Car and Truck safety

I'm one of those people that really, really, really gets chaffed when I see a dog riding in the back of a pickup truck without any kind of restraint. It bugs the crap outta me. I've had to put a couple of these guys back together after they jump out, and I've had to put a few in the freezer because they didn't survive the jump.

When traveling in the car or truck, use the same kind of common sense you would when traveling with a three year old. In other words, expect them to do what you don't want them to do. Ideally, dogs inside the car are either in a crate or have a harness on that straps into the seatbelt. The big reason for this is that in the event of an accident, 30lbs of dog become an impressive projectile and can kill you outright when they collide with your head. It also ends badly for the dog too.

I know, I know, we all survived growing up riding in the back of grandma and grandpa's huge boat of a station wagon or a suburban with no seatbelts, crawling around, waving at the cars behind us while we rode backwards. And we didn't die. Well, now we know better. I'm guilty as the next person for letting my dogs roam freely around the car while I drive. Now I put them in the back of the SUV where at least there's a high seat between us. I need to get one of those gates to put up in the back.

Also, don't assume that your dog knows better than to jump out the window. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've put more than a few of those guys in the freezer after they jumped right out of the window.

Cats should be in a carrier. Scared cats have been known to climb owner's heads while traveling at high speeds down the highway and have caused accidents.

Dogs in pickup beds should be restrained. DON'T just tie a leash to the edge of the bed - they'll just hang themselves. Your best bet is a large kennel for the bed of the truck, or you can get a tie that strings across the bed of the truck and their lead then attaches to the center. This way they can move from side to side, but can't fall out and strangle themselves.

AMH

Sedation for Flying

Pets can travel one of three ways on a plane with the owner. They can go as cargo, meaning they are on a different flight from the owner. They can go as checked baggage. Or if they are small enough they can ride in the cabin with the owner. The first two methods mean that the pet is in cargo in the belly of the plane. It's pressurized, but not temperature controlled.

I routinely have people ask if they can sedate the pet for flying. If the pet is flying in cargo - the answer is NO. The American Veterinary Medical Association even put out a position statement that says not to do it. In the belly of the plane with no heat, a sedated animal can't be monitored and is at great risk for hypothermia. Truth be told, most of these guys settle down and sleep when they are flying because it is loud and dark.

For pets riding up in the cabin, a sedative MAY be appropriate. Most importantly, we need to know if the prescribed sedative actually sedates the pet or if they get an idiosyncratic reaction where they actually get hyperactive.

I'm reminded of my daughters. When we flew with them the first time they were something like 8 months old. We gave them Benadryl. We figured that a little over-the-counter chemical restraint wouldn't be all bad :) One daughter passed out and slept the entire flight. The other one went CRAZY. Screaming, upset, crying, flopping about like a fish outta water. I spent most of the flight in the tiny airplane bathroom trying to calm her down. After 2 hours the flight attendant came and knocked on the door to say they needed me to go back to my seat. Luckily, by then she had calmed down and did not scream the rest of the flight.

Here's the point- don't give a medication for the first time right before you take off. You may end up spending two hours in the bathroom with a freaked out dog.

I'm a fan of using the Valium-type drugs in dogs. Better for sedation and anxiety. Many folks try acepromazine (Ace) and like it. Ace makes a dog drunk, but if they are anxious enough, they're just a stressed out drunk. Remember, this recommendation only counts for a small dog riding in the cabin with the owner.

In cats, the Valium type drugs can be problematic, ESPECIALLY when given orally. Ace can knock them on their tush and can be too much. There aren't as many good options for cats. I like using Feliway. It's a pheromone spray that stimulates the brain to calm down. Pretty cool. Google it and you'll find information on it. There is a similar product for dogs called DAP. These products don't work for all dogs and cats, but work very well in some.

Ask your veterinarian before you give your pets anything, though. Every pet is a bit different and what I may recommend for one, I might not for the next.

These recommendations also apply to travel by car. I'll even sedate a big dog in the car if necessary because you can watch them closely.

AMH