Car Anxiety

[Guest theOZman]

My dog has been having issues on a few long trips that I have made to see my family. Oz will typically breath/pant heavily and on the most recent trip had uncontrollable diarrhea. Is there a sedative that can be taken by greyhounds because I know that these dogs can be sensitive to certain medications. I was thinking about using benadryl, but I wanted to figure out how much (some websites are saying 1mg/lb which I think is way too high) and if there might be other drugs that would work more effectively. The car ride that I will be taking back to my house will be approx 7 hrs or so.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

-Ben

[krissn333]

Benedryl dosage for a greyhound is usually 2 tablets (50 mg total). Sometimes more for the larger males...

 

If he's that bad, maybe your vet can prescribe some Xanax...I doubt benedryl would even do anything for him. Xanax has helped some of our thunderphobic dogs at the kennel during really bad storms. I have no idea what the dosage would be for that though.

 

Acepromazine is another sedative that is fast acting. I don't know how long it would last though. I've only used it as an injectable, I don't know if there are acepromazine pills. I would hesitate to use it though...it really knocks them out.

 

One thing you might try is a DAP collar. It looks like a black flea collar, but it releases pheromones that nursing mothers release to calm their babies. They make the diffusers for your home (kind of looks like a Glade scented oil thing), but the collars work GREAT too. That is my best suggestion that doesn't involve actually drugging the dog. I know they sell them online but one of your local vets might carry them. The vet up the street from me sells them. The DAP collar made a HUGE difference for my friend's highly anxious dog. Now he can travel and deal with thunderstorms without getting all worked up.

Edited December 24, 2009 by krissn333

[Guest Greytluv]

My Q gets anxious on long drives. I may try that DAP collar.

Edited December 24, 2009 by Greytluv

[Guest FLT]

I asked my vet about this same issue last time I had Kaylee in - she had such bad anxiety and big-D (in the van - yuck!)on our last road trip that I need to do something before the next one of any length. ACE is not grey-friendly, so she suggested I go with Benedryl. Normal dose for my 70 lb girl is 3 benedryl tablets - and she suggested I use 4 tablets before the next trip. Really!

 

Cheers and best of luck - I really feel your pain,

 

FL (with Drake, Kaylee and angel Chester)

[Guest Energy11]

We had a foster like that once. She had to have Valium, as nothing else worked. I'd ask you vet for something like that. You can give Benedryl, 50mg, very four to six hours, but I doubt it would do much. Good Luck!

[seeh2o]

Carl is a terrible passenger, he pants and wants to stand the whole time, giving me a big black shiny wall to look at in the rear view mirror. I've tried Valium for him, but it doesn't seem to help at all. This last trip (I drive with the entire crew to Las Vegas about once a month - a 4+ hour drive) I gave him Melatonin and he laid down after the first 100 miles! This was a breakthrough! It will be Melatonin from now on.

[Guest greybookends]

The only thing that works for Bill is to leave him home.

[krissn333]

Oooo yeah I didn't think of melatonin! That's also a good thing to try. I'd ask your vet about dosage though as I'm not sure.

[Guest greytkidsmom]

Sounds like our Kebo. He would pace and pant and wouldn't settle down no matter how long or short the car trip. In an emergent situation (he decided to climb into my lap as we drove down the interstate and I had no way to restrain him) he got ACE from an e-vet but all it did was make him stoned and crazed to get into my lap more. We now give him 1.5 mg of xanax about 30 minutes before any car trip. He travels in a crate or in the back of my jeep with a barrier and will actually lay down. He doesn't sleep yet but there is a marked improvement in how he deals with car travel.

 

We had tried benadryl, melatonin, ginger, rescue remedy, DAP, and some other homeopathic stuff before resorting to the xanax and it has honestly been the best thing for us and for him. We have been using it for about 2 years and he even puts himself in the car sometimes.

[Guest meakah]

Koda pants and stands the entire way too. I just leave her be unless it is a longer drive. If it is a longer drive then I will give her some Travel Anxiety drops. It mellows her right out and works well for thunder storms as well. It works great for the cats as well (when traveling).

 

Carl is a terrible passenger, he pants and wants to stand the whole time, giving me a big black shiny wall to look at in the rear view mirror. I've tried Valium for him, but it doesn't seem to help at all. This last trip (I drive with the entire crew to Las Vegas about once a month - a 4+ hour drive) I gave him Melatonin and he laid down after the first 100 miles! This was a breakthrough! It will be Melatonin from now on.

 

Where do you get Melatonin and how much do you administer?

[seeh2o]

Koda pants and stands the entire way too. I just leave her be unless it is a longer drive. If it is a longer drive then I will give her some Travel Anxiety drops. It mellows her right out and works well for thunder storms as well. It works great for the cats as well (when traveling).

 

Carl is a terrible passenger, he pants and wants to stand the whole time, giving me a big black shiny wall to look at in the rear view mirror. I've tried Valium for him, but it doesn't seem to help at all. This last trip (I drive with the entire crew to Las Vegas about once a month - a 4+ hour drive) I gave him Melatonin and he laid down after the first 100 miles! This was a breakthrough! It will be Melatonin from now on.

 

Where do you get Melatonin and how much do you administer?

 

I get melatonin at either Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. I give him 3mg. It really seems to take the edge off and help him sleep without making him dopey.