I don’t travel overseas without knowing the procedures required to travel with a dog. I ensure that I have the right information before I book my tickets.
All the dogs don’t respond in the same manner, while some don’t mind the adventure, others can get highly stressed and can experience travel anxiety when flying.
If your dog seems to get highly agitated and distressed, you may consider using dog sedatives for flying.
However, experts and airlines’ advice don’t support the use of dog sedatives for flying, so you must consider all of your options first. Many airlines have rules and regulations banning the use of dog sedatives for flying.
There are many dangers attached to sedating and tranquilizing dogs, so it isn’t something that should be taken lightly.
In this article, I will outline which sedatives are available, the dangers of using a dog sedative for flying, and the alternative remedies for travel anxiety in dogs. I will also share some travel tips for a stress-free trip.
The underlying problem: Travel anxiety in dogs
Anxiety—that feeling of nervousness, unease, or apprehension that we’re all familiar with. On some occasions, anxiety is perfectly normal, but it becomes a problem when it is severe or frequent enough to harm the dog’s or owner’s quality of life.
During your trip, if your dog experiences travel anxiety, you might notice some combination of the following symptoms:
It will make attempts to escape the situation, which may lead to destructive behavior
- Crouching or cowering close to the ground or trying to hide in a “safe” location
- Panting
- Pulled back ears
- Tense muscles
- Trembling
- Urination, defecation, release of the anal glands
- Wide open eyes, sometimes with the whites showing
In the case of your dog getting anxious when traveling, it is normal so you don’t worry, there are many fixes, which we will discuss in this article.
Why do dogs get stressed when flying?
There could be several reasons that your dog gets stressed or anxious when flying. The first reason could simply be that your dog hasn’t traveled enough in his or her life and finds the experience quite scary.
Dogs who aren’t often exposed to long car rides, busy trains and train stations, and of course, airports are more likely to find flying stressful. This affects them because they were not exposed to different busy environments during the vital socialization period of their lives, between 3-17 weeks.
A puppy’s experiences during this period of learning and development have a huge impact on their behavior in adulthood.
Your puppies should be allowed to roam freely in different environments and get new experiences during this time to ensure they grow into a well-adjusted and balanced adult.
It simply implies that an adult dog that was not exposed to many different environments during its puppy socialization period is more likely to be fearful of new environments and in turn find flying quite an ordeal.
Furthermore, it may be that some dogs find flying stressful because they aren’t used to being in a confined space, such as a travel carrier or crate.
You should ensure that your dog get used to busy environments, so endeavor to spend time getting them used to travel crates. I will discuss this in detail below.
Things You Should Know
Apart from all these, your dog may have a past negative association with traveling. It could be that maybe he has associated a trip in the car, with something scary like a visit to the vet, or an accident.
Limited information is supplied about the effects of sedation on animals that are being shipped by air and enclosed in kennels at 8,000 feet or higher, the altitude at which cargo holds are pressurized.
To sum it up some animals react abnormally to sedatives. Although animals may be excited when they are handled during the trip to the airport and before loading, they probably revert to a quiescent resting state in the dark, closed cargo hold, and the sedatives may have an excessive effect.
There have been cases when some pets have been sedated before boarding a flight, but these pets needed veterinary care to recover from the sedation. Some pets could not be revived.
Occasionally, owners have given repeated doses to ensure a comfortable journey for their pets. When questioned by airline personnel, many owners claim that their veterinarians had advised them to do so.
Although sedatives/tranquilizers should never be repeated for animals traveling by air, sedated pets may have adverse reactions in pressurized aircraft even when single doses are administered at recommended dosages.
Animals can respond very differently to sedatives/tranquilizers under normal circumstances. Cats for instance, occasionally become more excited following the administration of “sedating” drugs.
Sedating dogs and cats enhance their altitude and can also create respiratory and cardiovascular problems. These breeds are sedated or tranquilized. Brachycephalic (pug or snub-nosed) dogs and cats may be especially affected.
My Opinion
You don’t need to sedate your dog for a flight. I don’t see why you have to keep your dog intact and still immobile. When you step out of that flight with your dog, it might not be a great experience for the poor dog.
I have listed that some of these dogs might suffer health challenges, and others may not make it alive.
FAQs
Should I sedate my dog for air travel?
Diphenhydramine may relieve symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety in pets associated with travel. It also may help relieve motion sickness.
What is a natural sedative for a dog?
Valerian is the most widely recognized herbal sedative. It’s safe and gentle and calms the nerves. It also promotes physical relaxation. Use it for stressful events or if your dog gets hysterical or overexcitable.
Can you give a dog a sedative for a flight?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), sedating cats or dogs during air travel may increase the risk of heart and respiratory problems. Except in unusual circumstances, veterinarians should not dispense sedatives animals that are to be transported.