Dealing with a dog experiencing anxiety or behavioral disorders can be distressing for both the pet and their owner. Conditions like separation anxiety can be particularly debilitating. As a devoted pet parent, your first instinct is to help, but the array of treatment and medication options can often feel overwhelming. The best starting point for addressing your dog’s anxiety is a consultation with your veterinarian. After they’ve given your dog a clean bill of health, they can begin to offer recommendations tailored to your dog’s specific needs.
Treatment plans for canine anxiety frequently involve the expertise of a veterinary behaviorist or a certified dog trainer. Alongside a behavior modification plan, your veterinarian might also suggest medication to help manage your dog’s anxiety. This guide will delve into what dog anxiety medications are, how they function, and the current options available for discussion with your vet.
How Dog Anxiety Medications Work
Regardless of the medication prescribed, implementing behavior modification protocols alongside it is crucial for helping your dog overcome their anxiety. While anti-anxiety medications can help your dog feel calmer, behavior modification techniques work to reshape your dog’s emotional response to anxiety-inducing triggers or events. This process helps them learn to be less fearful and more relaxed in general. It’s important to understand that medication alone typically does not resolve anxiety in dogs, making behavior modification an essential component of treatment.
Canine anxiety can manifest in various ways, leading to a range of medications available for both short-term and long-term use. Common behavioral issues in dogs that may indicate anxiety include:
- Fear
- Stress
- Impulsivity (lack of control over emotions or impulses)
- Obsessive behaviors (repetitive actions like spinning or tail chasing)
- Panic disorders (inability to escape the stimulus causing panic)
- Aversions to specific stimuli (e.g., wet grass) or experiences (e.g., grooming, vet visits, car rides)
It’s vital to remember that there are no quick fixes for dog anxiety, irrespective of the medication prescribed. Collaborating with a certified behaviorist or trainer offers the most effective approach to resolving your dog’s anxiety-related behaviors. For conditions requiring long-term medical management, it may take four to six weeks before the medication’s effectiveness becomes fully apparent. Treatment generally needs to continue for at least two months after a positive response is observed.
Long-Term vs. Short-Term Anxiety Medications for Dogs
Some dogs can eventually be weaned off their anti-anxiety medications as they learn, through behavioral therapy, to become less fearful and calmer. Others, however, require long-term treatment. For dogs experiencing anxiety or stress triggered by specific circumstances, such as car rides, veterinary visits, or thunderstorms, short-term medications that act quickly and have a limited duration may be beneficial. If your dog’s sensitivity to triggers like car rides, vet visits, and thunderstorms is mild, discuss management and desensitization options with your vet. These might include introducing a travel crate for car journeys, using a white noise machine during thunderstorms, or employing positive reinforcement training to counter-condition fear responses.
Dogs on medication for six months or longer should undergo yearly checkups and blood work to monitor their health, along with periodic behavior re-evaluations to ensure their current treatment plan remains optimal.
Common Anxiety Medications for Dogs
Currently, Clomicalm, Reconcile, and Sileo are the only FDA-approved medications specifically for dogs. Other medications your veterinarian might recommend are human medications used off-label for dogs. Off-label or extra-label use refers to administering a medication in a way or to a species not specified on the label. This practice is permissible only by a veterinarian who has direct, personal knowledge of your dog and when no other appropriate medications are available for the dog’s circumstances.
These medications may not always be available in the appropriate dosage strength for dogs, necessitating compounding by a specialty pharmacy into flavored chewable tablets, capsules, liquids, or transdermal medications. Compounded medications are also ideal for dogs who dislike taking capsules and require a different formulation.
Here are some of the most commonly prescribed dog anxiety medications:
1. Alprazolam (Xanax)
Used in dogs for: phobias, fear, panic disorders.
Alprazolam is often prescribed for dogs experiencing anxiety during thunderstorms, but it can also be used for other situational anxieties like road trips and veterinary visits. As a member of the benzodiazepine class of sedatives, it works by depressing certain parts of the central nervous system. This is a short-acting medication that takes effect quickly and can be administered up to four times a day. Alprazolam is most effective when given at the earliest sign of anxiety, ideally 30 to 60 minutes before exposure to the trigger. If used long-term, it should not be stopped abruptly; always consult your vet when weaning your dog off medication. Potential side effects include grogginess and loss of balance.
2. Amitriptyline
Used in dogs for: separation anxiety, reactivity, anxious aggression, or generalized anxious tendencies.
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that increases the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters that influence mood. It should not be given to pets with diabetes or epilepsy. This medication typically takes one to four weeks to become effective and is generally given twice daily. Amitriptyline is dispensed in tablets and should be given with food. Dogs on amitriptyline for more than a week or two should be tapered off gradually under veterinary guidance. Potential side effects may include lethargy, sedation, difficulty urinating, and dilated pupils.
3. Buspirone
Used in dogs for: phobias, generalized anxiety.
Buspirone is an anxiolytic medication that requires consistent use to be effective, making it less suitable for situational anxieties like thunderstorm phobias. It appears to work by activating serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain. This medication can take up to six weeks to show effects and may need to be administered two to three times daily. Buspirone is typically dispensed as tablets and can be given with or without food. A potential side effect includes loss of appetite.
