The numerous stressors in the world that can contribute to a dog’s anxiety create a serious need for anxiety-reducing products. While there are many different products all aimed at reducing your dog’s anxiety, calming treats for dogs may be just the answer for which you’re looking.
Believe it or not, dogs get stressed out, just like humans. There’s plenty of reasons or triggers when a dog may experience stress and anxiety. Some are fairly obvious, while others may take some detective work to pin down. It’s essential to know anxiety in dogs is common, and many remedies can calm your anxious pup.
In order to minimize the anxiety your pup suffers, it’s important to have some solutions available. If you’re unsure where to begin, don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of great treats that will surely calm your dog! Try any of our top 9 calming treats for dogs and see which one works best for your dog.
Anxiety in Dogs
Dogs show their anxiety in multiple ways. Much of the time, dogs are simply experiencing generalized anxiety, and this will soon pass. The most common way to recognize anxious behavior in your dog is by observing their body language and noticing any changes or behaviors that may be out of the norm.
Looking for behaviors in your dog’s actions that may seem odd or abnormal to them is the first step to discovering anxiety triggers. For instance, if your dog is whining or pacing and doesn’t normally, they may suffer from canine anxiety. Destructive behavior can also result from anxiety. Some significant anxiety symptoms in our dogs are shaking, excessive urination, and avoiding interaction. When dogs suffer from anxiety, it’s likely because of one, or a combination, of four major stressors.
Separation anxiety is prevalent in dogs. This happens when a dog gets separated from its owners or primary caretaker for a period of time. The separation from their person can make dogs very nervous and anxious. Generalized anxiety is another common form of anxiety. Here, your dog may express anxiety symptoms for no apparent reason.
Several stressors for dogs come from their environment. For example, anxious behaviors set off when your dog is in a “scary” location, like the vet, or from loud sounds, like thunder or firecrackers. Environmental stimuli such as smells and objects can also trigger anxious behaviors, particularly if the dog has had traumatic experiences in the past.
Finally, like humans, dogs can suffer from social anxiety. This anxiety can occur around new dogs, new people, and even new situations. The unfamiliar can be scary and certainly be a contributing factor to your dog expressing anxious behaviors.
Treatment(s) for Anxiety
An excellent way to help reduce your dog’s anxiety is through treats. Dogs love treats, so it’s a win-win for them! Treats can distract them, and they’ll focus their attention on getting the treat instead.
Some of the best treats for canine anxiety contain calming ingredients. You may have to try various calming treats before you find the one that works best for your dog, but it’s worth it when you do.
Key Active Ingredients in Calming Treats for Dogs
There are many kinds of calming treats for dogs on the market today, and they come in many forms. There are calming bites, calming sticks, anxiety relief bites, anxiety calming bites and everything in between. Before making your choice, first, make sure to read the list of key active ingredients.
The best ingredients in calming treats for your dog will be organic, natural, and calming! Listed below are some natural and organic ingredients often found in treats that are proven to provide stress relief in humans and dogs.
L-Theanine
Naturally found in various teas and mushrooms, L-Theanine is an amino acid. An amino acid is a small molecule that forms a protein when combined with other amino acids. Amino acids are essential to many bodily functions, such as repairing tissue and boosting your immune system.
Through canine anxiety studies, L-Theanine has proven to assist with stress and anxiety relief. Look for L-Theanine in the ingredient list when shopping for calming treats. It helps reduce anxiety and gives your dog a sense of general well-being.
L-Tryptophan
L-Tryptophan is also an essential amino acid for people and pets. It’s partially responsible for the body’s production of serotonin, which aids in regulating mood, anxiety, and happiness.
When serotonin levels in the body are low, it can cause anxiety levels to rise. When this occurs, your dog may display symptoms linked to feeling anxious. Dietary supplements or treats with higher levels of L-Tryptophan have proven to improve dog anxiety-related symptoms.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a natural ingredient and one of the oldest known medicinal herbs. Often found in tea, it has proven to have a good, therapeutic-like effect on humans when used in small amounts. Studies have shown chamomile to help with generalized, mild anxiety in dogs as well.
Valerian Root
They add the root of the valerian herb to supplements to aid with sleep and mild sedation. Besides its benefits as a sleep aid, it’s also known to slow a racing heart. They have explicitly associated the valerian herb with reduced anxiety, particularly when related to sleep.
