844-436-7691
Never give a dog a human anti-anxiety medication, sleep aid or sedative from your own cupboard. Human doses of benzodiazepines, antidepressants, sleep tablets and anything containing xylitol can be dangerous or fatal in a dog, and several human calming products contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs. If your dog has already had one, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435 with the packaging in hand.
The short answer: it depends on what kind of anxiety, and that question is skipped by almost every list of "calming products." A dog who panics at fireworks, a dog who destroys the door when you leave, and a dog who is nervous of everything all day need different things, and the gap between the best over-the-counter option and the best prescription is larger than most owners expect. Over the counter, the honest ranking is: a behaviour plan and exercise first, then the supplements with some canine evidence (L-theanine, alpha-casozepine, hemp, melatonin for noise), a pheromone diffuser, and a pressure wrap. Benadryl is not on the list. By prescription: Sileo for noise panic, trazodone or gabapentin for predictable events, and daily fluoxetine or clomipramine for separation or generalised anxiety, always alongside behaviour work. This page grades every option by the evidence, says how fast each one works, and matches them to the type of anxiety.
Written by Marc Brannigan, Co-Founder & CEO of HempMy Pet. Last updated 15 October 2026.
First: Which Anxiety?
Three patterns, three different plans. Decide this before you buy anything.
Fireworks, thunder, the car, the vet, the groomer, visitors. The dog is fine the rest of the time. This is the easiest to help, because you can give something before the trigger and pair it with desensitisation. Most OTC options and the short-acting prescriptions are for this group.
Howling, pacing, destruction aimed at exits, toileting indoors, refusing food when alone. Supplements do very little here. The evidence is for a graduated-departure plan, usually with a daily prescription underneath it. We cover it in full in dog separation anxiety.
Startles easily, hides, avoids strangers, pants and paces with no obvious trigger. Often a temperament or early-life issue. Daily options, both supplement and prescription, and a vet check first, because pain and illness produce the same picture in an older dog.
Every Option, Graded by the Evidence
A is controlled canine trials with a consistent result. B is some canine evidence, small or mixed. C is plausible, owner-reported, or borrowed from other species. The onset column is how long before the trigger it needs to go in.
| Option | OTC or Rx | Evidence | Onset | Best for | Honest note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Behaviour modification desensitisation, counterconditioning |
Free | A | Weeks | Everything | The only thing on this list that changes the dog rather than the day. Everything else works better on top of it. |
| Exercise and enrichment | Free | B | Same day | All types | 30 minutes of real aerobic exercise before a trigger lowers the baseline. Food puzzles and scent games do the same for a dog left alone. |
| Fluoxetine (Reconcile), clomipramine (Clomicalm) | Rx, daily | A | 4–6 weeks | Separation, generalised | The two drugs FDA-approved for canine separation anxiety, licensed "with a behaviour modification plan." Not for an event next weekend. |
| Sileo (dexmedetomidine oral gel) | Rx, as needed | A | 30–60 min | Noise panic: fireworks, thunder | FDA-approved specifically for noise aversion. Applied to the gum. The best-evidenced option for a dog who falls apart on the Fourth of July. |
| Trazodone | Rx, as needed or daily | B | 1–2 hours | Vet visits, travel, post-surgery rest, bridging while a daily drug builds | Widely used, modest evidence, sedating. What to expect from it. |
| Gabapentin | Rx, as needed | B | 1–2 hours | Vet-visit fear, often paired with trazodone | Sedation and wobbliness are the trade. Side effects and research. |
| Alprazolam and other benzodiazepines | Rx, as needed | B | 30–60 min | Severe noise panic | Fast and effective in the right dog; some dogs become more agitated, so the first dose is given on a quiet day as a test. |
| Hemp / CBD | OTC | B–C | 30–60 min (oil), longer for treats; daily for 1–2 weeks for generalised | Mild situational and generalised stress | A 2023 controlled study found a single dose of CBD reduced stress measures in dogs during a stressful event; the evidence is thinner than for joint comfort and we say so below. |
