If your dog suffers from frequent or severe anxiety, you and your vet may consider a variety of different medications. Some of the following are considered SSRIs and antidepressants, both of which can be used to treat different forms of anxiety (including formal anxiety disorders, social anxiety, and other mental health diagnoses):
Alprazolam (Xanax). Similar to the type of medication for anxiety that some humans take, Xanax is a sedative that can treat a dog’s panic or anxiety. It’s most commonly administered in the form of a tablet or liquid, with or without food. Prescription drugs that sedate are common treatment options for dog anxiety, taking the edge off of symptoms for your pet.
Amitriptyline. This type of prescribed medication is an antidepressant that is used to treat all different types of anxiety disorders, specifically in small animals. It’s used to treat separation anxiety and excessive grooming (which can be a sign of nervousness or anxiety in pups). It’s most often given to dogs in the form of a tablet, both with and without food. The best way to get this medication is with a prescription from your veterinarian.
Buspirone. Specifically used to target fear-based anxieties in pups, Buspirone can be given to your dog when you know they’re going to be in a situation that triggers fear. It’s administered in the form of a tablet. The good news is this can be given for your dog’s anxiety with or without food, making it a simple drug to offer your pet to tame their form of anxiety disorder related-symptoms.
Clomipramine (Clomicalm). While this medication is used to treat anxiety in dogs, it also treats OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). It can be administered in tablet or liquid form. It is FDA-approved and deemed safe for pets.
Dexmedetomidine (Sileo). This medication is a sedative used to help dogs that experience anxiety. This is administered in a gel form on the gums.
Diazepam (Valium). Diazepam is a powerful medication that treats dogs with not only anxiety but also seizures. This drug is mainly administered through injection for treating seizures and as part of an anesthesia protocol. When used to treat anxiety it is mainly given to dogs in a pill form. This drug can treat the main types of anxiety across all common causes and can be given safely at the earliest sign of anxiety with a vet prescription.
Fluoxetine (Reconcile or Prozac). These medication options are ones that the FDA has explicitly approved to treat dogs with separation anxiety. They are SSRI antidepressants that can also be used to treat other behavioral disorders in pets. They are given in the form of a tablet, capsule, or liquid.
Lorazepam (Ativan). Used to treat anxiety, fears, and phobias in dogs, Lorazepam is administered in pill, liquid, or injection forms (at the hospital). If you know your dog will be exposed to a behavioral trigger of their anxiety, you can give them this medication one hour before.
Paroxetine (Paxil). Paroxetine is an SSRI antidepressant used to treat canine aggression, anxiety, and general behavior problems. It’s administered in tablet, capsule, or liquid form.
Sertraline (Zoloft). Another SSRI, Sertraline, treats anxiety, OCD, and general behavior disorders in dogs. It can be given with or without food, however, food is recommended if your dog has an upset stomach after taking it.
What exactly is an SSRI?
You may often hear this term to describe the medicine your dog takes for their anxiety. SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. Go to source . They treat anxiety and depression by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain.