Can melatonin help my dog's separation anxiety and escape attempts?

Melatonin is generally used for sleep disorders and phobias. The dosage for Melatonin is 0.1mg/kg OR 1-9 mg per dog (depending on size), given 1-3 times a day. So that is around 2 mg or up to 5mg every 8 hrs for a medium sized dog like Sadie. Therefore I would recommend waiting at least 8 hrs in between doses before giving Sadie another dose. Also I would consider asking your vet for another anxiety specific medication such as Alprazolam. I hope this helps and best of luck getting Sadie calm during the remainder of her time away from her regular owner. Take care.

There are a number of other medications that can be tried for Montana, such as Paxil, Zoloft, Clomicalm, diazepam, and lorazepam among others, but only your vet can decide if one of these drugs are appropriate and safe to use in him. You can try using a DAP which is a pheromone diffuser that can help dogs with anxiety. You can try using a Sentry calming collar, which releases pheromones when it comes in contact with his skin. I would discuss with Montana's vet if any other drugs are appropriate for use in him.

I am sorry to hear about Max. Lexapro is not a drug we normally use in dogs so its safety and efficacy hasn't been evaluated and I would not recommend giving this drug. The drug also requires several weeks of use before effects are truly seen so it would not help you now. There are, however, some prescription medications your vet can recommend and prescribe to help Max to provide both short term and long term relief. You can read more about this condition and treatment options at https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952970 . You can try over the counter products like an Adaptil collar https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952970 and Zylkene calming supplement http://www.vetoquinolusa.com/content/zylkene though in severe cases of anxiety these may not be enough.

Hello, thank you for your question. I’m sorry to hear that visits to the vet are stressful for Luke. Yes, melatonin can be safely given to dogs. There are other medications that can also be used to help with anxiety prior to vet visits (gabapentin, Benadryl, acepromazine). I would recommend contacting your veterinarian to discuss which product they prefer and to get accurate dosing for Luke. Hope this helps!

Yes, trazodone is often given daily to help with anxiety. There are many options however. The most common medication for separation anxiety is Fluoxetine. It's generally my first choice when I'm looking for a daily medication. I recommend to discuss this with your veterinarian. Also, medication by it's self is not likely to work. Exercise and behavioral modification are also needed. Here are some helpful links: https://www.petcoach.co/article/separation-anxiety/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-natural-treatments-for-dog-anxiety/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/common-anti-anxiety-medications-for-dogs/ I hope this helps.

Melatonin can have side effects in dogs including itching, increased heart rate, gastric upset, and stomach cramps, but these side effects are rare. If Romeo has a preexisting health condition, however, I would check with his vet first to see if it's safe to give him. Watch out for the melatonin side effects and do not give more than the label states to give on a daily basis. I hope this helps.

I'm sorry that Belle is suffering from some anxiety. Unfortunately Benadryl can have the opposite effect on dogs; instead of sedation, it can make them more anxious. In addition, I cannot legally recommend giving her either drug without seeing her in person. Put her in a dark quiet room by herself to self-soothe. You can also turn on the TV or music to block out the sound. One important thing to do to when your dog acts scared is not to reassure her. We think we are comforting her when we do that, but it's actually reinforcing the behavior and telling her it's ok to be scared. Give her vet a call to see if you can get something prescribed to help with her anxiety. Best of luck.