Do dogs get stressed on road trips?
Alyson Champlin
2025-06-11 21:18:15
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He is totally fine to be around the car, and willingly jumps into the car, but once he is harnessed into the back seat, he begins to show signs of stress. We have tried holding him in the front seat, CBD, Benadryl, favorite toys/treats, putting his bed back there, using a lifted car seat etc. Our longest car ride so far has only been just under an hour, where he was able to settle for very short periods of time, so he wasn’t crying or pacing for the entire time. He didn’t cry once the whole drive or ever appear stressed, even stopping several times and getting in/out of the car. Our vet prescribed trazadone which has completely changed Winston’s car experiences. Within 15 minutes he was sleeping calmly, but not unconscious or overly sedated, he just seemed really relaxed. We also purchased Adaptil travel spray off Amazon, which I spray on to both dogs’ car seats before we start driving. I do want to say it helps mellow things out, but the trazadone definitely had the largest impact.
Jacey Kris
2025-05-30 09:15:52
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: 10
Although many dogs look forward to riding in the car, other dogs dread the experience and whine, drool, or even vomit. This can be due to motion sickness, a previous bad event in the car like an accident, or anxiety about being trapped inside a giant, moving machine. A dog can even be put off car trips entirely if the usual destination is somewhere unpleasant like the vet. If your dog isn’t happy in the car, it can make everybody else miserable too. Puppies are more likely than adult dogs to get sick in the car, but many will grow out of their motion sickness as they mature. For those who don’t, fortunately, the steps above can help your dog become accustomed to a moving car. But if an upset stomach from motion sickness or anxiety still bothers your dog, here are a few tips to help ease your dog’s tummy. Exercise your dog about twenty minutes before your trip to decrease stress.
Frederick Brakus
2025-05-30 08:31:54
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: 8
Dogs want to be with their humans, and place is not as important, this makes dogs lively travel companions if we take the time to create a positive experience for them. Some dogs, on the other hand, do experience stress when traveling. Strategies to de-stress dog road trips include: A Thundershirt swaddles the dog like an infant is swaddled, and can reduce anxiety. A pheromone calming collar can help reduce anxiety. Adaptil pheromone wipes or spray can be used in the carrier to lower anxiety. Medication prescribed by your veterinarian: trazodone, gabapentin, and alprazolam are sometimes used to reduce the anxiety that some dogs experience when traveling. Consult your veterinarian to create the best travel plan for your dog if he does not travel well.
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