The herb valerian produces this anxiety relief by increasing a specific neurotransmitter known as GABA. Recommended for dogs to reduce canine anxiety symptoms, they have capsules, drops, and the valerian herb root itself.
Passionflower
Native to Central America, we have used the passionflower as a mild sedative for centuries. Recently, the sedative nature of the flower has been used as an anxiety relief remedy and leads to a reduction in unspecified stress. Regarding our “ruff-er” friends, organic passionflower has proven to have an anxiolytic, or anxiety-reducing, effect on your anxious dog.
Hemp
Hemp is one of the oldest medicinal plants known to be cultivated by humans.
While hemp is a cannabinoid, it’s very different from other cannabinoids due to the lack of THC, the intoxicating part of cannabis products. Hemp contains extremely low levels of THC, less than .03%, but can protect cells against damage which may help reduce the risk of cancer. While hemp products have little TCH, they contain CBD, which helps with various conditions, including insomnia and anxiety.
Hemp has various anti-anxiety properties and has provided anxiety relief in dogs and humans. It’s best given to your anxious dog as a calming treat. We usually add hemp to calming treats in one of two forms: hemp seed powder or hemp oil.
The ingredients listed above are all-natural, so keep an eye out for these key ingredients in our top 9 calming treats for dogs.
An Analysis of the Top 9 Calming Treats for Dogs
As mentioned before, calming treats for dogs come in countless variations!
You can purchase these treats as a soft chew for a potentially extra calming effect or as a hard chew for dogs that enjoy a crunchy bite. Chews can also come in a peanut butter flavor if your pup prefers that as a tasty treat. If your dog needs extra help, you can purchase hemp chews for extra relaxation.
Listed below are our top 9 calming treats for dogs. Note the active ingredients in each one and decide for yourself which ones you’d like to have your anxious dog chew. These calming treats for dogs have their own unique qualities with calming properties.
Which one will your dog prefer? Trial and error may be the best method here!
1. Calming Dog – Calming Zen Chews
The Calming Zen Chews contain natural and organic ingredients produced by Calming Dog. The primary active ingredients in this specific dog calming treat are chamomile, L-Theanine, and L-Tryptophan.
The amino acids, L-Theanine and L-Tryptophan, work together to boost your dog’s immune system while providing them with serotonin and anxiety relief. The chamomile emphasizes the anti-anxiety effects of the amino acids, making this a thoroughly calming chew.
The Calming Zen Chew is great for maintaining healthy stress levels and good emotional balance.
2. Premium Care – Calming Chews for Dogs
Premium Care’s Calming Chews for Dogs is one of many great hemp calming treats. It contains two forms of organic hemp. It comes in oil and an almost powder-like substance.
Besides hemp being the active ingredient, the treats also contain the herb valerian root, plant chamomile, and the amino acid L-Tryptophan. The chamomile provides a therapeutic effect for your anxious dog, and the valerian root acts as a mild sedative. This is great for car trips or during thunderstorms when anxiety levels tend to heighten. The L-Tryptophan produces the additional serotonin to maintain and help stabilize your dog’s mood.
They package these calming bites as a unit of 120 chews. The number of chews to achieve the desired effect increases with the size of your dog.
by PREMIUM CARE
3. NaturVet – Quiet Moments Calming Aid
The Quiet Moments Calming Aid is an excellent calming chew for your anxious dog. Containing three of our main active ingredients, plus a few extras that enhance the effects, these calming treats for dogs are great to give your dog during car rides, thunderstorms, and stressful situations.
These chews contain chamomile, passionflower, and L-Tryptophan. The passionflower is a significant ingredient for anxiety relief, and the L-Tryptophan can help stabilize it. The chews also include natural ingredients like melatonin which works as a sleep aid, a ginger root, which helps relieve nausea, and thiamine mononitrate, also known as vitamin B1.
The NaturVet Quiet Moments treats are brilliant for the dog owner looking for high-quality treats. An FDA (Food and Drug Administration, a federal agency part of the Department of Health) audited facility makes them.
by NaturVet
4. Pet Naturals – Calming
Pet Naturals named these treats Calming, and they certainly live up to their name. Veterinarians formulate these bites, and you can purchase them in packs of 30 or 160 chews. Pet Naturals even offer this treat in XL for larger dogs.
