My anxious dog bites groomers. Can I use calming products instead of vet sedation?

There is nothing OTC that you can give safely. It is never recommended to medicate your pet without the advice of your veterinarian. You can try a homeopathic product such as Rescue Remedy for Pets. It may help take the edge off for the grooming.

Try Zesty Paws Calming Bites, Composure chews (VetriScience) or Zylkene (Vetoquinol). Be aware that not all products will work for all dogs. The trick is to find the one that works the best. If Maggy's anxiety is severe, she may need prescription medication. Discuss options with your veterinarian.

Benedryl can sometimes calm down some pets but not always. Additionally, NO over the counter medication or herb will calm a pet enough to allow any actions if the pet does not want it done. A better option for Hawkins is to have him groomed professionally or speak with your veterinarian about a stronger sedative like Trazodone or Acepromazine. Clippers instead of scissors may make mats easier to remove as well. I hope this helps and please feel to post any additional questions.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately, I cannot prescribe any medications for Marley without having examined him myself. If he is extremely aggressive while being groomed, you may want to consider having him sedated and groomed at your vet's office. This will mean that Marley is closely monitored during the sedation and supported with fluids and heat if necessary. Your vet can also perform a thorough exam, and ensure that Marley's heart and lungs are healthy enough to handle the sedation. At home, you can try calming chews available in most pet stores, and consider getting Marley a muzzle to keep yourself safe.

A pheromone collar, such as the Adaptil collar, may help decrease anxiety. Gradual desensitization is also strongly recommended. Calming chews, such as Composure chews (by VetriScience) may help but they are not "magic pills". You will need to modify her behavior. This may require the assistance of a certified trainer.

Poor King! If he is fearful about being handled and bites you when you try to put on the Thundershirt, this probably isn't a good option for him right now - trying to get it on him is likely causing a lot of stress, and is also dangerous for you due to the risk of being bitten. Instead, you might want to try a DAP pheromone diffuser, or a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure for situations that tend to make him anxious - these can be helpful for some fearful dogs. If these things don't help much, you could talk to your veterinarian about whether prescription medication might be a good option for him, or make an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist for a more complete evaluation and treatment plan to help address the problem. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Hello, only your primary care veterinarian or a veterinarian that has build a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship has the legal ability to prescribe medications to your pet, including sedatives. Over the counter sedatives are not available for dogs. CBD oil may calm pets down, but this has not been reliably shown in studies. Other over the counter medications may include Benadryl, but its unlikely to calm him down enough to undergo a dental cleaning procedure. Given that this is uncomfortable for pets, I would recommend consulting with your primary care veterinarian about obtaining some medications to sedate Marley. Hope this helps and best of luck.