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Which brand of dog calming treats tested most effective? Our experts
assessed 48 different calming treats to find out.
Which dog calming treats tested most effective? Our experts assessed 48 different calming treats to find out.
by Dana J. Cook on March 21, 2022
Dana has been deep in the pet grooming business for over 10 years. Being a life-long dog lover, she's passionate about educating dog owners on making the best purchasing decisions.*
by Dana J. Cook on March 21, 2022
Dana has been deep in the pet grooming business for over 10 years. Being a life-long dog lover, she's passionate about educating dog owners on making the best purchasing decisions.*
With every brand claiming to have the best dog calming treats, it can be confusing for dog owners to determine whether a product is truly effective or if it’s just savvy brand marketing. Our suggestion is to always understand the facts as well as what the latest research shows regarding key ingredients, effects, and outcomes of each product.
Our team of experts assessed 48 different brands of dog calming treats based on the key ingredients, customer satisfaction, and overall value.
However, before we dive into our top picks, let’s go over the facts and latest research on the key ingredients that have proven to relieve dog anxiety, promote calmness, and minimize aggressive behaviors.
Identifying the most effective dog calming ingredients requires extensive research into the latest clinical studies. Our team values high-quality products that are supported by scientific evidence, so we’ve done the legwork to get you up to date with what is the best product on the market for your furry friend.
Just like humans, dogs may experience anxiety and stress, which is oftentimes derived from fear, separation, and even aging. And like humans, anxiety can manifest differently in different breeds. According to Medical News Today, “Lagotto Romagnolos, Wheaten terriers, and mixed breed dogs had the highest prevalence of noise sensitivity, while miniature schnauzers and Staffordshire bull terriers were less sensitive to noises.” Furthermore, Spanish water dogs, Shetland sheepdogs, and mixed breed dogs often display signs of fearfulness, which can lead to stress and anxiety. Researchers have also determined that large breeds and small breeds differ in anxiety-like behaviors.
While these emotions are completely healthy and normal in animals, understanding the causes is the first step in finding a dog anxiety treatment that best fits your dog.
According to the study “Hemp in Veterinary Medicine: From Feed to Drug” from the medical journal of Frontiers in Veterinary Science, hemp oil and extracts from hemp dried flowers are authorized in some countries for therapeutic purposes to treat a number of clinical conditions in animals such as pain and inflammation, epilepsy, anxiety disorders, nausea, and emesis, among others.
This means that hempseeds and hemp oil are highly effective as an anxiety treatment due to their high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically Omega-3s and 6s. Furthermore, whole hempseed generally contains about 20–25% proteins, 25–35% carbohydrates (with 10–15% insoluble fiber), 25–35% oil, vitamins, and minerals. The two main proteins in hempseeds are edestin and albumin, both containing significant amounts of all essential amino acids. The combination of these natural ingredients produces the most effective anti-anxiety supplements for dogs.
Hemp protein powder and hempseed oil (or “hemp oil”) both come from the seed of the same plant family. Rich in protein, hemp protein powder is made by grinding pressed hemp seeds into fine powder and can be added to food, shakes, and smoothies. In contrast, hemp oil is harvested by cold-pressing hemp seeds to extract the oil that is rich in fats and amino acids. Both hemp protein powder and hemp oil include the 9 essential amino acids that are beneficial for humans and animals. Hemp seeds are also a source of gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA), which is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that has shown strong anti-inflammatory effects in animal studies.
Further research indicates that many veterinarians “successfully use its derivatives for pain control (mainly for neuropathic, osteoarthritis, and cancer pain), idiopathic epilepsy refractory to conventional treatments, allergic skin diseases, and mood disorders (e.g., anxiety) and for a series of other pathological conditions affecting dogs and cats.”
Omega 3 and Omega 6 are known for treating depression and anxiety in both humans and animals. Research has shown that other beneficial ingredients that are rich in calming properties and effective in treating dog anxiety include Melatonin, Chamomile, L-Theanine, Lavender, Passion Flower, and Valerian Root.
While these natural ingredients provide an abundance of benefits, we always recommend you to consult with your veterinarian before administering any new supplements as the vet will know how to best address your dog's condition.
Loud Noises - One of the main causes of anxiety in dogs is loud noises, such as fireworks or thunderstorms, which can induce fear and cause your dog to lash out or retreat.
