what do you use to calm your dog on a long car trip?
 

I have heard about benadryl....sounds like it may or may not work for some dogs.

The vet has what they call composure chews (non Rx) which is supposed to have a calming effect.

They also have acepromazine which is an Rx and will semi sedate the dog.

Our dog just will not sit or lay down and pants as if she were in the heat. So I am looking to help her relax (and me too) on a 10 hour trip.

What have you done/used?

btk

Rescue remedy. Spray under the dog's tongue. We are starting our 1050 mile trip to TV on Friday. We will be frogs on Sunday.

Our dogs loved to travel, especially our last one. Even though she was a good traveler, we made sure to stop every couple of hours so she could stretch her legs, sniff around, take a potty break, have a drink of water or a treat. When we drove from CA to FL, Mike's Mom and her dog followed us in Mom's car. Jasmine, her 100 lb Rottweiler wasn't a good traveler, but the frequent stops seemed to settle her down and she did very well on the trip from the left coast to the east.

When driving around on some of the freeways in CA, our dog Sydney would be startled by the rushing traffic, loud big rigs.....so we did get a Bach's floral remedy for her, though not Rescue Remedy. The flower essence we used stated it would be calming. Alas, it caused more agitation than relaxation. Rescue Remedy might have been a better choice, but personally, I'd try it before the trip if you can just to see how pooch responds.

I used Rescue Remedy for plane trips onboard and it was very helpful.

i have used the ace and it really helps them calm down. the action you discuss is stress and not good for a dog to do for 10 hours. Is this only a 1 way trip or are you returning with the dog? Give the dog a break. You will both be glad you did. Make potty/stretch stops along the way. Good for both. Good luck.

Try Ice
 

Not exactly the same problem - our dog (a 15 yr old miniature poodle) is calm but would never drink anything on our 15 hr trips back and forth (we now do 2 8 hr days, visiting my daughter in Cary, NC going and coming). Didn't matter if the car was moving or we were stopped at a rest area.

Anyway, the older he got, the more stressed he seemed, especially when it was hot out. We discovered by accident that he would lick ice, and when the ice is melting, will also actually drink up the water that results. So - now we take little plastic containers of ice, and if we run out, we get more ice at gas stations or fast food places for him to lick and drink.

I haven't had any success with Rescue Remedy. I've tried it on both cats and dogs. It's just never worked for me. But I know that many pet owners love the product. As Pooh suggested, it may be a good idea to try it first.

Our dogs are great travelers and sleep for most of the 26 hour drive from Ontario. We do the trip over three days, stopping often for short walks. We stay at Red Roof Hotels, they are very pet friendly, no extra charge.

When I fly with my small dog, he becomes very agitated, so I sedate him with a product from the Vet, which makes him drowsy. The Vet told me that the secret to making a sedative effective is to give the pill prior to the trip, don't wait until the animal becomes upset. I hate to sedate my little guy, but I truly believe it is the humane thing to do. By the way, I would never ship a pet in Air Cargo, he comes in the cabin with me.

I like the ice idea. Our little Gilda get soooooo stressed. Thought initially that it was car sickness until one day, all we did was take the kennel out to the car....she panicked and started vomiting. We tried the Benedryl (didn't work). Tried a sedative (vet suggested)....it actually made her more hyper. So...I sit in the back seat with her and clean up after her for the whole trip. (two days). I have lately been taking her on short trips to my daughters (20 miles) and shes been tolerating it. I've had many dogs and they all loved traveling...not my Gilda. :(

We have sisters and one of them has grown out of her carsick stage but the other one is still working on it. We used to use Benadryl but I don't like to sedate her so someone told me about the Thundershirt and it works quite well for her.....it's like swaddeling a baby. You can go to their website to check it out: Thundershirt | The Best Dog Anxiety Treatment

Our dogs go right to sleep!

Our five year old beagle, Bob, will be traveling with us to TV in early August, over 1200 miles, and he hates riding in the car. He basically whines non stop and wants to get on my lap while I'm driving, so we are going to the vet next week to see what he recommends. We would try benedryl, as it works great for me for sleep on long airplane trips, but we don't know what the correct dose would be. If we learn anything new, we'll post it then.

Thundershirt
 

My toy poodle calms after about 30 minutes. Seems to do better in the car if he sees a suitcase and his bed - I guess he knows he is going too. I put him in the front seat next to whoever is driving - in his bed with a seatbelt on. Non-driver has to sit in backseat. He seems to do much better in the front seat. I've tried Benedryl and it helps some but makes him really drowsy so I don't use it much. I have a relative who uses the thundershirt. It is amazing. Calms her dog in many situations - biggest help is in a thunderstorm; but helps in any stresful situation. Works wonders and well worth the investment. But it is hot so in summer, so need to be careful and remove it when the dog is out of the air conditioned car. We also stop often to take walks and check "pee mail". That seems to tire the poodle and help him to sleep in the car.

