|
|
Post by Drew on Jul 8, 2016 23:58:12 GMT
I have a very uptight little dog. I'm getting on the road, moving, with 3 kids and 2 dogs on Sunday. The chiwinie is especially frantic in the car. He shakes and cries. I took him to the vet this week to discuss possible meds for the 14 hour drive. She suggested half a dose of benadryl. She also said to try it out before the trip to see how it works for him. Tried it today and he's just as nervous as ever. He's currently staring at me, shaking. He's been worked up because there are boxes everywhere and we are all busy packing.
Please help - suggestions? He's 10 pounds if that helps.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sandie on Jul 9, 2016 0:01:45 GMT
Have you tried a Thundershirt? I used to have a Lab with severe car anxiety and this helped tremendously! |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 13, 2024 23:11:10 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2016 0:04:25 GMT
The more you try to reassure a dog the more you are cementing the fear of something being wrong.
But, for the car trip I would work hard to find something to sort of sedate him as he might have motion sickness. Benadryl can have the opposite affect on some dogs. Since it didn't calm him ask the vet for something else.
eta: does he have a place he feels safe, like a small travel crate he can "den up" in with some soft bedding?
|
|
purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,732 
|
Post by purplebee on Jul 9, 2016 0:45:20 GMT
Good luck. I have a Chihuahua mix girl and she is a mess. Good thing she is so small and cute. She freaks out completely when I try to trim her nails. The vet suggested Benadryl. Tried it at the recommended small dose - nothing. Up it considerably as per vet - nothing. Finally got an RX which helped.
As someone suggested, a crate would help, but not if he's not used to it. Hope you can figure out a way to chill him out for the trip.
Oh and I figured out that trimming my Ginger girl's nails while I bathed her was the easiest way to do it. She is so distracted and unhappy about the bath that she forgets to fight me over the nail trim! Small dogs, they sure can be a pain, but you gotta love them!
|
|
|
|
Post by bothmykidsrbrats on Jul 9, 2016 5:11:15 GMT
I've got a 13 mo old chug that gets mean if we give him Benadryl. My baby only travels if he is sleeping with Prince Valium, and in his crate. Once you've tried OTC, your vet should prescribe meds. Best wishes to you.
|
|
Doxiemom
Junior Member
Posts: 76
|
Post by Doxiemom on Jul 9, 2016 5:16:02 GMT
My vet gave me an Rx when I would travel with my dachshund. It did seem to help.
|
|
|
|
Post by mirabelleswalker on Jul 9, 2016 6:34:26 GMT
I recently bought some "treats" that have melatonin in them. They have really mellowed my dog. We also use a DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) diffuser in our house. When it runs out I can really see a difference in her stress level.
|
|
|
|
Post by anniefb on Jul 9, 2016 6:51:22 GMT
I housesat a very nervous cat once and the vet prescribed a short course of valium because she wasn't eating. I'd go back to the vet and ask for a Rx.
|
|
momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,151
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
|
Post by momto4kiddos on Jul 9, 2016 11:19:18 GMT
I'd talk to the vet again and if they give you something sedating, i'd give it earlier than recommended. My parents just had to travel a couple hours with their cat. The cat was finally sedated when she arrived at the destination  They have calming sprays, calming treats, etc. Wouldn't hurt to grab some at the pet store and have them on hand. Thundershirt is also awesome! We have a shih tzu who is nervous in storms and with loud noises. Does not react at all even to the worst of storms when they happen in the middle of the night when she is crated. She clearly feels very safe there. She likes to be curled up against my leg if i'm sitting. Better still if we are under a blanket (she stares at me until I lift the blanket for her to get under.) Anyhow she's less nervous there when something loud goes on. And as Volt mentioned your reaction is/can be a factor. Last week she was against my leg when someone set of some fireworks. Normally she freaks, but she lifted her head and check out other dog (who didn't react at all.) I ignored it and she ended up just putting her head down and going back to sleep. This was huge for her! Is he more comfortable in a crate or with a particular person or kid? I'd try one of the calming things or prescription and set him up where you think he'll be most comfortable and hope for the best. I also try to exercise mine before riding in the car or if I have to go out for longer than they are used to being alone. Tiring them out ensures a little quiet for me  Good luck! |
|
|
|
Post by utmr on Jul 9, 2016 14:22:08 GMT
We also have a high strung chiwinie. He hates both the car and the groomer (along with strangers and a list of things). Benadryl does nothing. Skittles would work better. The vet gave us Trazodone for our most recent trip. 100 mg two hours before worked like a charm. He was awake, could walk, etc, but not freaking out, screaming, etc. He sat nicely on the back seat and looked out the window. He was calm enough to get groomed too. So far a miracle drug.
