Dogs may suffer from various kinds of anxiety and behavioral issues. Some of them can be incredibly crippling. As pet owners, we’re keen to help however, we’re confronted with a myriad of treatment options and prescriptions.

Your vet is your first stop to find the best sources for dealing with anxiety in dogs. After your veterinarian has given your dog a clear bill of health, they will begin to formulate recommendations to treat your dog. Treatment plans for anxiety typically require the assistance of a veterinarian behaviorist or a certified pet trainer. In a behavior modification plan, your vet might also suggest a medication to help your dog’s anxiety.

How Dog Anxiety Medications Work.

No matter which medication your veterinarian chooses, you will also need to put behavior modification protocols in place to help your dog work through their anxiety.

As anxiety in dogs may be manifested in a range of different ways such like fear or anxiety, stress, impulsivity behavior, aggression, panic disorders, and noise fear or Aversions to noises, there are a variety of medications available for long term and short term use. No matter what kind of medicine your dog is prescribed, there aren’t any immediate fixes. Working with a trained behaviorist or trainer is the best option to address your pet’s peculiar behavior.

In cases that require medical care for a long time, the dog may have to undergo treatment for up or six weeks prior to the effect of the treatment becoming apparent, and the treatment has to be continued for a minimum of two months following the time a response is detected.

Long Term Treatment vs. Short Term Treatment.

Some dogs may eventually be able to get off anti anxiety medication, whereas some require a long term regimen. The dogs who have been on medication for more than six months are required to have annual checks and blood tests along with regular behavior evaluations to make sure the current treatment regimen remains the best choice to meet their needs.

Stress triggers or anxiety such as driving, visits to the vet, or storms could be helped by temporary medications that work quickly and last only for a brief period of duration. They are not usually intended to be used regularly.

Common Anxiety Medications For Dogs.

Fluoxetine and Sileo are FDA approved for use by dogs. Other medications include all human medicines that are used off label in dogs. The term off or extra label use signifies that a medicine may be used in a manner or for a specific species that isn’t listed on the label. Extra or off label use of a drug must be carried out by a veterinarian with an intimate understanding of your dog’s needs and in the absence of suitable medicines for the pet’s needs.

They are typically delivered as tablets too big for dogs, therefore, they might require to be created by a specialty pharmacy to make a chewable flavor tablet or capsule, liquid or transdermal drug.

These are the most frequently prescribed medicines used to treat anxiety in dogs.

A specific medicine:

• Alprazolam (Xanax)
• Amitriptyline
• Buspirone
• Clomipramine (Clomicalm)
• Dexmedetomidine (Sileo)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Fluoxetine (Reconcile or Prozac)
• Lorazepam (Ativan)
• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)

1. Alprazolam (Xanax)

Indices: Phobias, fear, panic disorders.

Alprazolam is commonly used to treat dogs that are anxious in thunderstorms; however, it can also be prescribed to treat other kinds of anxiety.

It’s part of the benzodiazepine family of sedatives. They are used to reduce the activity of certain areas that comprise the brain the specific mechanism behind the action isn’t known. It’s a medication that has a short acting effect which is absorbed quickly and is able to be administered for up to four times per every day. Alprazolam’s effectiveness is greatest when it is administered at the first sign of anxiety, which is usually 30-60 minutes prior to the time your dog will be exposed to the trigger. If this medication is taken for long periods, it shouldn’t be abruptly stopped.

Possible side effects are:

• Lethargy
• Sedation
• Incoordination
• An increase in appetite

2. Amitriptyline

Indices: Separation anxiety Reactivity, separation anxiety, and anxious aggression or more generalized anxiety tendencies.

Amitriptyline is an antidepressant tricyclic medication that functions in part by enhancing the levels of the nervous system’s chemical messengers, norepinephrine and serotonin, which influence mood. It is not recommended to use when you have pets suffering from an illness such as diabetes as well as epilepsy.

This medication requires one to four weeks for it to be effective and is required to be administered two times each day. Amitriptyline is administered as tablets, which are administered in combination with and without meals. Dogs must be gradually tapered off amitriptyline when they’ve been taking the medication for longer than one week or two.

Possible side effects are:

• Constipation
• Lethargy
• Sedation
• The holding of urine
• Dilated pupils

3. Buspirone

Indices: Phobias, social anxiety, moderate generalized anxiety.

Buspirone can be described as part of the class azaperone of anxiolytics. This medication requires continuous use for it to be effective. Therefore, it’s not suitable for dogs suffering from anxiety related situations, such as fear of thunderstorms.

It is believed to function as a moderate anti anxiety medicine because it, at least in part, stimulates serotonin and dopamine receptors inside the brain.

This drug can take approximately six weeks to begin working and could be administered two to three times daily. Buspirone is typically dispensed as tablets that are given either with or without meals.

Possible side effects are:

• Appetite loss
• Vomiting
• Sedation

4. Clomipramine (Clomicalm)

Indices: Separation anxiety, situational anxiety, disorders of compulsive behavior, anger.

Clomipramine is the FDA’s first approved treatment to treat dog separation anxiety. It is also prescribed for other forms of anxiety.

