Dogs, just like humans, can experience anxiety. For instance, it is quite common for some dogs to become nervous when left alone — this is known as separation anxiety. Since there are myriad reasons why our pets may experience uneasiness and distress, you may have noticed certain symptoms of anxiety in your furry friend as well.
While it is important to contact your veterinarian if your pet is suddenly acting differently, you may also turn to supplements to support your animal in unsettling moments. These could include car travel, and the fireworks season such as during New Year, Halloween, or 4th of July. If you are on the lookout for the best calming supplement for dogs, we have prepared a list of products that are worth considering.
Best calming treats for dogs: product shortlist
- Real Mushrooms — best calming aid for dogs overall
- Batch — best CBD dog treats to ease anxiety
- NuLeaf — best calming aid chews for older dogs
- Pet Chemist — best daily calming supplement for dogs
- Native Pet — best budget-friendly calming aid for dogs
Top dog anxiety supplements: reviews of best calming chews and treats
After applying the criteria we mentioned previously, we selected five products that may be of value if you're searching for the best calming supplement for dogs. Below, we will present them in more detail.
1. Real Mushrooms — best calming supplement for dogs overall
Pet Chews by Real Mushrooms are veterinarian-designed soft chews for dogs and cats that feature various ingredients that may support your pet’s well-being. What makes them an excellent choice for stressful situations is ingredients like taurine, l-theanine, and l-tryptophan.
Moreover, these chews include medicinal mushrooms (Lion’s mane and reishi) that are used for their anti-inflammatory properties. It is worth noting that it is advised against using medicinal mushrooms for dogs with certain conditions (e.g., bleeding disorders and low blood pressure).
One packet of Real Mushrooms supplement for dogs is currently priced at $34.95. As it contains 60 portions, it would cost you $0.58 per serving. Recommended dosages are:
| Pet’s weight | Suggested daily amount |
| Per 20-40 lbs (9–18 kg) | 1 chew |
Keep in mind that the serving should be adjusted according to your dog’s weight or vet's recommendation.
2. Batch — best CBD product for dogs with anxiety
CBD (cannabidiol) is well-known for its potential to reduce anxiety symptoms in humans — but early research studies suggest that it may be beneficial for dogs as well. If you opt for CBD products for your dog, it is worth considering these peanut butter-flavored treats by BATCH. Grown and manufactured in the USA, BATCH is a customer-favorite brand for sustainable and high-quality CBD products.
Moreover, these CBD treats include a few other active ingredients that may support the overall health of your pet such as vitamin C and glucosamine.
At the moment, one jar of this Batch product is priced at $59.99. As it contains 30 treats in total, one portion is priced at $2.00. The recommended doses are:
| Pet’s weight | Suggested daily amount |
| 0–10 lbs (0–4.5 kg) | 0.25 treat |
| 11–20 lbs (5–9.1 kg) | 0.5 treat |
| 21–50 lbs (9.5–22.7 kg) | 1.25 treats |
| 51–100 lbs (23.1–45.4 kg) | 2 treats |
However, you may need to adjust the serving size after discussing with a veterinarian.
3. NuLeaf — best calming aid chews for elder dogs
If you are looking for soft CBD chews for your older dog, this NuLeaf product stands as an excellent choice. As customers report, these chews are well-liked by dogs and may help them to relax by reducing anxiety symptoms during stressful times such as storms and visits to unfamiliar places.
One soft bite of NuLeaf contains 4 mg of CBD, 2 mg of CBN, 80 mg of chamomile, and 30 mg of l-theanine.
It is important to note that chamomile may be toxic to dogs in excessive quantities. It is important to closely observe your pet for any unwanted reactions while administering this product.
As the brand recommends, give one chew for every 25 pounds of your pet's weight.
As of now, one pack of NuLeaf is priced at $24.00. As there are 30 chews in the package, one portion would cost you $0.80.
4. Pet Chemist — best daily calming aid for dogs
If you are looking for a supplement to support your dog’s mental well-being, Pet Chemist offers chews designed to be fed daily with meals. According to the customer reviews, these chews are savored by dogs and can be easily incorporated into their routine.
For stress relief, these chews include tryptophan — an essential amino acid that may potentially reduce nervousness. Moreover, this product contains B-group vitamins that are needed for nervous system function.