|
|
|
|
Post by BeckyTech on Jul 9, 2016 17:20:13 GMT
I recently discovered a calming aid and used it on the 4th. It was quite successful and I will be using it again. Unlike Rescue Remedy, they did not get the glassy-eyed look.
It's called Phosphorous 30c, costs under $7, and is made by a Homeopathic company called Boiron. It worked quite well.
I notice that the Canine Healthy Dog recommends gelsemium for the dog shaking with fear. Boiron also carries that, safe for children and adults: Gelsemium Sempervire 30C.
Each of these come in a small tube of 80 pellets (tablets). These tubes are made so that you twist the tube and the tablets drop into the cap. Put the pellets/tablets in a small amount of water to dissolve. You should not touch the pellets because moisture and/or oils from your hands will affect the efficacy. They must be given in the mouth but cannot be given in food because the medicine needs to make contact with the mucus membranes. Dissolve in a small amount of water and let your dog drink the water (mine did) or use a syringe designed to squirt liquid into the mouth.
I have 30+ pound dogs and the dose was 4 tablets dissolved in a 1/4 cup of water; split between two dogs.
For your chiwinie, 1 tablet in a tablespoon of water would probably do the trick.
I found my local Sprouts carried Borion, but the clerk didn't know it based on just the product or company name. When I showed her a picture of the tube, she took me to the display, which looked like this: 
The tubes look like this: 
|
|
|
|
Post by BeckyTech on Jul 9, 2016 17:34:14 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Sandie on Jul 11, 2016 16:32:52 GMT
I saw this today and thought of you  While they reference loud noises, this is also supposed to help with general calming. Maybe it might help  Calming wrap |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 13, 2024 23:11:10 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2016 19:45:26 GMT
Sedative from vet, a Thundershirt and/or a crate (unless your dog is like my mini dachshund who freaks at the idea of a crate). And then ignore the behavior as much as possible.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 13, 2024 23:11:10 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2016 1:43:01 GMT
Is he perhaps afraid that he is going to be left behind? If you pack a few of his favorite things and put them with yours, will he understand that he is going along, too? My Rudy always felt better when he saw his favorite things were being packed, too.
|
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Jul 12, 2016 1:45:10 GMT
Valium...get some from the vet. Good luck with your move.
|
|
blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,984
|
Post by blue tulip on Jul 12, 2016 1:50:45 GMT
I saw this today and thought of you While they reference loud noises, this is also supposed to help with general calming. Maybe it might help Calming wrap
one of my facebook friends tried this over the fourth, and reported that it worked great! she didn't even have as wide a bandage. said her dog was like a new animal, almost completely unaffected, and even pottied outdoors during some firecrackers.
|
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Jul 18, 2016 1:39:51 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by crittsmom on Jul 18, 2016 5:27:22 GMT
I have used over the counter valerian root on my doxie before, for the firecrackers on the 4th of July, puts her in a relaxed state. Does nothing for our terrier though.
|
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Jul 24, 2016 15:59:46 GMT
Drew How did the dog do>>
|
|
|
|
Post by Drew on Jul 24, 2016 16:19:52 GMT
Hey y'all. Thank you for the suggestions. I was in a rush so I ended up just buying the melatonin treats the night before. We set out on our two day drive and he did great! He was so calm and not stressed, which made me calm and not stressed. We made it to Phoenix and have settled in. Kids start school tomorrow. Thanks again. |
|
|
|
Post by papercrafteradvocate on Jul 24, 2016 17:20:42 GMT
Thundershirt!
|
|
While they reference loud noises, this is also supposed to help with general calming. Maybe it might help 