The main ingredients in these chews have extra thiamine (vitamin B1) and L-Theanine, which enhances the biopeptide blend called Colostrum Calming Complex. This blend is a calming agent that reduces stress and provides anxiety relief for your furry friend. The peptides in the complex can also contribute to your dog having better overall health.
by Pet Naturals
5. VetriSCIENCE – Composure Calming Treats for Dogs
VetriSCIENCE has created a chew that uses the Colostrum Calming Complex and includes extra thiamine (vitamin B1) and L-Theanine to magnify the calming effects. Composure Calming Treats for Dogs helps your dog overcome even the most stressful situations. You can also add the chews right into their regular food.
You can purchase these chews in a wide variety, like various flavors and specific blends for different dog sizes. You can purchase the VetriSCIENCE treats in all the best flavors: chicken, bacon, and peanut butter. With these flavors, of course, this product is a top seller! You can also purchase these specifically for small dogs if you have one, and with a formula for dogs and cats, in case you have both.
by VETRISCIENCE
6. Pet Honesty – Hemp Calming Chews for Dogs
With two different flavors, beef liver and chicken, Pet Honest offers fantastic hemp calming treats. These chews contain many natural active ingredients to cover all of your bases. This is an excellent product for anxiety relief and your dog’s overall well-being.
Active ingredients in these treats are valerian root, chamomile, organic hemp seed powder, organic passionflower, organic hemp oil, organic ginger root, and L-Tryptophan. The chamomile and ginger root are both excellent for your dog’s health and well-being. The L-Tryptophan and valerian roots are excellent for stabilizing mood and reducing anxious feelings your dog may be experiencing. In addition, they make hemp into both a CBD oil and a CBD powder.
by PetHonesty
7. VetIQ – Supplements for Dogs
These supplements, produced by VetIQ, are hickory smoke-flavored and well-loved by many dogs. The supplements are great to add to your pet’s food at mealtimes. Depending on the size of your dog, you give them either once a day or once every other day for tiny dogs. The chews are the perfect dessert for your anxious dog.
The active ingredients in these chews are quality organic ingredients that promote well-being and reduce stress. Two forms of amino acids are present, including L-Tryptophan for a serotonin boost and L-Theanine for anxiety relief. Chamomile and lavender both help to relieve anxiety in your dog. Thiamine Mononitrate and vitamin B1 are used to improve your dog’s fundamental well-being.
by VetIQ
8. Helopssa – Hemp Calming Chews for Dogs With Anxiety or Stress
Helopssa’s Hemp Calming Chews for Dogs is great for an anxious dog. They make the chews from all-natural ingredients, and you can purchase them in a few different flavors. Chicken, duck, and Peking duck are some of the top flavors. These chews are not one-size-fits-all, so be sure to read the dosage instructions and give them according to your dog’s weight.
These calming treats for dogs contain many natural ingredients. Two different flowers are used in the chews to promote anxiety relief, including chamomile and organic passionflower—three different roots, including ginger root, turmeric, and valerian root extract. The roots are superb for your dog’s general health, and the valerian root can decrease your dog’s heart rate and help with anxiety before sleep. The CBD oil that is added to these calming chews decreases overall stress and promotes general good health.
by Helopsa
9. Zesty Paws – Calming OraStix
What do dogs love more than sticks? Not much, but maybe the Calming OraStix can give regular sticks a run for their money. Zesty Paws calming bites promote good dental hygiene and provide outstanding anxiety relief for your dog.
These OraStix use the Healthy Teeth and Gum Complex to strengthen dental health. The complex includes kelp, peppermint oil, and rosemary extract. These chews use hemp powder, which makes these chews excellent CBD dog treats. Besides the Healthy Teeth and Gum Complex and CBD-filled powder, Zesty Paw includes chamomile, valerian root, and L-Theanine. They also added melatonin to make these great treats for after dinner. A dessert that actually improves dental health and promotes sleep? Sign me up!
by Zesty Paws
Wrapping Up
Calming treats for dogs can save the day when it’s been a “ruff” one for your four-legged furry friend. The best calming chews are going to have natural and organic ingredients that promote anxiety relief. Some even contain ingredients that are beneficial to your dog’s overall well-being and good dental health.
Listed above are the top 9 calming treats for dogs. All dogs are different and have various reasons that trigger their anxieties. Try one of these treats, and if it doesn’t give the desired relief, try another! Perhaps your dog prefers a flavored treat or maybe one with CBD. There are plenty of options out there.
Treat your dog to some relaxation and anxiety relief today!