The recommended dose of this product are:
| Pet's weight | Suggested daily amount |
| 0–8.8 lbs (0–4 kg) | 0.5 chew |
| 11–31 lbs (5–14 kg) | 1 chew |
| 33–64 lbs (15–29 kg) | 1–2 chews |
| 66 lbs+ (30 kg+) | 3 chews |
If you opt for this Pet Chemist product, one pack would cost you $37.95. As it contains 60 chews, one chew is priced at $0.63.
5. Native Pet — best budget-friendly calming supplement for dogs
Priced at only $11.99 (or $0.40 per serving) for the smallest bag, these air-dried chicken chews stand as the most affordable choice in this list. Designed to reduce anxiety in dogs, Native Pet chews are made from real chicken that has been air-dried.
As the brand suggests, these chews are great to have if your dog becomes unsettled by such events as fireworks and vet visits.
Recommended doses are:
| Pet's weight | Suggested daily amount |
| Per 25 lbs (11.3 kg) | 1 treat |
If you wish to purchase Native Pet products, you can opt for the subscription that will allow you to save up to 10% of your order. Keep in mind that the subscription can be canceled at any time.
How we ranked the best calming aids for dogs?
If you are trying to figure out what are the best anxiety supplements for dogs, it comes in handy to know a few criteria that you could apply when choosing products.
Below, we will present some of the criteria we used to craft our list.
| Ingredients | Form | Customer experience | Price range |
| May ease anxiety | We preferred chews and treats over capsules or pills | Reliable brand, positive customer reviews | $0.40–2.00 per portion |
- Ingredients. We analyzed supplement labels for active ingredients and compared information on the brand’s website with current scientific data. However, since most ingredients in animal supplements have not been tested on dogs, it is crucial to exercise caution before purchasing them.
- Form. Dog supplements may come in different forms such as chews, oils, and capsules. We preferred chews or treats as they may be more palatable and easier to consume for your pet.
- Customer experience. We scoured the internet to gather customer feedback on the pet supply brands. We picked reliable brands that receive positive reviews on their products.
- Price range. When crafting this article, we looked for products that offer good value for money. Moreover, we calculated the price per portion to help you compare the cost of the products. Keep in mind that the serving size will depend on your pet’s weight, and thus, you should read the label to know how much to give to your pet.
Comparison of top 5 best calming supplements for dogs
| Brand | Form | Portions* | Price (one-time purchase) | Price per portion* | Main active ingredients |
| Real Mushrooms | Chews | 60 | $34.95 | $0.58 | Lion’s mane, reishi, taurine, l-theanine and l-tryptophan |
| Batch | Treats | 30 | $59.99 | $2.00 | CBD |
| NuLeaf | Chews | 30 | $24.00 | $0.80 | CBD, CBN, chamomile, l-theanine |
| Pet Chemist | Chews | 60 | $37.95 | $0.63 | B-group vitamins and tryptophan |
| Native Pet | Chews | 30 | $11.99 | $0.40 | Melatonin and l-theanine |
* — Depending on your pet’s weight and age, you may need more or less than one portion. Read the label or consult a veterinarian to know the exact amount of product you should give your dog.
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FAQ
Are dog calming aids effective?
Dog supplements for anxiety may help your pet to destress. However, not all of the calming aids are created equally. Look for products that have high-quality ingredients. Moreover, if you do not see any effects on your pet it is worth considering booking a visit with a veterinarian.
What supplements are good for dog anxiety?
From the scarce research studies available, it can be said that l-theanine, l-tryptophan, and melatonin could be some of the best ingredients to look for in dog calming aids. However, as of now, we lack scientific studies to answer this question with certainty.
Do vets recommend dog supplements for anxiety?
Some veterinarians may recommend dog supplements if your pet is experiencing symptoms of anxiety. If you are unsure if the product is suitable for you, it is always best to discuss the matter with your veterinarian.
6 resources
- Frontiers in Veterinary Science. A single dose of cannabidiol (CBD) positively influences measures of stress in dogs during separation and car travel.
- Nutrition Today. Veterinary Pet Supplements and Nutraceuticals.
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Effect of dietary protein content and tryptophan supplementation on dominance aggression, territorial aggression, and hyperactivity in dogs.
- Animals (Basel). Essential Oils and Melatonin as Functional Ingredients in Dogs.
- Journal of Veterinary Behavior. An open-label prospective study of the use of l-theanine (Anxitane) in storm-sensitive client-owned dogs.
- JAST (Journal of Animal Science and Technology). Gut microbiota profiling in aged dogs after feeding pet food contained Hericium erinaceus.
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