Dealing with a dog’s anxiety can be a difficult task for any pet owner. Anxiety in dogs can manifest itself in many ways, from barking and whining to destructive behavior and even aggression. Fortunately, there are several natural remedies available that can help reduce your dog’s anxiety levels and improve their overall wellbeing. Here are 7 anxiety dog remedies that you should consider:
- Exercise: Regular exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress and anxiety in dogs. Taking your pup out for regular walks or engaging them in activities like fetch or agility courses can help to reduce their stress levels and keep them mentally stimulated.
- Physical Contact: Dogs love physical contact, so giving them plenty of cuddles and belly rubs can be a great way to help calm them down when they’re feeling anxious. This will also help build up the bond between you and your pup, which can further reduce their anxiety levels.
- Herbal Remedies: There are several herbal remedies available that may be able to help calm an anxious dog, such as chamomile, lavender, passionflower, valerian root, and kava kava root extract. These herbs have calming properties that may be able to reduce your pup’s stress levels when taken as directed by your vet or holistic practitioner.
- Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is another natural remedy that may be able to help reduce your pup’s anxiety levels. Certain essential oils such as lavender oil have calming properties that may be able to relax an anxious dog when diffused into the air or applied topically on their fur (always make sure you dilute the oil first).
- Music Therapy: Playing soothing music for your pup has been shown to have a calming effect on dogs with anxiety issues. Classical music has been found to be particularly effective at reducing stress levels in dogs, so try playing some relaxing tunes whenever you notice your pup getting anxious or stressed out!
- Calming Supplements: Several supplements are available on the market specifically designed for dogs with anxiety issues such as L-theanine and 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). These supplements work by helping regulate serotonin production in the brain which helps promote relaxation and calmness in dogs with anxiety issues. Always consult with your vet before giving any supplements to your pup though!
- Thundershirt: The Thundershirt is a popular solution for dog anxiety that provides gentle pressure around the body which helps create a sense of security for anxious pups – similar to swaddling an infant! This type of therapy has been found to be effective at reducing stress levels in many anxious dogs so it’s definitely worth considering if other methods haven’t worked for you yet!
