lavender, Rose hydrosol.
2. Fear of thunder and fireworks: Frankincense, Rose Otto, Hops, and Cornflower hydrosol.
3. General anxiety: Frankincense, Violet Leaf, Linden Blossom, Roman Chamomile, Hemp. 

For each recipe, combine 5 drops of each oil into 2-3 oz of a carrier oil such as almond oil or apricot kernel oil.

Spray the diluted oil on your dog’s bed or blanket or in the air. You can also use a diffuser but make sure your dog has a way to leave the room if the oils make her uncomfortable.

Cautions: Never allow your dog to swallow essential oils, and. never use undiluted essential oils on your dog.

Essential oils are very powerful for dogs so hydrosols can be a much gentler option. Hydrosols are leftover from the essential oil-making process. They’re far less concentrated than the essential oils and considered safer for dogs.

This calming spray from canine herbalist Rita Hogan is great for general anxiety. The chamomile and lavender hydrosols in it will soothe and calm your dog.

Ingredients

• ½ oz neroli (Citrus aurantium) hydrosol
• ½ oz blue chamomile (Matricaria recutita) hydrosol
• 5 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil

Mix the ingredients together in a spray bottle. Shake before using and mist your dog. Refrigerate for up to six months.

Anxiety can impact your dog’s quality of life (and your own). But these natural solutions may help her get some relief.

By Dr. Megan Petroff, DVM

For people, anxiety can feel overwhelming and debilitating at times. If you have a dog that struggles with fear, anxiety, or stress, it’s important to be supportive and patient.

Calming a frequently anxious dog is possible, but it may require collaboration between you and your veterinarian, or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.

If you have a nervous dog, here’s some insight you can use to identify the signs and triggers, and steps you can take to help calm your dog’s anxiety and improve their quality of life.

Recognize the Signs of Dog Anxiety

“Dogs use body language to communicate how they are feeling,” says Ashley Atkinson, CPDT-KA and behavior consultant at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

For example, if your dog seems uneasy or is fixated on licking, they could be communicating nervousness, stress, or fear. There are many subtle signs of dog anxiety.

According to Dr. Susan Konecny, RN, DVM, medical director of Best Friends Animal Society, some clinical signs include:

• Pacing

• Trembling

• Shaking

• Hypervigilance

• Lip licking

• Frequent yawning

• Decreased appetite

She also says that some physiological effects of anxiety can include:

• Increased salivation or drooling

• Dilated pupils

• Increased heart rate and panting

• Skin lesions from self-trauma

• Over-grooming

Talk With Your Veterinarian About Your Dog’s Anxiety

Once you learn how to detect when your dog is anxious, you can begin to identify the triggers that are causing the anxiety. Write down the signs that you see and describe the situations and circumstances when your dog showed these signs. Then schedule an appointment with your vet so they can rule out underlying medical issues,and help you get the right treatment for your dog.

Anytime a behavior change is noted in a pet, medical problems in other areas of the body could be at play. Your veterinarian can perform diagnostic tests to confirm that your pet is otherwise healthy.

In all cases, it’s best to seek the help of your veterinarian to make sure you are doing everything you can for your dog. When no other cause is found, your veterinarian can prescribe anxiety medication if needed, and/or recommend a veterinary behaviorist.

Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorists

If your veterinarian thinks it’s necessary, they may refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist to help your dog.

These veterinarians are specialists who have done a residency for three or more years in clinical behavior medicine, and passed a board-certification exam. Board-certified veterinary behaviorists are experts in treating fear, anxiety, and aggression in pets.

The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists has a directory on their website with the current board-certified veterinary behaviorists near you.

Tips for Calming Your Dog’s Anxiety

Your veterinarian can help create a plan for relieving your dog’s anxiety, and it may include the following steps. Some are simple actions you can try at home, and others require your veterinarian’s oversight.

Remove Triggers That Cause Your Dog’s Anxiety

If you’ve already gone to your veterinarian to rule out other illnesses, and they’ve helped identify possible stressors, then it may be as simple as removing those stressors and seeing if your dog’s anxiety lessens.

For example, if your dog is afraid of other dogs or people, you can skip the dog park. Alternatively, you can take your dog for walks when fewer people will be outside, play in a fenced yard if you have one, and play games inside the home.

Try Dog Appeasing Pheromones

Dog appeasing pheromones are synthetic pheromones similar to the calming pheromones that female dogs give off while nursing puppies.

These pheromones can help reduce anxiety in some dogs and are available in a few different forms. There are collars, sprays, and diffusers, so you can choose the best option for your dog.

Exercise With Your Dog

Exercise can help with our own anxiety, and research studies have shown that greater levels of exercise in dogs are associated with lower levels of aggression, fear, and separation anxiety.1

Create a Sanctuary Space

Some dogs get so anxious in certain situations that no amount of calming, praising, or rewarding will give them relief. “When this is the case, they need a quiet space with no stimulation where they can turn off all the input and simply unwind,” says Dr. Konecny.

This can help in many situations, such as if they are nervous:

Drowning out ambient sounds with white noise may also help them relax in their sanctuary room.

Ask Your Veterinarian About Anti-Anxiety Medications

If your dog is truly struggling with anxiety, you can talk to your veterinarian about whether anti-anxiety medications would be beneficial.

Some pet owners worry about using these medications:

• Will it make their dog sleepy all the time?

• Will it change their personality?

• Will these types of medications shorten their dog’s lifespan?

When treated with the proper medications, your pet should exhibit less anxiety, seem happier, and still have the same personality. If your veterinarian isn’t sure what to prescribe, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist can help you find the best medication for your dog to help them thrive.

Try Behavior Modification

Sometimes, additional modalities are needed to treat behavior problems in pets. Behavior modification can help you change the emotional response your dog has to offending situations or triggers.

Through this cognitive therapy, your dog can learn to become less afraid of stressors and more calm. In some cases, behavior modification can help a dog to the point where they will no longer need to be on medications.

This is something a veterinary behaviorist can help you with as well.

Be Supportive

Learning and avoiding what causes your dog stress, ruling out possible underlying illnesses, and seeking professional help will all improve the quality of life for your anxious dog.

Scientific evidence has shown that stress has negative effects on health in people, and this is true in dogs as well. A 2010 study of 721 dogs concluded that, “The stress of living with a fear or anxiety disorder can have negative effects on health and lifespan in the domestic dog.”2 For this reason it’s important to be proactive to help your dog with their anxieties.

Don’t give up. The solution may not be quick or easy, but with dedication and the right professional assistance, you can help your dog be happier and healthier.

Citations

1. Lofgren, Sarah E., et al. “Management and Personality in Labrador Retriever Dogs.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol. 156, 2014, pp. 44-53.

2. Dreschel, Nancy A. “The Effects of Fear and Anxiety on Health and Lifespan in Pet Dogs.” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol. 125, no. 3-4, 2010, pp. 157-162.

See Also

Featured Image: iStock.com/Kerkez