PetHonesty Calming Chews Review: Hemp, Valerian & Dose

Quick answer PetHonesty Hemp Calming (chicken) gives, per chew, 100 mg valerian root, 80 mg chamomile, 30 mg L-theanine, 25 mg L-tryptophan and 87.5 mg of hemp seed ingredients, with no CBD and no melatonin. Every amount is disclosed, which is rare. Expect a mild herbal aid, not a sedative or a fix for severe anxiety.

PetHonesty Hemp Calming (Chicken)

L-theanine: 30 mg
L-tryptophan: 25 mg
Chamomile: 80 mg
Hemp: hemp seed powder 50 mg + hemp seed oil 37.5 mg per chew

Also: valerian root 100mg, passion flower 45mg, ginger root 30mg, ashwagandha root 25mg, magnesium citrate 2.5mg

Chews per day by weight: 0–25 lb: 1 · 26–50 lb: 2 · 51–75 lb: 3 · 76–100 lb: 4 · 90 per jar

Check on Amazon

Per chew, from the manufacturer label. Check the package before buying; formulas change.

What is in one chew

The label lists amounts per 2 soft chews (6 g). Most dogs get one chew per 25 lb, so we halved the numbers below. This is the chicken flavor, read from the maker's label image on 2026-10-11.

Active	Per 2 chews (label)	Per 1 chew
Valerian root	200 mg	100 mg
Chamomile	160 mg	80 mg
Hemp seed powder	100 mg	50 mg
Passion flower	90 mg	45 mg
Hemp seed oil	75 mg	37.5 mg
L-theanine	60 mg	30 mg
Ginger root	60 mg	30 mg
Ashwagandha root	50 mg	25 mg
L-tryptophan	50 mg	25 mg
Magnesium citrate	5 mg	2.5 mg

Two things stand out. First, the "hemp" is hemp seed powder and hemp seed oil. Hemp seeds contain essentially no CBD or THC, so this is not a CBD product. Second, valerian root is the largest active, ahead of chamomile. That makes this a valerian-led herbal chew more than a hemp chew, whatever the name says.

Each ingredient and how strong the evidence is

Hemp seed powder and oil: a source of fats and protein. There is no good evidence that hemp seed calms dogs. See hemp seed vs CBD.
Valerian root: used as a mild sedative herb in people, with mixed results. Dog data are sparse. Evidence: weak.
Chamomile and passion flower: traditional calming herbs with almost no dog data. See chamomile, valerian and other botanicals.
L-theanine: the best-studied active here. Small dog studies reported modest effects on fear-related behavior. Evidence: limited but real. See L-theanine for dogs.
L-tryptophan: a serotonin precursor. Dog results are mixed and mostly come from diet studies. See L-tryptophan.
Ashwagandha, ginger, magnesium: ashwagandha has human stress data but little in dogs; ginger is mostly there for the stomach; 2.5 mg of magnesium citrate is a trace amount.

How to give it

The maker says to give one chew daily per 25 lb of body weight, every day rather than only on bad days.

Dog weight	Chews per day	Valerian per day	How long 90 chews last
1-25 lb	1	100 mg	90 days
26-50 lb	2	200 mg	45 days
51-75 lb	3	300 mg	30 days
76-100 lb	4	400 mg	about 22 days

Note the small-dog math. Because the bottom bracket starts at 1 lb, a 10 lb dog gets the same 100 mg of valerian as a 25 lb dog. That is 10 mg per lb versus 4 mg per lb. Owners of very small dogs may want to ask a vet about half a chew. Splitting a soft chew is approximate, not precise dosing.

Flavors and versions

The PetHonesty product page lists three options: chicken, beef liver, and Max Strength in duck flavor. The figures on this page are for chicken. We did not find a separate per-chew panel for beef liver on the maker's page, so check the label on the bag. The maker's Max Strength (duck) page lists melatonin among its actives; the regular chicken formula has none. That page does not show mg amounts, and retailer listings disagree on the melatonin figure, so we do not quote one here. If you want to avoid melatonin, stay with the regular version.

