My dog is wiggly for grooming. What OTC calming aid can I use?

Over the counter calming agents don't see to work well. A visit to your vet for sedatives is well worth the investment for medications that work well. keep in mind, there are a few options and you may need to try a few before you find the right one. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

There is nothing OTC that you can safely give that will effectively calm her down enough for grooming. You may need to have her lightly sedated by your veterinarian so she can be safely shaved or clipped. Using scissors at home can lead to a laceration if you aren't careful. An exam is also a good idea to determine why Xena is not grooming herself.

VetriScience Composure chews or liquid daily for at least a few days prior to your trip is effective in noticeably calming many patients. It contains natural ingredients including theanine and is available on chewy.com and PetCo.com. If you find that the Composure is not sufficiently relaxed with just Composure, I would schedule an appointment with your vet to make sure that Rexy is up to date on vaccines and flea/tick/heart worm prevention and to inquire about a sedative such as trazadone or prescription Xanax that your vet may be comfortable with for Rexy. If you are flying, definitely inquire with the airline about whether an official health certificate is required. Enjoy your vacation!

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Prozac, or the generic medication fluoxetine is safe for dogs, even with heart murmurs. It may cause slight sedation. Natural products may not be as reliably effective, and may also cause sedation. These should also not have any affect on Bradley’s murmur. I definitely recommend avoiding giving both natural chews and Prozac at the same time. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!

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.