Sedatives for Air Travel
 

I have heard several times from several people that the sedative you can get from your vet doesn't work very well....and should be avoided.

I have of course decided to heed this advice for our upcoming trip, but I would like to know if anyone has experiences with it and/or what they've heard about why it's not good? (Or does work, if you have a good experience?)

Just curious.

Is he going to be under your seat? If not, most airlines will not allow sedation of any kind.

Here's an article that says American Veterinarian Medical Association says no.

Don't Sedate or Tranquilize Pets Traveling By Air
American Humane Association Cautions Veterinarians and Pet Owners
Many pet owners may decide to take the family pet along on their trips. A well-planned trip with the family pet can be fun; however, if air travel is involved, leaving pets at home with a good pet sitter may be a much better option.

Pets are just like people who sometimes become anxious when they don't travel frequently. This leads some owners and veterinarians to question whether administering sedatives or tranquilizers to dogs or cats prior to flight is a good idea. According to national and international air transport organizations, as well as the American Humane Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association, in most cases the answer is "no"!

"An animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation," noted Dr. Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., director of veterinary affairs and studies for the American Humane Association. "When the kennel is moved, a sedated animal may not be able to brace and prevent injury."

Whether flying in the cabin or with cargo, animals are exposed to increased altitude pressures of approximately 8,000 feet. Increased altitude, according to Olson, can create respiratory and cardiovascular problems for dogs and cats who are sedated or tranquilized.

"Brachycephalic (short-faced) dogs and cats are especially affected," noted Olson. "Although thousands of pets are transported uneventfully by air, airline officials believe that when deaths do occur they often result from the use of sedation."

The American Humane Association cautions veterinarians to carefully consider the use of tranquilizers or sedatives for their clients who are considering air transportation for their family pet.

He will be under the seat, yes. And I am not talking about anesthesia or anything serious, just the sedative that the vet gives for traveling, it's like doggie drammamine, I think.

I am not going to use it, but I just am curious as to what YT opinion on the product is. :)

acepromazine is a really safe drug to take and you can always break it into smaller pieces if you think what they vet gave you is too much for your dog. the first time you are going to give the meds its always recommend to try it at home a couple days before with the recommended dose so you can see what it does. If it makes him too sleepy then you can cut it in half. I've never had someone say their dog had a problem on it. drammamine is for nausea and you can give him the people version in a much lower dose (ask the vet) if he has car sickness or you think he'll get nauseous on the plane

Thanks you guys - both responses are really informative! Kalina, acepromazine is the one I was thinking of...thanks for the info.

Cooper just flew to Texas and back a couple weeks ago. His vet recommended not to sedate him, but she did say if I wanted to she would give me something. She said if I were to sedate him, I would need to try it a couple times before leaving to find the right dosage. I opted not to because, well one, she thought I shouldn't and two, I didn't want to sedate him several times to get the right dosage. I decided that if he didn't do well on the first leg, then I would get it for the return trip. Well no worries at all!!!! He was fantastic!! Keep in mind too, this is a dog who hates his crate and would never voluntarily go in it EVER!!
I got a soft sided crate (much like the cute one I saw you had purchased on another thread). He barked at it when I brought it home and only grudgingly went in it to try it out. I was really dreading this trip by now and thinking "UH OH!!" Well, he couldn't have behaved any better. When we landed, I took him right out of the bag (Airline regs said he had to stay in the bag, including head and tail from take-off to landing) and the lady next to me said...:"You had a dog in there?" (I don't know who she thought I was talking to under the seat in front of me the entire flight!! :rolleyes: ) Even the flight attendent said as we were leaving..."you had a dog with you?" Then on the return flight, at the airport, I was sitting on the floor with him and the bag unzipped and he went in there himself and laid down with his head out the front part. He was soo great and I will not ever hesitate to fly with him again. I hope your trip goes as well and since it looks like your baby already doesn't mind his bag....I am sure it will!! Have fun!!!!

That's SO GOOD to hear! Sully loves his bag and is used to going places with me, though he's never been on an airplane. This gives me lots of hope! Thanks for your response!:thumbup:

PS. I live right next to the Cooper River in Charleston, SC, well Mt. Pleasant. We call our side of town "East Cooper". Local areas are popular names for Charleston doggies.....and we named Sully after Sullivan's Island, also in East Cooper ;)

My vet gave me a tranquilizer for my Yorkie Gracie who was very ill with complications of collapsed trachea and whenever it stormed it would send her into a very bad breathing attack, I tried giving her like 1/4 or 1/3 the amount they told me and it knocked her out so much I thought she was dead. I never used it again

Acepromazine is a very long acting sedative (6 - 8 hours) and should not be given to a dog with seizures or any liver problems.

It's probably like doggy Xanax (alprazolam). It's just an anti-anxiety med. I know one vet who gives that to the owner to give to their dog before he comes in to get his nails cut! Sully's a good boy, I don't think you'll have any problems. ;)

oh that reminds me. there was a study done on giving xanax to dogs and they found it works really well, plus you only have to give a low dose of it

I know Sully will be great ....I think it's Mommy's nerves that need some sedative, haha!