Calmative for Dogs

While your canine friend can't tell you if he's stressed out, you may notice signs like excessive barking; shredding furniture, clothing or other household objects; or urination in inappropriate places. Maybe your pet is fine home alone, but anxious and whimpering on car trips or leash walks. Pets displaying these symptoms can benefit from a calmative pill or other remedy.

  1. Rescue Remedy

    • Bach's Rescue Remedy is a popular herbal liquid that many pet owners use as a calmative. Available both in drop and spray form, Rescue Remedy can be used to calm pets for travel, vet visits and other stresses. Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic compound made by combining extracts of rock rose, impatiens, clematis, star of Bethlehem and cherry plum and is used to combat stress and anxiety in both people and pets. This medication is completely safe and chemical-free.

    Pills

    • Pet Calm pills are another natural remedy for stress-related pet episodes. These pills, manufactured by Vita Treat, contained minerals and soothing natural substances including valerian, vitamin B, passion flower and black cohosh. Pet Calm pills can be used daily for up to seven days. If your pet needs daily calmatives, consider talking to your vet about prescription pills.

    Calmative Treats

    • There are many types of calmative treats your anxious dog might enjoy. Beefeaters Anti-Stress Rawhide chews, which contain chamomile, an herbal sleep aid, as well as vitamins A, C and E plus green tea extract, can keep your pet occupied for some time while treating her anxiety. Ultra-Calm treats contain chamomile and valerian and are great for pets whose sensitive stomachs can't handle rawhide chews.

    Prescription Calmatives

    • Prozac and clomicalm are two leading calmatives for dogs. These medications work with the levels of serotonin in your dog's brain to reduce separation anxiety and stress that cause your dog to act out in certain situations. While clomicalm in particular may cause lethargy in dogs, this will change in most cases as his dose gets adjusted.

    Training

    • Most of the above treatments for anxiety and stress should be combined with a greater effort in training. Many dogs act out from stress that can be alleviated if they feel they have a training objective or if they feel that you, and not them, are in control of the situation.