Years ago I had a bichon that didn't like the car and we gave him about 1/4 of a Gravol and that calmed him down enough that he would sleep. That was before we knew about Rescue Remedy. Now if I had a dog that was stressed, I would give RR and then a bit of Gravol as that would help to sleep on the trip especially if it were a long one. Our 2 shih tzus just sleep on my husband's lap on the way down for 3 days. We have their bed and stuff in the back but they spend most of the time on his lap. We do 8 hours a day and stop a couple of times so it isn't really a stressful trip, and we have the Red Roofs booked ahead so we always know where we are heading each day.

LW888

I'm grateful to be reminded of the thunder shirt....gonna order one ASAP. I remembered it also on the 4th of July.

Also, just an FYI.... LaQuinta is also very pet friendly...no charge for dogs ever.

If you sign up for their rewards program, the cost can be do-able.

Our vet prescibes Valium. one mg every 4 hours. we have tried everything else. This works! She is not very groggy just calm, which makes the 13 hours in the car more pleasant. good luck!

Do they get to ride in the car much? If not, then they think they are going to the vet. No wonder they are frightened.

Try taking them on short trips once or even twice a day and then on longer and longer trips. Mine are asleep before we get out of the driveway. Some feel safer in their crates. some love to sleep cuddled in their blankies. Some love pillows. Try a variety to these on the short drives acclimating them to the car. But I'm pretty sure their fear is that they think they are going to the vet. If you can get them over that, all will be well.

They advertise some kind of comforting shirt on TV for fearful dogs that you may want to look into. Can't think of the name. ThunderShirt or something like that. Good luck and be sure to take those short rides, if only to the end of the block for starters.

i once had a terrier that would not eat away from home. Not only on the trip but also afte we got there. Wouldn't eat a thing, not even a hamburger. Survived on just water. The longest we ever kept him away from home was 3 days. Really put a crimp in vacations with dog!

I try to bring as much of their stuff as possible, leave the crate in the back with its door open. I also bring water from home. I find that small dogs like to be raised up to see out the window.

I'm paranoid about them getting loose, I put them in harnesses and make sure that my cell # is on them.

Our lab Bailey is a very good traveler. We think he is just happy as long as he is with us.

Excellent idea about the cell phone number! Our house number won't help any more because the house is empty!
:wave:

I always put the cell # on their tags, if you're riding around looking for them somebody calling the house # isn't going to help much.

The other thing, that I haven't done yet, is update the information on their chip.

Someone at the Dogpark gave me this suggestion. I had tags made up at Petsmart and the dogs always wear them. On one side the tags say "$500 Reward". And on the other side we have our cell phone number and our Vet's telephone number. Even though our dogs are both chipped, I want to make sure that a finder has the motivation to hunt us down. My biggest nightmare would be to lose a beloved pet.

I swear by the thundershirt for calming my 102# lab. I purchased it when he became frightened of thunder folowing the tornadoes that went through the villages some time ago. He is calm now during storms. Then he had a seizure a few years later. Again used the shirt to calm him as he was coming out of it and it really helped with his anxiety. This summer he needed surgery and was suppose to wear an Elizabethan collar which was horrible. I resorted to putting his thunder shirt on and he immediately calmed down leaving his incision alone to heal. Have known of other dogs that wear them while riding. Don't expect miracles..give them time to adjust to the shirt. Now when I bring his thunder shirt out, my dog eagerly awaits to have it put on him wagging his tail the whole time. Good luck.

Yes, we also used the Thundershirt and it calmed our dogs
down immediately.

Our Tucker just cowers in the back floorboard and acts like he's petrified! Thank goodness he doesn't throw-up or anything. He's fine to get out and walk around at rest stops. His behavior is almost comical. He seems just fine as long as he is in The Villages but as soon as we leave campus he hops in the back floorboard and is there for the remainder of the trip! We've tried meds that the vets prescribed but I don't like to see him sedated. He's still seemed in distress!

We bought the Thundershirt for thunder but I can't see it has made a difference!

I'm really looking forward to trying out the thunder shirt. We will be heading down next month and it would be so, so nice to not have to clean up after my pup for two days. You should see the stack of towels and paper toweling. I even have a case of hospital pads to keep under her. If this shirt works, I'll be a very happy happy villager.

A couple of questions, please. Thundershirt owners. Can you tell what it is about the shirt construction that calms the dogs? Construction? Fabric choice? Magic potion?

Owners of dogs who are chipped. Is the chipping process painful? Does it take long? Is it expensive? Can you feel the chip when it's in the dog? Where do they put the chip?

I lied. That's more than a couple. lol!!!

Thanks for your help. I know my dogs should be chipped but they are 3.5 and 6 pounds and I hate the thought of it.

Don't use thundershirt, but have looked at them. I think they make the dog feel secure because they fit like a big hug.

My dog came chipped, I guess it's a good thing, what bothers me about chips is that the puppy mill stores use chips to track inventory, kind of like a upc code. When I first got her you could feel the chip, felt like a piece of rice.

