The Best Dog Anxiety Vest That Actually Works
Whether your dog is anxious due to loud thunderstorms, a trip to the vet, or unscheduled time alone, there are many occasions that can be scary and stressful for your dog. If disproportionate levels of anxiety are left unchecked, it can develop to a dangerous situation for both your pet and you. You may need to seek the help of a veterinarian. However, meds can have plenty of unsavory side effects. This is why the purchase and use of a dog anxiety vest is an excellent method of easing a stressed-out dog. Anxiety vests are designed to help soothe your dog when they are feeling stressed or anxious.
We have reviewed dozens of anxiety vest for dogs to identify and recommend the best one for your pooch. We considered features such as how easy the wrap is to place on your dog, and whether it was machine washable. We also looked at reviews to see what other pet parents are saying about a particular brand of dog anxiety vest.
Below are The Best Dog Anxiety Vests
1.ThunderShirt Classic Dog Anxiety Jacket
The Thundershirt is the number one maker on this list of anxiety vest, and they’re the current leader in the market. This vest is made of durable fabric that hugs the dog’s body yet allows movement and comfort. It is also adjustable and designed to apply just the right amount of pressure to calm your dog. The jacket is a perfect alternative to using drugs to calm a dog exhibiting stressed or separation anxiety.
What we like:
- Secure design for outdoor use
- Anti-hair fabric, and machine washable
- Breathable material for extra comfort
- Reflective trims and great color choices
- It comes in different sizes from XXS to XXL
- Drug-free and requires no training
What we don’t like:
- Might take several attempts to get the level of pressure right
2. Mellow Shirt Dog Anxiety Calming Wrap
The Mellow Shirt Dog Anxiety Calming Wrap can be used for a wide variety of situations where your dog might be exhibiting signs of stress, anxiety, fireworks. This anxiety calming wrap has a success rate of over 80%. The strap is fastened using hook-and-loop fasteners while the tummy straps exert a gentle pressure which will help calm your dog. Also, because the fabric is lighter weight, you can use this Mellow Shirt calming wrap in the summer without worrying about your dog overheating.
What we like:
- Easy to apply
- Available in 6 different color and sizes, from XX-Small to X large
- Breathable, easy to wash
- A success rate of over 80%.
- Drug-free and requires no training
What we don’t like:
- The lightweight fabric may be too light for cold temperatures
3. AKC American Kennel Club Anti-Anxiety and Stress Relief Calming Coat
The AKC – American Kennel Club Anti-Anxiety is suitable for dogs having undergone trauma or anxiety of different forms. The stress relief calming coat by the American Kennel Club offers a way to perk your pooch up by relieving stress and anxiety. The Anti-Anxiety vest has great success when taking your pets to the vet and during fireworks as a way to help them feel safer and more secure. Furthermore, it has a proven track record to show relief in traumatized dogs within a few days of use.
What we like:
- Good quality fabric is used
- Available in color and sizes to fit pets from XS to XL
- Easy to put on your pet
- Works well during fireworks
What we don’t like:
- Difficult to find the proper fit, or else the product does not work
4.ThunderShirt Sport Dog Anxiety Jacket – Vet Recommended
ThunderShirt is a well-known anxiety vest creator worldwide. Sport Dog Anxiety vest is an excellent option from ThunderShirt. The company utilizes a comforting and gentle-pressure approach to squelch stress and anxiety in your dogs. This is also one of the most vet recommended dog anxiety wraps, with a success rate of 80%. ThunderShirt is an effective solution for many situations including fireworks, visits to the vet, and even during thunderstorms. Also, the Jacket is backed by the science of Dr. Temple Grandin as well as other behavioral scientists.
What we like:
- Patented design
- Breathable and lightweight
- Proven to be effective for treating anxiety in dogs
- Available in sizes from Small to XX-large
- Soft and comfortable fabric- easy to clean
What we don’t like:
- Not very budget-friendly
5. Surgi Snuggly Dog Cone – Wounds Dog Recovery Suit
This jacket from Surgi Snuggly allows your pet to heal in comfort and recoup from surgery in style. The Surgi Snuggly Dog Cone helps to keeps bandages in place, and wounds, and injuries undisturbed. One of the many purposes of this jacket is to secure diapers and help pooch with incontinence stay dry and comfortable. The jacket also provides anti-anxiety support. The anxiety calming wrap is light in weight and made from a breathable material. Surgi Snuggly Dog Cone is a multi-purpose protective jacket that addresses a lot of your dog’s needs and it is highly recommended by veterinarians
What we like:
- Soft compression reduces anxiety during recovery
- A comfortable alternative to E-collars
- Fits snugly to provide anti-anxiety support
- Available in 3 colors and more than 12 sizes
- Designed with microbial properties.
What we don’t like:
- Can be difficult to wrap underneath the dog
6. The Original Anxiety Wrap
The Original Anxiety Wrap is a patented pressure wrap designed by trainers who are in search of optimum comfort and effectiveness. It is designed to touch the acupressure points; it relieves stress in your dog. A study conducted by Tufts University showed the Original Anxiety Wrap to be 89% effective for dogs with a fear of thunderstorms. The entire wrap is a pressure-maintained wrap, making it different from regular anxiety-reducing wraps. The Original Anxiety Wrap is made from a unique, lightweight fabric, this means you can use the wrap while training, walking your dog, or at dog agility.
What we like:
- A full-body suit that maintained pressure everywhere
- Online support from a professional dog trainers
- Premium quality fabric is used
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Available in 8 sizes
What we don’t like:
- It can be a little tricky to fit correctly
The Best Dog Anxiety Vests – Buyer’s Guide
A dog anxiety jacket is an excellent way to ease the stress and anxiety that your dog is experiencing. When buying the best dog anxiety wraps, they are some factors to consider. So, we find it our responsibility to let you know about those factors so that you can choose the best for your dog.
When to Use a Dog Anxiety Vest?
Anxiety vests can be used to soothe anxious dogs in several situations, among them, are
- Thunderstorms
- Separation/isolation
- Vacuum cleaners
- Nail trimming
- Loud noises
- Car travel
- Fireworks
- Visitors
- In an unfamiliar environment
- At the Vet’s
- During recovery from surgery
The possibilities are virtually endless; however, thunderstorms and Separation are probably the most common trigger for anxiety in dogs.
How does an anxiety wrap work?
Like other products for dogs, it can be confusing as to how they work. For all of the calming vests, it provides a sort of blanket assisted hug. The soft pressure from the jacket is just enough to protect This is the same technique applied to babies to prevent fear.
Anxiety wraps are really simple, once your dog wears the anxiety-reducing wrap perfectly it starts to apply gentle and constant pressure on your dog’s body and makes your dog feel like that someone is hugging them.
Are anxiety wraps effective?
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that anxiety wraps are effective to help some dogs. Pet owners often note a decreased anxiety to noxious stimuli when their dog wears a vest. The dog may appear less agitated, giving the owner the impression that they’ve found a successful remedy for their pet’s anxiety; However, animal behaviorists :warn pet owners about misinterpreting their dog’s calm demeanor”. :Vcahospitals
Expert Tip
Getting the right size is very important for your pooch, so make sure you measure your dog properly before ordering.
Source: Lynn Buzhardt, Anxiety Vests for Dogs, Vcahospitals
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