Dog Anxiety Meds

Dog Anxiety Meds

Some dogs can benefit from medication to reduce anxiety. But it’s not a quick fix, and most vets will only recommend it if non-medication techniques -- like training and exercise -- haven’t worked. It’s also important that any medications are used alongside a behavior modification strategy to ensure success.

Medication can be very useful for treating separation anxiety and other situational anxieties. Your veterinarian can prescribe short-acting anti-anxiety drugs that take effect quickly and last about 4 to 6 hours. They can be used for situations like noise and thunder storms or travel anxiety, and they are often prescribed along with long-acting anti-anxiety drugs to boost the effectiveness.

Long-acting medications for dog anxiety create take about 12 to 24 weeks to reach their full effect, and they require regular visits to the vet. Veterinarians can prescribe medications that increase the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine in the brain, which helps improve mood and stress response. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) such as fluoxetine and sertraline are used for dog anxiety, because they block the reabsorption of the chemical messenger serotonin, leaving more available in the brain. These drugs can be used for chronic management of anxiety, and they are generally well tolerated by dogs. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and clomipramine (Clomicalm), work similarly to SSRIs by blocking the reabsorption of norepinephrine and acetylcholine, which influence mood, alertness, and attention. These drugs can be used for chronic management, but they are more effective for dog anxiety than SSRIs.

Many natural remedies are also available to help relieve dog anxiety. They include melatonin, which can help regulate sleep and promote relaxation. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, and massage therapy are also common for treating dog anxiety. It’s also helpful to provide a routine and a comfortable environment for your dog, and to keep them busy with exercise to avoid boredom and pent-up energy.

Another option is to look for third-party certification from a canine behavior consultant, who can provide specific training and behavioral strategies. It’s best to find one that has experience with a particular type of anxiety, such as separation anxiety or fear of thunderstorms.

CBD for Dog Anxiety

A study showed that CBD significantly reduced the level of cortisol in dogs during a stressful separation test and a car ride test. This suggests that CBD can be used as a long-term treatment for dog anxiety, and it may also be helpful in combination with other treatments.

However, the results of this study were not conclusive, and additional research is needed to evaluate the use of CBD for dogs with anxiety. The researchers also found that some measures of stress were more sensitive to CBD than others, so further research is needed to better understand how CBD might treat different types of anxiety in dogs.

If your dog needs a little extra support, ask your vet to assess the situation and prescribe an appropriate anti-anxiety medication. Most vets will also suggest implementing a behavior modification strategy at the same time as using medication, to ensure maximum success.