| L-theanine (Anxitane) | OTC | B | Daily, 2–4 weeks; some use before events | Mild noise and generalised anxiety | Small canine trials with positive results; no sedation. One of the better-supported ingredients in calming chews. |
| Alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) | OTC | B–C | Daily, 1–2 weeks | Mild generalised anxiety, new environments | A milk-protein derivative. Mixed canine results; the structured review of the evidence is not flattering. |
| Melatonin | OTC | C | 30–60 min | Noise sensitivity, night-time restlessness | Owner-reported and widely used by vets off-label; canine trial evidence is thin. Must be xylitol-free; many human gummies are not. |
| Pheromone diffuser or collar (Adaptil) | OTC | B | Days to a week for the room | New homes, shelters, mild generalised | Some controlled trials positive, some not. Harmless, cheap to try, does not sedate. |
| Pressure wrap (Thundershirt) | OTC | C | Immediate | Noise, car | Some dogs visibly settle, some do not; the controlled evidence is weak. Put it on before the storm, not during. |
| Benadryl (diphenhydramine) | OTC | None for anxiety | 1 hour | Nothing on this page | It sedates some dogs and makes others worse. Sedation is not calm; a drowsy dog can still be terrified. Our Benadryl page covers what it is and is not for. |
| Human sleep aids, valerian, kava, "calming" essential oils | OTC | None / unsafe | — | Nothing | No canine evidence; several are toxic (tea tree and other essential oils, xylitol-sweetened products). Do not. |
Canine evidence summarised from the Merck Veterinary Manual's behaviour section, the 2023 single-dose CBD stress study, and Cornell's CBD overview. We graded every common calming-chew ingredient in more detail in calming treat ingredients, graded by evidence.
The strongest things you can give an anxious dog are a plan and a prescription. The over-the-counter options are for taking the edge off a mild case, not for fixing a severe one.
What Can I Give My Dog for Anxiety Over the Counter?
The honest ranking, for an owner who wants to try something before a vet visit.
- A plan, not a product. For a predictable trigger: exercise beforehand, a safe enclosed space the dog chooses, sound masking, and a food toy during. For a dog left alone: see the separation guide. This is free and it is the only thing with A-grade evidence.
- L-theanine. The best-supported single OTC ingredient for mild anxiety, given daily. Look for the amount per chew; many "calming" treats contain too little to matter.
- Hemp. For a mild, predictable trigger, an oil given 30 to 60 minutes ahead; for everyday nervousness, daily for a couple of weeks. Full-spectrum, third-party tested, under 0.3% THC. Our honest view of the evidence is below.
- Melatonin, for noise and night. Xylitol-free only, at an amount your vet gives you by weight. Thin evidence, but low risk and widely used.
- A pheromone diffuser. Plug it in a week before the trigger season. Harmless, sometimes helpful.
- A pressure wrap. Try it on a calm day first so the wrap itself is not a new worry.
Not on the list: Benadryl, any human sleep aid or anti-anxiety tablet, essential oils, or anything sold for people. If the OTC tier is not enough after two or three weeks, that is the signal to call the vet, not to stack more supplements.
Home Remedies That Actually Help
- A den. A covered crate with the door open, a bathroom, under a desk: somewhere small and enclosed the dog chooses. Do not pull them out of it to comfort them.
- Noise over noise. A fan, a TV, or a radio in the room takes the edge off fireworks and thunder more than most products do.
- Tire them first. A long walk or hard play before the predicted trigger. A tired dog has less capacity to panic.
- Something to lick or chew. A frozen stuffed toy or a lick mat during the event. Licking is calming in itself, and a dog who will eat is a dog who is not in full panic.
- Be boring. Anxious reassurance in a high voice tells the dog something is wrong. Calm, low, matter-of-fact.
- Routine. Meals, walks and bedtime at the same times. Anxious dogs do better when the day is predictable.
- Never punish fear. It cannot be trained out with correction, and punishment reliably makes it worse.
What Calms a Dog Down With Anxiety, Right Now?
For the owner reading this with a dog pacing in the next room.
