11 Vet-approved Products to Soothe Your Pup's Anxiety

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. The devoted pet parents on the Wag! team conduct independent research to curate products our own pets would pawsitively love!

All products featured in this article have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Linda Simon MVB MRCVS, member of Wag!'s licensed veterinary team.

Anxiety isn’t just an issue for humans — it affects our dogs, too. And while it’s a perfectly natural emotion, excessive levels of anxiety can cause a wide range of behavioral problems for our fur-babies. 

From thunderstorm phobias to separation anxiety, it’s important to find ways to manage your dog’s anxiety to minimize its impact on their health and wellbeing. The good news is that there are plenty of products specifically designed to calm your anxious dog when they’re faced with a variety of common anxiety triggers.

Let’s take a closer look at 11 pawsome anti-anxiety products for dogs to help your stressed-out pup find their happy place.

The ThunderShirt is one of the best-known doggy anti-anxiety products on the market. This anxiety wrap works in much the same way as swaddling a baby, applying gentle, calming pressure to your pet’s torso — think of it like a warm hug for your fur-baby.

As the name suggests, the ThunderShirt can help your dog feel safe during a storm, but it’s also suitable for dogs coping with separation anxiety, a fear of fireworks, or a stressful vet visit. It’s breathable and machine-washable too, and is available in a range of colors and styles to suit any fashionable pup.

When mother dogs are nursing their puppies, they naturally release a pheromone to help their puppies feel safe and calm. This is known as dog-appeasing pheromone, or DAP for short, and its synthetic version is used in the Adaptil Calm Home Diffuser.

The best feature of this diffuser is how simple it is to use. Simply plug it into an outlet in the room where your dog spends most of their time at home, then sit back and relax while it releases pheromones to comfort and calm your pup. It can cover areas up to 700 square feet in size and is a great tool for reducing dog anxiety due to loud noises, unexpected visitors, and other triggers.

Related: Will Pheromone Therapy Help My Pet’s Fear and Anxiety?

We’re all far too familiar with harmful bacteria and the health issues they cause. But did you know that beneficial bacteria could be the key to calming an anxious dog? Purina Pro Plan Calming Care is a probiotic supplement that eases your dog’s anxiety by improving their gut health. 

It features a strain of beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium longum BL999 for those of you playing at home) proven to help dogs maintain calm behavior. This helps manage anxiety-related behaviors like pacing and excessive vocalization. It also supports a positive mindset and boosts your pup’s immune system at the same time.

Don’t expect it to happen overnight, as you may have to wait up to 6 weeks to see any results. Speak to your vet before introducing any new supplements to your dog’s diet.

Hands up if you ever use music to help you calm down, relax, or just distract yourself from the pressures of a stressful day? They say that music soothes the savage beast, and as is often the case, what’s true for humans also works for our dogs. 

Pet Acoustics Pet Tunes Canine is a portable Bluetooth speaker that plays music specifically designed to create a calming environment for canine ears. If you’re helping an adopted pet adapt to life in their new home, or maybe tackling your dog’s noise phobia, these soothing songs might just put a smile on your pup’s face.

In a perfect world, you’d be able to snuggle up to your anxious dog all day (or night) long to keep their fears at bay. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible — which is where the Snuggle Puppy comes to the rescue. 

This cute plush toy is designed to remind your pup of the warmth, comfort, and safety of snuggling up to their mom and littermates. The soft and fluffy Snuggle Puppy features a single-use heat pack and a Real-Feel Heartbeat, making it the ideal cuddle buddy when your pup needs a little extra support.

This soothing item is particularly useful to help calm a puppy that has recently been re-homed and isn't used to being away from their mother and siblings. As far as your dog is concerned, it’s the next best thing to curling up in your lap for a snuggle!

Next on our list of the best anti-anxiety products for dogs are these soft chews from NaturVet. These tasty treats are packed full of goodness to help your dog cope with travel anxiety, thunderstorm phobias, and the stress of visiting the vet or the groomer.

They include thiamine and L-tryptophan to ease stress, ginger to soothe a sensitive stomach, and melatonin to help your pet get a good night’s sleep. And because they’re made in the USA, they provide extra peace of mind for you, too.

If you were to take a straw poll of pups worldwide about the experiences they dread the most, a trip to the groomer would probably be right near the top of the list. But if the thought of a salon visit sends your pup running for the hills, the Happy Hoodie might just be the answer.

Designed by 2 dog groomers who wanted to make blow-drying a less stressful experience for pets, this distinctive accessory applies gentle compression to protect your dog from loud noises and ease their anxiety. It’s effective for reluctant grooming customers and can also keep your dog calm around vacuum cleaners, fireworks, and even during vet visits.

And while your dog might not win any style points in the Happy Hoodie, they will hopefully cope better with stressful situations.

Want to relieve your dog’s stress and anxiety during the day when you’re not home? Let them take charge of the remote!

DogTV is a streaming service for dogs, but it’s much more than just wall-to-wall replays of Lassie and the Crufts Dog Show. Instead, it uses a science-based approach to schedule special programs that align with your dog’s daily cycle.

DogTV has programs to provide mental stimulation, prevent doggy boredom, desensitize your dog to unfamiliar sounds and situations, and more. The aim is to help your dog be calm, confident, and content when left home alone. And with several shows for pet parents too, DogTV offers something for the whole family to enjoy.

Good sleep is important for a dog’s emotional wellbeing, but as we all know, drifting off is a whole lot harder when anxiety rears its ugly head. 

If you want to help your dog get a good night’s sleep, the Original Dog Calming Bed is specifically designed to do exactly that. This donut-shaped cuddler provides a safe, warm space for your dog to retreat to when they’re ready for some shut-eye, or when they just need some time alone to decompress. It has a raised rim and is “pawfect” for dogs that like to burrow, providing an extra sense of security for an anxious pup.

Looking for a gentle approach to stress relief for dogs? Check out Bach Rescue Remedy Pet. This blend of 5 natural flower essences eases tension for anxious dogs and cats.

Simply mix 4 drops of Bach Rescue Remedy Pet with your dog's food or water. Or, administer the dose by mouth if your dog is happy to take liquid medication with no fuss.

Just remember to speak to your vet before introducing any new supplement to your pet.

Licking releases endorphins and can be a self-soothing mechanism to help a dog calm down. Products like the LickiMat Soother are designed to encourage licking, providing entertainment for bored dogs and helping them stay calm during times of stress.

All you have to do is place some of your pet’s favorite treats or spread some pet-friendly peanut butter onto the LickiMat’s patterned, bristled surface. Its slow-feeder design ensures plenty of mental stimulation for your pup and provides a welcome relief from anxiety for stressed-out pooches.

If anxiety is a problem for your pet, the 11 products featured here might be exactly what they need to stay calm and in control. Just make sure to check with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s healthcare program, and consult an experienced trainer or veterinary behaviorist if you need help solving any anxiety-related behavior problems.

Worried about your dog’s anxiety? Chat with a veterinary professional online now to get expert advice on how to soothe and support your pet.