Extended Periods at Home Alone - Every dog is different, but leaving your pet for an extended period of time can lead to separation anxiety.
Exposure to Aggressive Children and Animals - Dogs who are around other aggressive behaviors can reinforce their own aggressive behaviors which are derived from fear and anxiety.
Neglect and Abuse Triggers - Understanding your pet’s history of abuse and neglect is crucial in treating anxiety. Recognizing the signs of abuse and neglect is the first step in finding solutions and treatments that work.
Food Preservatives - BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, and Propyl Gallate are common preservatives used in dog food and treats that add no nutritional value and are known carcinogens that are linked to cancer.
Imbalanced Diet - Like humans, dogs who have an imbalanced diet are deficient in nutrients, which can lead to anxiety, stress, and chronic diseases.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - The main psychoactive compound, THC is toxic for animals and should not be given to dogs at any point.
While it is important to read the reviews of each product before you purchase, most people don’t realize that up to 60% of the positive reviews are written by paid promoters. Be sure to do your own research and understand the ingredients list as well as how it will affect your pet before trying it out.
Hemp: Full of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients such as Omega 3 and 6, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and the 9 essential amino acids, hemp can promote calming and stress relief in your pets by reducing epileptic seizures, easing osteoarthritis pain, improving mobility, and lowering anxiety.
Valerian Root: A sedative herb that relieves tension, anxiety, and over-excitability in dogs, this natural ingredient can promote calmness in your pets.
Chamomile: A natural ingredient that calms the nerves and induces sleep, chamomile can relieve stress in animals while also calming the stomach and easing digestive problems.
Passion Flower: Used as a sleep aid and sedative, this ingredient can calm brain activity in your dogs while boosting levels of GABA, a feel-good chemical.
Ginger Root: Commonly used in anti-nausea and anti-vomiting supplements for dogs, this natural ingredient provides calming effects to alleviate your dog’s anxiety.
L-tryptophan: This natural amino acid is important to the functions of many organs in the body, but the best-known functions are reducing aggression and increasing calm behavior in your pets due to its production of serotonin.
Other Helpful Ingredients:
This comprehensive list was made after extensive research and analysis, measuring the full value of each product by considering the ingredients, safety, efficacy, refund and return policies, and overall customer satisfaction. We also collect research from the latest studies and clinical trials to ensure that our criteria take into account the most important details, presenting you with the results, and, in the process, saving you time and money.
After extensive data gathering, we proudly present to you our compiled list of the most effective calming treats for dogs. The research includes precise scoring for key ingredients, customer satisfaction, value, and history along with the average grades of the overall 48 dog calming supplements. To paint the whole picture, we have also included the pros and cons, and identified the total ranking and overall grade.
by Pawlabs
We ranked PawLabs’ Calming Hemp Chews #1 due to its overall composite of essential natural ingredients that have been proven effective in treating stress and anxiety in dogs. Their precision formula includes a combination of Organic Hempseed Oil, Organic Hemp Protein Powder, Organic Chamomile, Organic Passion Flower, Organic Ginger Root, Valerian Root, L-Tryptophan, and other organic ingredients that work synergistically to promote exponential effects, making this the best dog calming chews on the market in our opinion.
by Zesty Paws
KEY INGREDIENTS INCLUDED
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KEY INGREDIENTS INCLUDED
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We ranked Zesty Paws Calming Bites #2 due to the combination of natural ingredients that help support relaxation, calmness, focus, and clarity for your dogs. These key ingredients include Organic Hemp Powder, Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Organic Passion Flower, Suntheanine (L-Theanine), Organic Ginger Root, Chamomile, Valerian Root, and L-Tryptophan for additional support to help minimize outbursts while reducing scratching, restlessness, and paw licking, which are signs of anxiety in dogs. However, this product is missing Hemp Seed Oil, which reduces the effect that the combination of Hemp Powder and Hemp Oil provides in alleviating tension, stress, and anxiety in dogs.
by NaturVet
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KEY INGREDIENTS INCLUDED
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We ranked NaturVet’s Quiet Moments Calming Aid #3 due to its comprehensive formula containing Chamomile, Thiamine Mononitrate, Passion Flower, Ginger, L-Tryptophan, and Melatonin - all of the essential ingredients needed for dog calming supplements. However, when compared to our #1 product, Quiet Moments Calming Aid does not contain Hemp Seed Oil or Hemp Powder, which reduces its substantial effects.