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Evidence DatabaseSaved evidence
Claim evidence

Reduces situational anxiety in dogs

Grade CLimited or mixed evidenceSave claim
Ingredient: L-Theanine · calming

Plain-language summary

Open-label and small blinded studies suggest benefit for storm/travel anxiety.

About the ingredient

What it is

Amino acid found in tea leaves.

Why it's used

Marketed for calming/anxiety support.

Also known as: Theanine

Cited studies (5)

Canine studies
  • Effect of l-theanine tablets in reducing stress-related emotional signs in cats: an open-label field study.
    Dramard V, Kern L, Hofmans J, Rème CA, Nicolas CS, Chala V, Navarro C · Irish veterinary journal · 2018
    Save studyC
    Study summary
    Very limited quality
    Design score 2/11
    Design
    Journal Article
    Species
    dog
    Sample size
    Not reported
    Duration
    Not reported
    Controls / blinding
    Not reported
    Funding
    Not reported
    Strengths
    • Conducted in dogs
    Limitations
    • Sample size not recorded
    • No control group recorded
    • Study duration not recorded

    Relevance to this claim: Ingredient-level evidence for L-Theanine

    DOI: 10.1186/s13620-018-0130-4
  • l-theanine attenuates abstinence signs in morphine-dependent rhesus monkeys and elicits anxiolytic-like activity in mice.
    Wise LE, Premaratne ID, Gamage TF, Lichtman AH, Hughes LD, Harris LS, Aceto MD · Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior · 2012
    Save studyC
    Study summary
    Very limited quality
    Design score 2/11
    Design
    Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
    Species
    dog
    Sample size
    Not reported
    Duration
    Not reported
    Controls / blinding
    Not reported
    Funding
    Not reported
    Strengths
    • Conducted in dogs
    Limitations
    • Sample size not recorded
    • No control group recorded
    • Study duration not recorded

    Relevance to this claim: Ingredient-level evidence for L-Theanine

    DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2012.08.008
  • L-theanine for canine anxiety
    Veterinary Record · 2010
    Save studyC
    Study summary
    Limited quality
    Design score 3/11
    Design
    open-label
    Species
    dog
    Sample size
    Not reported
    Duration
    Not reported
    Controls / blinding
    Open-label (no blinding)
    Funding
    Not reported
    Strengths
    • Conducted in dogs
    Limitations
    • No blinded control group
    • Sample size not recorded
    • No control group recorded
    • Study duration not recorded

    Outcome: Reduction in anxiety scores over 6 weeks

  • Anxitane (L-theanine) tablets reduce fear of human beings in a laboratory model of anxiety-related behavior in dogs
    Araujo JA, de Rivera C, Ethier JL, et al. · Journal of Veterinary Behavior · 2010
    Save studyC
    Study summary
    Moderate quality
    Design score 6/11
    Design
    RCT
    Species
    DOG
    Sample size
    Not reported
    Duration
    Not reported
    Controls / blinding
    Randomized control group · DOUBLE
    Funding
    Not reported
    Dose studied: Approximately 2.2 to 5 mg/kg/day
    Strengths
    • Randomized trial design
    • Conducted in dogs
    • DOUBLE
    Limitations
    • Sample size not recorded
    • No control group recorded
    • Study duration not recorded

    Relevance to this claim: Canine dosing evidence for L-theanine anxiety support.

    DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2009.10.002
  • Inhibitory activity of a green tea extract and some of its constituents on multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 functionality.
    Netsch MI, Gutmann H, Luescher S, Brill S, Schmidlin CB, Kreuter MH, Drewe J · Planta medica · 2005
    Save studyC
    Study summary
    Very limited quality
    Design score 2/11
    Design
    Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    Species
    dog
    Sample size
    Not reported
    Duration
    Not reported
    Controls / blinding
    Not reported
    Funding
    Not reported
    Strengths
    • Conducted in dogs
    Limitations
    • Sample size not recorded
    • No control group recorded
    • Study duration not recorded

    Relevance to this claim: Ingredient-level evidence for L-Theanine

    DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-837780

Products in our catalog with L-Theanine (4)

Educational information only. Not veterinary advice. Grades reflect published dog research and reviewer consensus, not marketing.