Is PetHonesty a good brand?

PetHonesty is a US pet supplement company sold through its own site and on Amazon. The product page states the chews are made in an American GMP-certified facility. We did not find a NASC (National Animal Supplement Council) seal mentioned on the hemp calming page, so we cannot confirm one for this product. In its favor, the label discloses the mg amount of every active, while several competitors hide key amounts in proprietary blends. That transparency is the strongest factual point for the brand. It does not prove the chew works.

Does it work?

We found no published clinical trial of this exact product. The realistic expectation is a mild effect, if any, in dogs with mild situational stress such as car rides or visitors. L-theanine has the most support; the herbs are less proven. Dogs with true separation anxiety, noise phobia or aggression usually need a vet behavior plan, and sometimes prescription medication. Give daily use two to four weeks before judging, and keep short notes so you are not guessing.

What to watch for

Sedation: valerian can cause drowsiness or wobbliness, more likely in small dogs given a full chew.
Diarrhea: the label says high doses may cause diarrhea. Do not exceed the weight chart.
Drug interactions: the maker warns against use with CNS depressants and with anti-anxiety drugs or MAO inhibitors. L-tryptophan alongside serotonin drugs such as fluoxetine or trazodone is worth raising with a vet.
Anesthesia and surgery: the label says not to give before anesthesia. Stop ahead of any procedure and tell the clinic.

Skip it for pregnant dogs (per the maker), dogs on behavior or seizure medication unless a vet approves, and dogs allergic to chicken (check another flavor's label first).

Alternatives

Zesty Paws Calming Bites: a similar herb list, but valerian, L-theanine and L-tryptophan sit in an undisclosed 105 mg blend per chew. See PetHonesty vs Zesty Paws and Zesty Paws side effects.
ThunderBites Hemp: more hemp seed (75 mg oil + 75 mg powder per chew), chamomile and thiamine, a trace of melatonin, no valerian.
NaturVet Quiet Moments: chamomile, thiamine and 60 mcg melatonin per chew, given about 30 minutes before a stressor.
Finn Calming Aid: passion flower-led, with L-theanine, L-tryptophan, 35 mg valerian and 1 mg melatonin per chew.

For one-night events, see calming chews for fireworks.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Does PetHonesty Hemp Calming contain CBD?

No. The hemp in PetHonesty Hemp Calming is hemp seed powder (50 mg per chew) and hemp seed oil (37.5 mg per chew). Hemp seeds contain essentially no CBD or THC. The calming actives are valerian, chamomile, passion flower, L-theanine, L-tryptophan and ashwagandha, with valerian the largest at 100 mg per chew.

How many PetHonesty calming chews should I give my dog?

The maker says one chew daily per 25 lb: one chew up to 25 lb, two for 26 to 50 lb, three for 51 to 75 lb and four for 76 to 100 lb. A 90-count jar lasts 90 days for a small dog and about 22 days for a 100 lb dog. Do not exceed the chart.

Do PetHonesty calming chews make dogs sleepy?

They can. Each chew has 100 mg of valerian root, an herb used as a mild sedative, and very small dogs get a larger dose per pound. The regular chicken formula has no melatonin, but the Max Strength duck version lists melatonin. Drowsiness or wobbliness is a reason to cut back and call your vet.

Is PetHonesty a good brand?

PetHonesty is a US supplement brand whose hemp calming label discloses the milligram amount of every active, which many competitors do not. The product page says it is made in a GMP-certified US facility. We found no NASC seal mentioned on that page. Transparency is a plus, but there is no published trial of this exact chew.

How long do PetHonesty calming chews take to work?

PetHonesty positions it as a daily chew rather than a fast-acting dose, and it does not publish an onset time. Some dogs may show a mild change within hours, but a fair trial is two to four weeks of daily use, with short notes on behavior, before you decide whether it helps.