Having a dog can be a lot of fun, partly because they can be excited about the smallest things. While an energetic dog can be fun, that energetic personality can also lead to a lot of stress for your dog. Separation anxiety is common in many dogs. Dogs also experience a high level of stress during certain events like vet visits and fireworks shows. Fortunately, you can use melatonin supplements to help them stay calm.
We reviewed dozens of melatonin supplements for dogs to identify the best of the best. To find the best supplements we considered a number of factors. We looked at what else is included in those supplements and how they affect your dog. Prices, package counts, and possible uses were also considered to help separate the best from the rest.
Our top pick, Calming Treats For Dogs – Anxiety Composure Relief with Suntheanine, combines some of the best features that you can find in melatonin supplements like the tablet counts for a single package. It comes in a pack that is enough for a three-month supply. It also contains other ingredients that offer a wide range of positive health effects.
The 5 Top-Rated Melatonin for Dogs for 2024
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Calming Treats For Dogs – Anxiety Composure Relief with Suntheanine | 3.9 |
| Runner Up | Quiet Moments Calming Aid Soft Chew Supplement for Senior Dogs | 4.0 |
| Best Budget Buy | K9 Choice Melatonin 1 mg 180 capsules | 4.2 |
| Best Melatonin Dog Soft Chews/Treats | Dog Calming Aid – Treats | 4.0 |
| Best Melatonin for Puppies | NaturVet – Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin | 3.7 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Our Vet’s Top Pick: Calming Treats For Dogs – Anxiety Composure Relief with Suntheanine
The Calming Treats For Dogs – Anxiety Composure Relief with Suntheanine is our top pick. It is formulated to help dogs relax, sleep better, and live healthier with a daily dose. These treats help dogs get through some of the most stressful events without the usual anxiety. Plus, they can help dogs over the long-term by reducing daily stress.
The best features of these treats are the form and the taste. They are chewable dog treats with the same shape and size as other treats. They also have a turkey flavor using natural ingredients. You can mix them in with other treats or food to make them easier to administer. That way, your dog won’t reject them.
Aside from melatonin, these treats contain a collection of other calming ingredients. These include valerian root, ginger root, and L-tryptophan that stop multiple anxiety behaviors. they also have 30 mg of Suntheanine that helps dogs relax without making them drowsy.
Calming Treats For Dogs – Anxiety Composure Relief with Suntheanine Key Features:
- Stackable doses for larger breeds
- All natural, organic ingredients
- Multiple ingredients to help with relaxation and anxiety behaviors
- Turkey flavored for easy administration
Our Runner Up Pick: Quiet Moments Calming Aid Soft Chew Supplement for Senior Dogs
The Quiet Moments Calming Aid Soft Chew Supplement for Senior Dogs is our runner up pick. Many of the supplements on this list are formulated for dogs in general, but puppies and senior dogs may have special formula requirements. These Quiet Moments Calming Aid Soft Chew Supplements are formulated for the needs of senior dogs to be more effective and to prevent any possible side effects.
In many senior dogs, their anxiety reactions become exaggerated and they could benefit from a supplement that can bring them back to normal. Daily doses of this supplement can help these anxiety behaviors have a smaller impact on your dog’s life. Plus, your dog will avoid any possible issues that can be brought on by high stress.
The best feature of this Quiet Moments Calming Aid Soft Chew Supplement for Senior Dogs is its natural ingredients. It uses a natural form of melatonin that is easy to digest and is more effective in dogs. Paired with thiamin and L-tryptophan, it provides a long-lasting and effective full-body calm for older dogs.
Quiet Moments Calming Aid Soft Chew Supplement for Senior Dogs Key Features:
- Special senior dog formula
- Can be used daily
- Dogs as young as one-year-old can take these supplements
- Normalizes nervous system functions
Best Budget Pick: K9 Choice Melatonin 1 mg 180 capsules
The K9 Choice Melatonin 1 mg 180 capsules are our best budget pick. One of the best ways to see if a supplement is right for your dog is to slowly introduce it to your dog’s diet. These capsules are a cost-affordable way of trying melatonin supplements for your dog. At just $10, this pack of 180 can help your dog be less stressed for up to six months.
The best feature of this supplement is its dosage. Each capsule contains 1 mg. It is just about the smallest dosage that you can find, which is exactly what you want if you are introducing this to your dog’s diet. Most dog breeds will only need one capsule to see the effects.
K9 Choice Melatonin 1 mg 180 capsules Key Features:
- A three-month supply
- Reduces cortisol levels
- Low dosage levels that are perfect for trying for the first time
- Dosage could last several months
Best Melatonin Soft Chews for Dogs: Dog Calming Aid – Treats
The Dog Calming Aid – Treats are a good choice if you’re looking for a soft chew or treat with melatonin. Dogs generally hate taking pills. In fact, most dogs will spit them out or eat around them if you put them in their food. To fix this, you can give your dog supplement treats. When they come in treat or soft chew form, dogs are far more likely to eat them without being forced or tricked.