The tricyclic form of antidepressant drug functions partially by increasing your levels of the nerve system’s chemical messengers, serotonin and norepinephrine, that affect mood.

It can take anywhere from four or six weeks to allow the therapeutic effect to show, and between two and three months is necessary to determine if it is beneficial to dogs. Clomipramine is recommended to be administered twice each day and should not be abruptly stopped.

Clomipramine is dispensed in tablets, which are taken in combination with and without meals.

The potential side effects of this include:

• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Agitation
• Sedation
• Heart rate increases
• Dry mouth
• Reduced appetite

5. Dexmedetomidine (Sileo)

Indices: Acute anxiety in a particular situation Aversions to noise, phobias of noise.

Sileo is recognized from the FDA to aid dogs suffering from fear of noise. It’s an alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist which works partly by reducing the activity of certain areas of the brain. This reduces anxiety levels, in addition to other benefits.

The most effective dosage is it is administered 30-60 minutes prior to an event that triggers anxiety or the first sign that a dog is getting anxious.

Sileo is administered via a multidose tube, which is a transmucosal gel. It isn’t a medicine to swallow, instead it is absorbed by the mucus membranes that are placed between the cheeks and gums. It is necessary to wear disposable gloves with waterproof protection while handling the syringe or giving the drug.

Possible side effects are:

• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Facial swelling
• Sedation
• Heart rate is decreased
• Dry eye

6. Diazepam (Valium)

Indices: Situational anxiety, fear of noise, panic disorder, or anxiety.

If possible, diazepam must be administered to dogs for 30 to 60 minutes prior to an event recognized to trigger anxiety. It can also be administered at the earliest signs that a dog may be experiencing anxiety; however, it’s most effective when given before.

It’s part of the benzodiazepine category of sedatives. These function by reducing activity in specific parts of the nervous system’s central part. Diazepam is a drug that acts in a short time, is quick to take effect, and is able to be used at up to four times every day. If this medication is prolonged, the medication should not be abruptly stopped.

The potential side effects of this include:

• Lethargy
• Sedation
• Incoordination
• Affections are rising
• Agitation
• Aggression

7. Fluoxetine (Reconcile or Prozac)

Indices: Separation anxiety, aggression, and compulsive behavior, and insanity.

Fluoxetine is approved by the FDA for treating separation anxiety among dogs. It may also be prescribed to treat other forms of behavior and anxiety that include excessive chewing, self mutilation, circling pulling fur or licking the skin repeatedly, or even aggression.

Fluoxetine is part of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (SSRI) class of drugs. SSRIs block receptors within the brain from eliminating the chemical messenger in the nervous system called serotonin. This allows for greater levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a mood regulating chemical. The higher levels of serotonin can lower impulsivity, anxiety, and aggression.

Fluoxetine may take between four and six weeks to begin working and is recommended to be administered daily.

The potential side effects of this include:

• Constipation
• Appetite loss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Agitation
• Sedation
• Lethargy
• Urine holds

8. Lorazepam (Ativan)

Indices: Acute anxiety in a particular situation, fears, phobias, panic disorders.

Lorazepam is a drug that has a short acting effect and is effective for about 30 minutes. If it is possible, lorazepam must be administered to dogs prior to an event known to create anxiety. It is also available in the first signs that a dog may be experiencing anxiety. The medication shouldn’t be taken off abruptly when you’ve been using it for long periods of time.

The medication is classified as a type of benzodiazepine and is able to increase the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity within the brain. GABA reduces the effect of nerve impulses that stimulate the brain, leading to a calming effect for your pet.

Possible side effects are:

• Lethargy
• Sedation
• Incoordination
• An increase in appetite
• Excitement
• Aggressive behavior

9. Paroxetine (Paxil)

Indices: Generalized anxiety, anxious aggression, and anxiety related behaviors fear of the noises around you, self mutilation.

Paroxetine is part of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) group of drugs which block brain receptors from eliminating the neuronal chemical messenger serotonin. This results in higher serotonin levels to be found in the brain.

Paroxetine is a medication that can take between four and six weeks to begin working and should be administered every day. Don’t stop giving this medication suddenly in the event that your dog has been for a long time on it.

The potential side effects of this include:

• Constipation
• Appetite loss
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Agitation
• Sedation
• Lethargy
• Urine retention

10. Sertraline (Zoloft)

Indices: separation anxious, anxiety disorder, impulse disorders, thunderstorm phobia, compulsive behavior, and fear based aggression.

Sertraline is part of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (SSRI) category of medicines. SSRIs stop receptors within the brain from taking out the chemical messenger in the nervous system called serotonin, allowing the production of higher levels of serotonin in the brain.

Serotonin is a mood stabilizer. Serotonin levels that are higher can decrease anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression.

Sertraline, like other SSRIs, can take anywhere from four to six weeks to fully effect and should be taken regularly. It is possible to reduce the dosage of dogs on sertraline after they’ve been taking the medication for more than two months.

Possible side effects are:

• Lethargy
• A loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Agitation
• Sedation
• Urine retention