SEDATING dog for travel in car? No not me, the dog!!

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

We are driving 18 hours with Ginger.  The trip is split in two days...nine hours each.  The vet gave me a script for aceprmazine 10mg.  She said to give 1 and 1/2 pills    2 hours before we leave for the road.

Questions:  Do I feed her prior to the meds?

                   Will she sleep and then be up all night and then do I drug her again the next day? 

                   Has anyone given their dog any type of sedation for travel and were there any side effects? 

                  Any receommendations?

 

Thanks

 

Pam 

[Carol and Banjo]

Pam - Why are you sedating her.  Does she have problems in the car as a rule?    We traveled 19 hours from NC to NH in April.   Banjo sat in the backseat getting out only to relieve himself when we stopped for same.  We never heard a peep out of him.   We were pleasantly surprised at how well he took the long trip.

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

Carol

 

This is out first trip with Ginger, so I don't know how she will behave.  She is good in the car around the city..sometimes whines, but doesn't get sick.  I just asked the vet about travel with and dog and she prescribed this med. 

 

Pam

[Dori & Rua]

Read the discussion on "Why do Vets have to be SO expensive?"

[Lee Seidman]

I really don't like the idea of druging a dog , especially for a car ride.  We just took Lexi and Billy from Fort Lauderdale to North Carolina and back on vacation. More then 2400 miles and they were just fine.  We stopped every two hours, took a short walk and were off again. They loved the car, met tons of people and were with us all the time.  We rented a cottage with a yard,  stayed in hotels, and ate outdoors in restaurants. Lexi loved to ride in the car with her head on my shoulder. She would stay in that position forever. (see pictures below)

They were so good, we would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Dos Doodles--Sam & Luke]

I took Sam for a 6 1/2 hour car trip a couple of months ago, and he also did great.  We stopped a few times along the way for  potty breaks and the stretch his legs.  A nice, brisk walk when we got to our destination, and he was a happy, happy dog!  He loves to go everywhere with us!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I took Webber from North Carolina to Washington State, to Southern California and back.  No meds ever.  On long trips dogs sleep.  We stopped for gas, or for me to go to the restroom, and he would potty too and have some water.  It was great fun.  Dogs that are sedated don't eat and drink well, they are wobbly, and if something went wrong with the meds you would be miles away from your Vet.  If the dog doesn't get sick, I don't understand why it would need to be sedated.  Unless the dog is so hyper that it wouldn't be safe to drive and wouldn't stay in a crate or halter tethered to the seat belt, I wouldn't do it.

How it works: 
Acepromazine is classified as a phenothiazine neuroleptic, which means it modifies the chemicals in your pets brain to change their behavior. Its a tranquilizer that depresses the central nervous system. The mechanism of action is not exactly known, however, its thought to block receptors of dopamine in the brain, a chemical used for cell-to-cell communication.

[Judi, David & Maddie Irishdoodle]

Maddie loves long car rides up north that usually take at least 4 hours of straight travel.  She usually sits up for the first 15 minutes to 1/2 hour and after that she is spread across the back seat sound asleep.  She'll get up to look outside once in a while and then plop back down on the seat until we get to our destination. 

I don't think you need to sedate Ginger - she should be fine and if she does whine a bit just ignore it unless of course you have been on the road long enough for her to be asking for a pee break.

Enjoy your trip.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We drove with both dogs for 10 hours straight (well, with 3-4 potty breaks) during Christmas. Peri did fine!  We harnessed her into her seatbelt and she quickly settled down and slept most of the way.  She had never been on the road longer than 30-45 minutes around town and did fine. 

[Leslie J]

We've taken Cocoa on several road trips (two that were about 9 hours each).  She does get car sick, but we put puppy pee pads around her and once she throws up (usually about an hour into the trip) we throw out the pads and she does fine for the remainder of the trip.  I don't think she likes the car rides much, but she just lies down and rests.  It never occurred to me to sedate her- she just naturally rests in the car without any sedation.  I've never known anyone who sedated their dog for a car trip so I can't comment on it.

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

If it makes you feel better I would just take the pills with you.  My guess is you won't have any problems with her, but in the event that you do, you will have the meds.  We have taken several long trips and our girls just settle down and sleep the entire way.  They are asleep before we get out of the driveway.  Just be sure, like others have mentioned to stop and let her potty and walk around and get a drink every few hours.  Try and keep her on her same eating and potty schedule as you do at home just so there is as little interruption as possible in her schedule.  Don't forget the seat belt harness to keep her safe.  Also, you might do some searching for road trips to see what all you need to be sure and pack in the car for her trip.  Have fun.

[Adina P]

Drugs have their place, but I wouldn't medicate a dog for a trip unless that dog had MAJOR car traveling issues involving repeated vomiting and severe anxiety.  Trust me if she only whines a bit the trip will be EASY!

 

Our Cass and Thule were quite 'busy' in the car, sometimes whining out of excitement, pacing, etc.  But that was on short trips...an hour into any longer trip and they'd end up lying down and eventually sleeping.  Ginger should be FINE without any drugs.  I wouldn't worry about it.  Just give her potty breaks when YOU take potty breaks and/or when she usually needs them (based on if she tends to poo at a certain time of day) and when you get gas/make stops.  That should be all she needs.  HAVE A GREAT TIME and don't worry about sedating her.  There's no real good reason to.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

OMD - I would NEVER drug a dog for travel.  I have a cat that HATES being in a moving vehicle and will scream and howl for non-stop for 12 hours if made to ride in a car.  I did drug the cat for our move from MI to Augusta, GA and again years later back and then again down to FL.  It wasn't pretty.  Eyes rolled up in his head, staggering, would try to jump onto something and fall.  It didn't even make him sleep - he moaned.  Very ugly and it took days to clear out of his system.  Most dogs will ride very well and sleep alot while the car is moving.  I would not consider this an option for a dog.