The best feature of these treats is their form. Since they come in a form that dogs are likely to eat, they can be administered after the stress has set in. Once you notice that your dog starts anxiety behaviors, just give him or her one of these treats. Your dog will chew it up thinking it is a regular treat and begin to experience the effects within a half-hour.
Dog Calming Aid – Treats Key Features:
- All-natural ingredients
- Includes chamomile to smooth stomachs
- Can be administered daily
- Can be used to treat motion sickness
Best Melatonin for Puppies: NaturVet – Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin
The NaturVet – Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin is our best melatonin for puppies pick. Puppies experience high levels of stress because they have not been exposed to as many things in their lives. You can use these NaturVet – Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin to help your puppy relax in stressful situations.
The best feature of these supplements is that they are specially formulated for the needs of puppies. They use natural ingredients so your puppy will stay healthy. Plus, they deliver the melatonin in lower doses so that it is within a better effective range for puppies. That way, you can help your puppy relax without causing other health effects.
NaturVet – Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin Key Features:
- Give to any dog over 12-weeks
- Cost-effective option
- Available in a two-pack set
- 65-count packs
Who Should Buy Melatonin for Dogs
Any pet owner that has an anxious, new, or energetic dog. Dogs are easily excitable, which can be exciting. However, there are certain situations where that excitable nature is a problem for you and your dog. Fireworks shows, for example, are extremely stressful for dogs. The prolonged stress from these events can make your dog very uncomfortable and have other adverse health risks.
Melatonin supplements can help calm your dog down. They induce calm in dogs with several natural ingredients. That way, you can help your dog live stress-free and healthily. Many owners also use these supplements to help their dogs get better sleep and feel more rested throughout the day. If your pup is anxious, you might also want to consider a dog anxiety vest or a dog anxiety wrap.
Important Features to Consider
Finding the right melatonin supplements for your dog can be challenging, but there are a few things to look for to make it easier. Each melatonin supplement contains ingredients and features that can change how well they work for your dog. Here’s what to consider when selecting a melatonin supplement:
- Dosage. Supplements are measured in milligrams (mg). Most of the supplements that you will find fall in the 2-5 mg range.
- Flavor. All supplement tablets have a taste and can be flavored with different ingredients to make them more palatable for dogs.
- Other ingredients. Supplements often contain up to six active ingredients that have different effects. Each ingredient has its own effect and should be considered before giving the supplement to your dog.
- Form. Supplements can come in the same forms as human medications including fluids, chewables, pills, and tablets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is melatonin used for in dogs?
Melatonin is a natural neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep in humans and dogs. When released, it begins to trigger sleep cycles by promoting calm throughout the body and beginning the process of moving the brain into a sleep cycle. It is naturally occurring in many parts of nature including plants and animals.
In dogs, melatonin plays the same role as in humans and can be found in dogs naturally. Supplements with melatonin are used to raise melatonin levels in dogs to promote a sense of calm throughout their body. This calming method can be used to help dogs relax in stressful situations like fireworks shows or vet visits. In higher doses, it can be used to help dogs get better sleep.
Can you give a dog too much melatonin?
Yes, it is possible to give any living thing too much melatonin. The higher the level of melatonin in the body, the more likely animals are to go to sleep. In moderate doses, enough melatonin can put an animal to sleep. In extremely high doses, melatonin can cause animals to fall into a dangerous sleep by causing the body to stay asleep for too long, or to go too deep into sleep to where it affects brain and body functions.
There is another danger in that introducing high doses of any neurotransmitter can make an animal dependent on it. This happens when their brain stops producing the neurotransmitter naturally since the supply of it readily available is constantly more than it needs. While this is rare with melatonin and other naturally-occurring substances, overdosing for a long time should be avoided.
What are the side effects of melatonin in dogs?
The main effect melatonin is a calming sensation that spreads across the entire body. This calming can relax muscles and reduce stress. However, this calming sensation comes from the early stages of sleep where the body begins to relax. this could lead to your dog falling asleep more easily, and should be avoided in potentially dangerous situations.
There are few if any side effects of melatonin in dogs, and the described effects are the ones that melatonin is generally used for. However, adverse effects can be seen in dogs that are given doses of melatonin that far exceed their dosage limits. This could lead to drowsiness and an increased amount of sleep. If any other effects arise, reduce the amount given to your dog and consult a vet as soon as possible.
How much melatonin should I give my dog?
In most cases, dogs are given medications based on their weight and size. Melatonin supplements are formulated so that one table is given to a small dog. However, some pills should be given in one-half increments for the smaller breeds. Larger dogs may be able to take multiple tablets at a time.
To know how much of a supplement to give your dog, see the dosing requirements on the package. Every package has dosing instructions much like human medications. If the package is unclear or you are unsure, consult a vet before giving the supplement to your dog.
Featured Image Credit: Reddogs, Shutterstock