LOL! You sound just like me! Everytime we get 'brave' enough to take Maddie for a ride I cover the seat with a rubber backed rug...then a washable potty pad and maybe her blanket. I also keep a 'Maddie Bag' packed that we take with us that includes paper towels, water, face wipes and a 'wet' bag for the used paper towels. My poor baby girl, she can be following me through the house and if I say the word 'ride' she stops in her tracks and turns green!

There is hope though, she will be 5 in September and she is getting a smidgie bit better, the Thundershirt has truly helped her.

I don't recall anything on the package about a Magic Potion being sewn into the construction but, hey, if it's in there and it's helping my Maddie I'm all for it! lol!

Seriously though, it's made of t-shirt type material and it wraps around the dog's neck, stomach and chest and over their back so they feel secure. The first time we put them on the girls they froze in their tracks and I told my husband 'it works alright, they're now comatose!' but after a few minutes they finally moved, actually they shot like a rocket across the room and jumped up on the couch because they aren't used to wearing clothes! lol! But, now that they are used to them they really do help with anxiety whether it's from a storm, fireworks or a ride in the car.

It helps if you put the vest on the dog before they get a chance to become anxious about a situation but you can put it on them whenever they need to use it.

Both my dogs are chipped. I would kick myself around the block if I lost a dog and hadn't chipped it. The chip is tiny, described to me as "the size of a grain of rice". It takes a second for the Vet to insert it, usually in the neck area.

I have found dogs that were chipped, but the owners had moved and hadn't updated their information. So please, if your dog is chipped, make sure the Microchip Company has your current telephone number and address.

I use a rubber mallet. Works every time!:1rotfl::1rotfl:

Seriously, Lavender spray works great! You can buy it at any pet supply store, petsmart, petco etc.... It comes under many names such as quiet time etc... I've been around dogs all my life and basically all you need to do is spray the Lavender around the dog, NOT DIRECTLY IN IT'S FACE and you will be amazed how calming it is. Also, if your doggie is not opposed to wearing shirts, they make a Thunder shirt for dogs to relieve anxiety during storms, traveling etc... The Thunder shirt can be purchased on line and the website is Thundershirt | The Best Dog Anxiety Treatment I personally have not used the Thunder shirt, but I've heard good things from friends who have. I hope this helps! :smiley:

I think a big part of keeping most animals calm is to stay calm yourself. They pick up on anxiety and mirror it. IMO animals want nothing more than to please us, so if you are anxious they'll join in,

I know this is going to sound crazy, try singing to them. It regulates your breathing and relaxes them. I sometimes (okay, ALWAYS) make up little songs with their name in it.

In addition to their stuff, give them something of yours-with your scent on it. The couple of times I had to kennel mine I left something of mine, like a sock or something. I figured their thought process would go something like
"Well, she desserted me, but I know she'll be back for this stinky sock."

thundershirts
 

thundershirts do work very well. Petco sells them for the same cost as online and you can take your dog in to be fitted. They do need to be snug so they can feel as if they are being held securely. If they work for your pet you can avoid medicating

I'm sure that thundershirts work for some dogs, but not ours. We put it on him and all I get from him is the old "stink eye". Of course, he's a beagle, and beagles are generally skeptical of any attempts at training. Some might call him untrainable; I prefer to refer to him as a skeptic.

The Thundershirt works great for our dog. I certainly recommend trying it. She's not nearly as hyper during storms as she used to be. Plus, last fall she was very sick and I kept it on her all the time. I think it was comforting to her when she did not feel well. I call it her "magic coat" and she comes running when it's time to put it on.

Unless the policy has changed, it comes with a 30 day money back guarantee wherever you buy it from so there is no harm in trying. I bought mine last summer at Paws Animal Hospital but now you can buy them all over including, I believe, Bed, Bath & Beyond so you can use a coupon if you have one.

Here's the website for more info:

Thundershirt | The Best Dog Anxiety Treatment

When I was big into playing softball I would play in Sunday morning and afternoon leagues. I would bring my dog and run her by tossing her favorite ball before and after the first game and then again after the late game. She would lie down for 2 day in a row all summer. By Wednesday though she wanted more. In the event you have not tried this yet, I would try exercise and lots of stops along the way before I ever used medication. Medication when all else fails I suppose.

I agree!
 

I really do think that pets pick up on your mood, and it helps to stay calm or sing to them. One time I was on the way to the airport and planning to drop off my dog and cat on the way. Halfway there I realized I forgot my suitcase and had to go back and get it, and got all flustered. They both started to howl and eventually they both threw up and pooped in their cages before we got to the airport (with windows open).

I do appreciate all the recommendations and sharing of personal experiences.

I have ordered from Amazon the Composure Chews (almost $10 less than at the vet). I personally do not like any narcotic type medication for myself as I do not like the loss of control that comes with it's use. Hence I will not try any of the medicating type alternatives.

We will be traveling again the end of the month. I will update how the chews work.

Thanx again.

btk