An Article on traveling and pets-

[dogmom]

I get news/articles from Spring Harbor Animal Hospital where we've taken my girls for OFA's as per breeder requirements. I know there's been some threads on carsickness here too.
So here's this article:

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People are on the go, and increasingly, they are taking their pets along for the ride. While some pets seem born to ride, for others the loud noises and strange motions involved in traveling can be a real problem. Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine, advises owners on issues related to animal behavior. She offers these tips on how to make traveling a safe and pleasant experience for your pets. "The first step is to watch for signs that your pet is stressed," advises Dr. Ballantyne. That is easier said than done, because not all animals express distress in the same ways. Some animals that are very anxious show obvious signs, such as pacing and vocalizing, whereas other, equally stressed pets may give much more subtle indications. "For dogs, you should watch for excessive salivation, panting, a furrowed brow, holding their ears back, and frequent lip-licking or yawning," says Dr. Ballantyne. "Cats may crou ch or try to hide when stressed," she says. "They may also twitch their tails and pull their ears back. These all can be signs that your pet is anxious and not enjoying the trip."

Your veterinarian will be an important partner in finding a way to manage your pet's anxiety while traveling. There are many options, and you may need to try several approaches to discover what works best for your pet. Dr. Ballantyne recommends experimenting with different approaches when taking your pet on short trips so you can find out what works before taking your pet on a long road trip. One option available for both dogs and cats is a synthetic equivalent of a natural pheromone with stress-relieving qualities. Feliway® is a pheromone product for cats that comes as a spray or in a diffuser. A similar product for dogs is a DAP (dog appeasement pheromone) collar or spray. For dogs, specially made clothing that applies gentle, constant pressure on the torso is marketed to produce a soothing effect on stressed dogs. Lavender aroma therapy has also been found to help calm anxious dogs. For some pets, prescription anti-anxiety medications or sedatives may be the best alternative.

In addition to addressing your pet's stress level, you should ensure that your pet will be safe while traveling, according to Dr. Ballantyne. "Cats should always be in a carrier," she says. "You can't predict how your pet will react while traveling. A carrier will keep her safe and ensure that she can't accidentally get away from you." Dogs should also be secured in a carrier or harness when riding in a car. Special harnesses and seats that attach to seat belts are marketed to ensure safe car travel for your dog. If your car has airbags, your dogs should not be placed in the front seat, just as small children should never ride in front. Nausea is another problem that plagues pets that travel. In dogs, drooling and looking sick to their stomach are likely signs of carsickness. Owners of pets prone to carsickness wonder whether or not to feed their pet. "It probably isn't a good idea to feed your pet a large meal before a trip, especially before a plane flight," says Dr. Bal lantyne. "When going on a long car trip, try feeding small meals during rest stops and feed the biggest meal at the end of the day. If your pet has been carsick on a trip before, talk with your veterinarian about anti-nausea medicine."

Your veterinarian can also advise you on how to handle a long trip if your pet has a special medical condition that requires controlled feeding times, such as diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease. A final piece of advice from Dr. Ballantyne is for people on the go who are getting a puppy or kitten: "Start when your pet is young. Let him get used to traveling and learn that it is a positive experience." So get going, and bring your pet with you! Just be sure to work with your veterinarian to find safe and low-stress strategies that will make the experience enjoyable for you and your pet. Happy travels!

Ms. Andrea Lin

Veterinary Extension/Office of Public Engagement University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine


‹ Dogs, Cats, & Traveling ›

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[Beach girl]

Good article.

We always put our two dogs in the back of the car (station wagon) in their crates when we have a long road trip. I usually do it just around town, too, but my husband is more likely to let the dogs just sit in the back seat. That seems easier to him than always putting the crates in and out.

My larger, but skinnier, dog has never done well in a harness. He is so skinny he can pull a Houdini and get himself out of any harness we've ever tried. My smaller, but chunkier, dog, can stay put in the harness but doesn't like it much.

The first poodle we ever had, as a puppy, was SO scared of riding in the car. He would drool and whine and generally make a nuisance of himself. Finally he grew out of it, but it certainly tried our patience until he got there.

It seemed to help to be aware of what he was seeing. When he was so little that he could not see out of the window, he was happy to sleep on the seat. When he got big enough to look out the window, I think the rapid movement of what he was seeing made him car-sick and nervous.

Eventually he learned to process what he was seeing, or else ignore it, I'm not sure, exactly. Anyway, after that, he was then happy to just be in his harness and could lie down or sit up as desired.

He was really the only dog I've had, out of four, who was ok with being strapped into the harness, and wouldn't fight it or slip out of it.

For my money, I think the crates are much safer. I liked the Sturdi-bag products when we had to keep the dogs in the back seat in the sedan, before we bought the station wagon. Very flexible and they work very well for small to small-medium size dogs.

 

[Bottesini]

I am lucky with the two dogs I have now. They are both great in a crate or will just sit nicely in the back seat , and neither gets carsick.

Counting my blessings.

 

[dogmom]

thanks, BG Botti...my youngest has been sick so I've been away a bit but yeah, we have crates for the vehicles that the dogs ride in; I also use the seatbelt attachment harnesses as soon as the puppies are old enough that I think I'll still have anything left if I use a harness on them
The baby <at 2 - dogs of this size tend not to be fully mature til 3 or 4> is still only using a crate.

Our breeder travels extensively, showing, and she and her husband also both judge, so her puppies are acclimated to a wide variety of things at a very early age. We' haven't had issues with car-sickness or fear in the car. My dear boy Moose at the Bridge who we lost last year - he came to us through rescue from a breeder who needed him re-homed and when he came to us, he had a bladder infection, ear infections, demo mange....didn't know about crates or how to walk on a leash. He was also very shy and became dog-reactive the Summer he came to us, after an attack by a dog who came out of a house at us as we were walking past that property. I worked with him behaviorally and of course physically and he learned to accept the car but he didn't get really as relaxed about riding in either the harness or the crate til he was elderly.