Nothing you give by mouth works in five minutes except a prescription you already have. In the moment: move the dog away from the trigger if you can, into the smallest quiet room available; put background noise on; dim the lights; sit on the floor and do something boring, like reading, so your body says "nothing is happening"; offer a lick mat. Do not crowd the dog, and do not try to make them "face it." If a storm or fireworks are forecast for tonight and you have nothing, melatonin or hemp given now will be in the system in about an hour; a pressure wrap goes on now. For next time, this is what Sileo and the other prescriptions are for, and it is worth the vet call before the next season starts.
What Is the 3-3-3 Rule for Dog Anxiety?
A shelter rule of thumb for newly adopted dogs, not a treatment: roughly 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn the routine, 3 months to feel at home. Its real use is to stop new adopters medicating or returning a dog in the first fortnight, when almost every rescue is clingy, shut down or reactive. A dog still frightened of daily life at three months, or still panicking when left, needs a behaviour plan and possibly a prescription, not more time.
When It Is Time for a Prescription
Earlier than most owners think, and not a failure.
- Noise panic that involves hiding, trembling, drooling, bolting or self-injury: ask about Sileo before the next fireworks season. It is the one option with trial evidence for exactly this.
- Separation anxiety of any severity beyond mild: fluoxetine or clomipramine underneath the departure plan, from the start rather than after six months of failed training.
- Vet or groomer terror: trazodone, gabapentin or both, given the night before and the morning of; many practices now ask for this routinely.
- Generalised anxiety affecting the dog's daily life: a daily medication plus a behaviour plan, and a referral to a board-certified veterinary behaviourist if your own vet is not confident.
- Anything new in a dog over seven, or with other changes: a medical workup first. Pain, thyroid disease, cognitive decline and vision or hearing loss all present as "anxiety."
If your dog is on any of these and you are considering adding hemp, read CBD and your dog's medications first and tell your vet. The canine interaction data is more reassuring than the human extrapolations, but trazodone and the SSRIs are exactly the kind of drugs where it matters.
Where Hemp Fits, and Where It Doesn't
We make hemp products, so this is the section to read with that in mind.
Where it does not fit: a dog who is injuring themselves, a dog in true separation panic, or any case where a supplement is being asked to do the job of a behaviour plan or a prescription. The controlled canine evidence for CBD and stress is thinner than for joint comfort: one 2023 study found a single dose lowered stress measures during a stressful event, and that is encouraging but it is one study. We would rather say that than imply hemp calms every dog.
Where it can fit: mild situational stress with a predictable trigger, given as an oil 30 to 60 minutes beforehand, and mild everyday nervousness, given daily and judged over one to two weeks. It does not sedate, which is the point; a dog on it should be themselves, just less on edge. Our hemp for dog anxiety guide covers how to use it and what to expect, and the serving guide works from body weight.
For mild, predictable stress, given ahead of the trigger
Small Dog Hemp Treats
2mg each · pre-measured
$25
250mg Hemp Seed Oil
Up to about 40 lbs · fastest onset
$49
1,000mg Hemp Seed Oil
40 lbs and up
$99
Grown on our own Colorado farm, third-party tested every batch, under 0.3% THC, no xylitol. Serving by weight →
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I give my dog for anxiety over the counter?
In order of evidence: a behaviour plan with exercise and a safe space; L-theanine daily; hemp given 30 to 60 minutes before a predictable trigger or daily for everyday nervousness; melatonin (xylitol-free, vet-advised amount) for noise and night; a pheromone diffuser; a pressure wrap. Benadryl, human sleep aids and essential oils are not options. If the OTC tier is not enough in two or three weeks, call the vet rather than stacking supplements.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for dog anxiety?
A shelter guideline for newly adopted dogs: about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn the routine, three months to feel at home. It is a reason not to judge or medicate a rescue dog's clinginess in the first fortnight. It is not a treatment, and a dog still frightened or panicking at three months needs a plan.
What home remedy can I give my dog for anxiety?
The remedies that work are not things you give by mouth: a small enclosed space the dog chooses, background noise, hard exercise before a predicted trigger, a frozen food toy or lick mat during it, a predictable daily routine, calm matter-of-fact handling, and never punishing fear. Of the kitchen-cupboard options people search for, none has canine evidence and some (essential oils, xylitol-sweetened products) are toxic.
