Benadryl: This mild antihistamine sedative helps calm your pet when it is nervous about clipping its nails. Melatonin supplements: Help regulate body rhythm and help calm down your dog. Natural sedation methods: Herbs like California poppy, chamomile, rosemary, or valerian are natural relaxants.
Distracting your dog with a smear of peanut butter or a stuffed food toy while you trim a nail is an option for dogs who do not exhibit aggressive behavior during nail trims.
Benadryl may be a good dog sedative for car travel, as it also helps with mild car sickness.
The 3 most common drugs used by veterinarians to calm dogs are acepromazine (PromAce®), diazepam (Valium®), and dexmedetomidine (Sileo). These drugs block certain signals in the central nervous system (CNS), making the animal calm or sedated.
Melatonin. Melatonin supplements can be useful for both people and dogs. This hormone helps the body differentiate between day and night, and has been used for a variety of sleep disorders and jet lag. Although you can buy this product at health food stores you should always speak to your veterinarian about dosage.
Nails cannot be allowed to grow without being trimmed or naturally worn down so if they are long enough, your veterinarian will need to inject a sedative into your dog in order to safely trim the nails. Physical restraint should not be performed if a dog is struggling and trying to bite.
A dog's aversion to having their paws handled is instinctive – in the wild, a wounded paw could be the difference between life and death. Naturally, dogs feel the need to protect their paws and even the sweetest, most well-trained dogs can react negatively to a nail trim.
Clip only the tip of the nail, straight across. Include the dewclaws, located on the inner side of the paw. Avoid clipping past the curve of the nail or you risk hitting what is called the quick (the pink area of the nail that contains the blood vessels). A nick there is painful and will bleed.
Melatonin. Some vets may recommend trying melatonin as an extra-label drug. This drug is also available over the counter and is known to have mild sedative effects. However, just as with Benadryl, it may not work in cases of severe anxiety.
If your veterinarian says it's okay, give your dog 2 mg of Benadryl per 1 kg (2.2 lb) of body weight, or follow your veterinarian's dosing suggestion. Repeat the dose every 4-6 hours while you need to keep your dog sedated. Do not exceed a dose of 4 mg of Benadryl per 1 kg (2.2 lb) of body weight every 4-6 hours.
Groomers use non-slip surfaces. To help dogs stand still and steady, groomers invest in special non-slip padding for appropriate surfaces such as grooming tables or bathtubs. It helps prevent fatigue which makes for a calm dog.
Melatonin Dosage for Dogs
General recommendations are to give 1 to 6 milligrams orally every eight to 24 hours. Typically, doses are lower and less frequent when used for sleep than for skin conditions and behavioral concerns. Your veterinarian will determine the dosage that is most appropriate for your dog.
While you can give dogs melatonin, we would always encourage you to get supplements specifically formulated for dogs or ask your vet if they recommend any specific brands. Many human melatonin supplements contain xylitol, which is poisonous to dogs, and sometimes also other potentially harmful ingredients.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L) – There's a reason people drink chamomile tea before bed … it's a gentle herb with sedative effects. It can help your dog relax and soothe her stomach when she's nervous.
Melatonin is a naturally-occurring hormone. In humans, it helps regulate the natural sleep cycle. In dogs, melatonin has sedative and calming benefits, which means it has a few clinical uses.
Your dog may experience drowsiness or an upset stomach after ingesting melatonin. Watch out for other changes, too, including allergic reactions like vomiting, diarrhea or general itchiness. Contact your veterinarian if your dog starts showing any of these signs.
Avoid supplements that come from brands with added ingredients like xylitol that are toxic to animals. Will 10 mg of melatonin hurt a dog? 10mg of melatonin is above the generally recommended dosage for dogs.
Use treats
Your dog will begin to connect remaining calm with rewards for more relaxed grooming. For dogs of a nervous disposition, ask the owner's permission to give them food treats to encourage the continuation of good and obedient behaviour. Eventually, grooming will become much less of an ordeal for the dog.
Some groomers use calming aids in their salons. They'll infuse the space with calming pheromones in the air or essential oils through a diffuser. Perhaps they'll use certain shampoos with soothing ingredients, like lavender.
Some groomers have a loop in the tub to restrain finicky dogs. Once in the tub, even aggressive dogs should allow a groomer to wash and shampoo them, though some might try to bite the water hose. Groomers move quickly and continue talking to the dog throughout the bath to keep the dog calm.
Slowly start introducing brushing his coat in the more difficult areas first. These include around his face and ears, his paws, and his tail. Give him plenty of praise and treats to reward him for getting it right. Turn the clippers on if you are using them and let your pup get used to the noise.