4. Clomipramine (Clomicalm)
Used in dogs for: separation anxiety, repetitive disorders.
Clomipramine, marketed as Clomicalm, is an FDA-approved treatment for separation anxiety in dogs. It’s a tricyclic antidepressant that functions by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Clomipramine may take four to six weeks for a therapeutic effect and up to two months to determine its benefit. It’s administered once or twice daily and should not be stopped abruptly. Clomicalm can be given with or without food. Potential side effects include drowsiness, vomiting, increased heart rate, dry mouth, and decreased appetite.
5. Dexmedetomidine (Sileo)
Used in dogs for: situational anxiety, noise phobias, aversions.
Sileo is the first FDA-approved medication for noise-aversion-triggered fear and anxiety in dogs. As an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, it reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation by depressing brain activity. It works best when administered 30–60 minutes before a triggering noise event or at the first sign of anxiety. Sileo is a transmucosal gel applied between the cheek and gums, designed to be absorbed in the mouth tissue. Wear gloves when administering. Potential side effects include drowsiness, vomiting, weakness, loss of balance, sedation, head tremor, and inappropriate urination.
6. Diazepam
Used in dogs for: situational anxiety, panic disorders, noise aversion, phobia.
Whenever possible, diazepam should be given to dogs 30–60 minutes before an anxiety-provoking event or at the earliest sign of anxiety. It is a short-acting benzodiazepine that takes effect quickly. Long-term use requires gradual tapering under veterinary supervision. Potential side effects include grogginess, sedation, loss of balance, increased appetite, agitation, and aggression.
7. Fluoxetine (Reconcile or Prozac)
Used in dogs for: separation anxiety, fear, aggression, compulsive behaviors, impulsivity.
Fluoxetine, with its brand name Reconcile, is FDA-approved for treating separation anxiety in dogs and may also be prescribed for other anxiety and behavioral issues, including aggression and compulsive behaviors. As a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), it increases serotonin levels in the brain, aiding mood regulation and reducing anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression. Fluoxetine is given once daily and may take four to six weeks to show noticeable improvements. Potential side effects include lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, muscle tremors, diarrhea, restlessness, and excessive vocalization.
8. Lorazepam (Ativan)
Used in dogs for: situational anxiety, phobias, fear anxiety, panic disorders.
Lorazepam is a short-acting benzodiazepine that takes effect in about 30 minutes, ideally administered before an anxiety-inducing event or at the first sign of anxiety. Long-term use requires gradual tapering under veterinary guidance. It promotes gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity in the brain, leading to a calming effect. Potential side effects include grogginess, sedation, loss of balance, increased appetite, excitement, and aggressive behavior.
9. Paroxetine (Paxil)
Used in dogs for: generalized anxiety, anxious aggression, anxiety-related behaviors, fear of noises.
Paroxetine, an SSRI, increases serotonin levels in the brain by preventing its reabsorption. It can take four to six weeks to become effective and is given once daily. Abrupt discontinuation after long-term use is not recommended; always consult your vet. Potential side effects include constipation, loss of appetite, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, sedation, lethargy, and urine holding.
10. Sertraline (Zoloft)
Used in dogs for: separation anxiety, anxiety disorders, impulsivity disorders, thunderstorm phobia, compulsive behaviors, fear-based aggression.
Sertraline, another SSRI, increases brain serotonin levels to help regulate mood and reduce anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression. Like other SSRIs, it can take four to six weeks for full effect and should be given daily. Gradual tapering is necessary if discontinued after two months or longer, under veterinary supervision. Potential side effects include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, sedation, and urine holding.
Alternatives To Anxiety Medications for Dogs
Depending on the severity and context of your dog’s anxiety, your veterinarian may suggest over-the-counter options. Discuss with your vet whether dog calming treats, pheromone diffusers, or compression garments like Thundershirts are suitable for your pet.
Dog Anxiety Medications FAQs
What is the best drug for anxiety in dogs?
Treating anxiety in dogs typically begins with a veterinary visit to discuss concerns and rule out medical causes. Before medication, your vet may recommend working with a dog trainer or behaviorist. If medication is necessary, your vet will help determine the most appropriate choice for your dog.
How can I calm my anxious dog down?
Helping an anxious dog often involves identifying the trigger, whether it’s a medical condition, pain, separation, or thunderstorms. Consult your veterinarian to determine the cause and best course of treatment, which may include behavioral modification, creating a safe space, increased exercise, calming aids, and potentially medication.
Can you train anxiety out of a dog?
Your veterinarian may suggest working with a behaviorist or trainer to help your dog manage their anxiety. Training focused on redirecting anxious behaviors and coping mechanisms can significantly reduce their stress.
Can I give my dog Benadryl for anxiety?
Benadryl is an antihistamine primarily used for allergies. While it may have mild sedative effects, these are not as pronounced as in humans, and it is typically not very helpful for dogs with anxiety.
Can I give my dog melatonin for anxiety?
Melatonin can help some dogs relax and cope with anxiety. However, to determine the most effective treatment plan for your dog’s anxiety, always consult with your veterinarian.