What can calm a dog down with anxiety right now?
Nothing by mouth works in minutes except a prescription you already have. In the moment: move the dog to the smallest quiet room, put on background noise, dim the lights, sit on the floor doing something boring, and offer a lick mat. If a storm is coming tonight, melatonin or hemp given now will be working in about an hour and a pressure wrap goes on now. For next time, ask the vet about Sileo.
Can I give my dog Benadryl for anxiety?
It is not an anti-anxiety drug. It sedates some dogs and makes others more agitated, and a drowsy dog can still be terrified; sedation is not calm. It also should not be given to dogs with glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure or an enlarged prostate, or alongside other sedatives. There are better OTC options and far better prescription ones.
Is melatonin safe for dogs with anxiety?
Generally, at an amount your vet gives you by weight, and only a product with no xylitol, which is toxic to dogs and common in human gummies. The canine evidence is thin, but it is low-risk and widely used off-label for noise sensitivity and night-time restlessness. Dogs with diabetes, or on other sedating drugs, need a vet's say-so first.
What do vets prescribe for dog anxiety?
For noise panic, Sileo (dexmedetomidine gel), the one drug FDA-approved for noise aversion, or a benzodiazepine. For predictable events such as vet visits and travel, trazodone, gabapentin or both. For separation or generalised anxiety, daily fluoxetine (Reconcile) or clomipramine (Clomicalm), both FDA-approved for separation anxiety alongside a behaviour plan, taking four to six weeks to reach full effect.
How long do calming supplements take to work for dogs?
Hemp oil by mouth, about 30 to 60 minutes; hemp treats longer because they are digested first. Melatonin, 30 to 60 minutes. L-theanine and alpha-casozepine are daily products judged over two to four weeks. A pheromone diffuser takes days to a week to affect a room. Daily prescriptions such as fluoxetine take four to six weeks. Anything given as an event is already happening will be too late for that event.
Does hemp or CBD really calm dogs?
The honest answer is "some, mildly, with thinner evidence than for joint comfort." One 2023 controlled study found a single dose of CBD reduced stress measures in dogs during a stressful event. It does not sedate, it has no role in severe or separation panic, and it works best as one part of a plan for a mild, predictable trigger, given ahead of time.
The Short Version
Name the anxiety first. For a predictable trigger: exercise, a den, noise masking, and hemp, L-theanine or melatonin given ahead of time; Sileo from the vet if it is real panic. For being left alone: a departure plan with a daily prescription underneath it, and do not expect a supplement to carry it. For a dog nervous of everything: a vet check, then daily options. Benadryl and human medications are not on any of these lists.
Hemp fits the mild, predictable end, given before the trigger. It is a piece of the plan, not the plan.
Shop Calming Support → All Hemp for Dogs
Dog Separation Anxiety · Hemp for Dog Anxiety · Calming Treat Ingredients, Graded · Benadryl for Dogs · Trazodone Side Effects · Serving by Weight
Marc co-founded HempMy Pet in 2016 with his business partner Natalie Mondine, the company's COO. HempMy Pet breeds its own hemp genetics, grows them on its certified-organic Colorado farm, and formulates every batch in-house under human-grade standards — seed to sale, nothing sourced overseas. Every batch is third-party tested and the certificates of analysis are published. More about us.
HempMy Pet ran its own 90-day study of 37 dogs with chronic joint discomfort. Of the 32 that completed it, 30 (93%) showed a benefit, and 94% of owners reported their dog's quality of life had improved. It was overseen by Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, MS of the Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, with Lori Kogan, Ph.D. and Peter W. Hellyer, DVM of Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. Read the methodology.
Why Dr. Downing: in 2005 she became only the third veterinarian in the world credentialed as a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management. She founded the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, is a Diplomate of the ACVSMR, a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, and was the AVMA's 2020 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year. Chronic joint pain is her life's work. Read the published paper (PDF).
This article is general information for dog owners, not veterinary advice. It is reviewed and updated as new peer-reviewed evidence is published, and where the evidence is thin or negative we say so.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your dog is unwell, contact your veterinarian.
