Benedryl and travel?

[chatwizme]

Has anyone given Benedryl to help their furbaby sleep during travel time? The vet has suggested we give her some while driving so she will sleep and not be so stressed out. I'm wondering if anyone else has done this. Sophie is recovering from a bout of pancreatits and is on a special diet. We'll be travelling over Labor Day for a couple weeks. The vet also suggested giving her some a week or two in advance of travel to see how it affects her and if it doesn't work she will give me a prescription sedative for her. Anyone had any experience with this? Is it dangerous?

[Lovetodream88]

Most dogs I know sleep automatically when there in the car does Sophie? If your wanting to use the Benedryl I would definitely try it before the trip to see how it works with her body, make sure she doesn't react poorly too it and to see if it does make her sleepy. I tried Benedryl for Callie's car sickness and it make her throw up more then if she had nothing and it makes her sorta hyper not calm. I dont know anything about sedatives sorry but I'm sure someone else will.

[chatwizme]

Sophie refuses to close her eyes and relax while we're travelling. She will not let go. She will get the 'lull' goin on, and be loose and her head will bob and her eyes will ALMOST shut and we think: there she goes, there she goes! But nope, it just doesn't happen. So she misses her naptimes and it makes her sad and dumpy and miserable and she's too tired to eat. Then she will be off her food and drink and pottie schedule and sometimes she ends up being sick with vomiting and diarrhea. Good grief. Writing it all down makes it sound horrible! So yes, I'm going to find either something Homeopathic or use Benedryl or the sedative the vet offered. I am certain if we can let her sleep all day things will be much much better for all of us.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by chatwizme

Sophie refuses to close her eyes and relax while we're travelling. She will not let go. She will get the 'lull' goin on, and be loose and her head will bob and her eyes will ALMOST shut and we think: there she goes, there she goes! But nope, it just doesn't happen. So she misses her naptimes and it makes her sad and dumpy and miserable and she's too tired to eat. Then she will be off her food and drink and pottie schedule and sometimes she ends up being sick with vomiting and diarrhea. Good grief. Writing it all down makes it sound horrible! So yes, I'm going to find either something Homeopathic or use Benedryl or the sedative the vet offered. I am certain if we can let her sleep all day things will be much much better for all of us.

That sounds terrible so i understand why you want to do something but whatever you do make sure you test it at home before you use it on a trip to make sure shes not allergic or has a bad reaction to it. Good luck hope you find something that works.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Most dogs I know sleep automatically when there in the car does Sophie?

LOL, not Jackson. Well, very occasionally he will take a 2 minute snooze in his Snoozer but usually he's sitting up, alert, tongue hanging out. He never relaxes in the car.

Sorry, I have nothing to add for the OP but just wanted to say that.

[ladyjane]

I had a pup years ago who had a terrible time traveling and would get terrible diarrhea. I did not want to leave her at home when I traveled I and tried a lot of different things. Benadryl was one. It may work for your pup...best thing to do is what your vet suggested... a bit of a trial run. It is a pretty harmless drug to use. Ended up that the only thing that really worked for my Sassy was Ace Pro. She slept the entire trip except for potty breaks...she was a bit out of it, but functioned well enough to go take walks and go potty. When we would arrive at our destination she was alert and happy the next day.

[biapaiva]

I used Benedryl when I traveled from US to Brazil, was 16 hours flight and was great she was sleepy the whole time.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

LOL, not Jackson. Well, very occasionally he will take a 2 minute snooze in his Snoozer but usually he's sitting up, alert, tongue hanging out. He never relaxes in the car.

Sorry, I have nothing to add for the OP but just wanted to say that.

I forgot about poor Sammy when I posted that (my thinker isnt thinking right today) he has high anxiety in the car but my mom doesn't want to drug him but hes getting better slowly they come down here every sunday so he sees good things come out of the car trip and on real long car trips he will eventually lay down.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I forgot about poor Sammy when I posted that (my thinker isnt thinking right today) he has high anxiety in the car but my mom doesn't want to drug him but hes getting better slowly they come down here every sunday so he sees good things come out of the car trip and on real long car trips he will eventually lay down.

That's kind of like Jackson. I wouldn't say he's like SUPER stressed but he's definitely anxious. Most of it started after our car accident a year ago; my suv was totaled and he was in the car with me. Ever since, he's been super paranoid about loud noises, if I hit a curb, or run over something that makes a noise, etc.

[katy-yorkie]

Does anyone know how much Benedryl to give a five pound dog? Do you use baby Benedryl?

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

Does anyone know how much Benedryl to give a five pound dog? Do you use baby Benedryl?

I do know the basic dosage for a pup, but would caution you to ask your vet. Better to always do that because there might be a reason a vet did not want a pup to have it....and also sometimes people don't give correct dosages. I never totally rely on the internet for such information.

[shodanusmc]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

Does anyone know how much Benedryl to give a five pound dog? Do you use baby Benedryl?

one MG per pound. So, 5 MG. Carlo gets it, but as a Histimine Blocker for Mast cell Cancer. His primary Vet and Oncologist said it is very safe and dogs tolerate it well. If you use the liquid, make sure it contains no Alcohol. I know they come in 25mg pills and capsules. Carlo gets 100 MG a day, and they said I could increase iy up to 300 mg a day. I have noticed no change, but I use it as a blocker, not as a tranquilizer. It is also good for motion sickness, allergy's, itching, bee stings, and male pattern baldness. It just may be the next ED medication as it is all encompassing.

[ladyjane]

Just be very careful. Many people get this dosage wrong as they mix up mg (cc) and ml. you need to calculate it based upon how many mg (cc) per ml there is .

I still recommend consulting with a vet who will give exact measurements.

[katy-yorkie]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Just be very careful. Many people get this dosage wrong as they mix up mg (cc) and ml. you need to calculate it based upon how many mg (cc) per ml there is .

I still recommend consulting with a vet who will give exact measurements.

I asked the vet and he recommended the Benedryl for the drive to FL in a few weeks. He said he would give me the correct dose as the time got near but it sounds like I should try it on him before we go to see what his reaction to the Bendryl will be (more hyper or if it will actually calm him down). I do remember the vet saying Adult Benedryl, I always thought Baby Benedryl should be given.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

I asked the vet and he recommended the Benedryl for the drive to FL in a few weeks. He said he would give me the correct dose as the time got near but it sounds like I should try it on him before we go to see what his reaction to the Bendryl will be (more hyper or if it will actually calm him down). I do remember the vet saying Adult Benedryl, I always thought Baby Benedryl should be given.

It is a good idea to try it beforehand. People and dogs do react differently to Benadryl.

I don't know why he would not explain the dosage.

Benadryl comes in 25 mg tabs which is kind of hard to calculate a small dosage from. That is why the liquid is often used.