How can I help my dog with severe anxiety improve his quality of life?

Question

Our 9 year old poodle mix has moderate to severe anxiety. We always assumed he was just skittish until we got a new dog and saw the huge difference. He won't take a pill well. What are the pros and cons of treatment? Will it improve his quality of life? What effective, and also cost effective options are available? Thank you! Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 8 years and 9 months old | 14 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry to hear that Henry has anxiety issues! If you feel that they're severe enough to be impacting his quality of life, I would definitely encourage you to talk with your veterinarian about medication options. SSRIs like Prozac or Paxil are very commonly used in dogs for generalized anxiety - they're quite safe, and don't have any significant side effects in most dogs. They're also quite inexpensive (on the $4 list at places like Walmart or Kroger, usually!) Your vet can help you decide if starting a medication like this would be a good choice for Henry. In the meantime, you could also consider trying a daily natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure Pro - these can work well for some dogs, although the effects will be more subtle than with a prescription medication. They are available over-the-counter, and can be purchased at pet stores or ordered online.

How can I help my dog with severe anxiety improve his quality of life?

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