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My dog has anxiety. Are melatonin calming chews safe? What are side effects?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Male | neutered | 8 years and 6 months old | 12 lbs

Romeo has been dealing with bad anxiety. I gave him half of a calming chew by NaturVet Quiet Moments Plus Melatonin. Can these have side effects? Can it cause consipation or nausea? I’m just wondering if need to watch out for anything. They appear to be relatively safe based on reviews. I’m including the label.

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1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on August 15th, 2021

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.

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