Traveling issues - Any suggestions on how to help Bella on our airplane ride?

[sspaht]

Hello friends! It's the holiday season and my husband and I are wanting to fly home to see family and it will be Bella's first plane ride. However, I'm terribly nervous! Bella is THE WORST car traveler and I'm afraid that the plane ride is going to be the same way. She shakes sooo badly and is terrified the entire trip. When moving from OK to FL she shook the entire duration of the trip (not once we were out of the car though). The vet we had in OK even prescribed her Acepromazine for our long trip to FL and it did nothing for her besides make her woozy and unable to walk. She NEVER feel asleep and she shook the entire time. We even upped the dose (recommended by the Dr of course) and it still didn't help. Prior to moving to FL we took a 4 hour car ride to visit family & to get her use to being in the car for a longer period of time since we would be going to FL a month later. For that trip the Dr gave her Alprazolam. She still shook, was woozy, unable to walk and never relaxed nor feel asleep. Even now I take her in the car as often as I can, but she still will not get over the fear & shaking. Both BIG trips we tried everything from having her in her pet taxi to holding her to wrapping her in a blanket to making her wear her t-shirt. Nothing helped. With all of that being said, I was wondering if anyone else had this problem with their precious doll(s) and was wondering for some suggestions on what to ask the vet about this time around with traveling. I didn't know if there was a "valium" for dogs, or if the Acepromazine & Alprazolam were supposed to be that. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

[ArmaniMan]

I have taken mine on the plane many times- I was so nervous the first time and they were way better then I expected. I think all the noise the plane makes tends to calm them down- they usually just go to sleep or lay there quietly. I only had one issue ever and that was because the turbulence was so bad, Chloe peed on herself because she was nervous. I would just make sure your pup is very used to whatever bag she will be in for the trip. Sleep with a small blankie at home for a few nights before you leave and put that in her bag with her, also let her have a little toy that she likes in there. Try to keep her up and moving for awhile before the trip so that she is very tired when you leave. Stop water/ food a few hours before you arrive at the airport and give her one last potty break before you enter the airport (there are pet relief areas at the airport).

I have used rescue remedy for flights- but have never drugged my dog for a flight and have never had an issue with crying or barking.

Make sure you bring:

some food
nutrical
wipes
a few extra small blankets (one to drape over the bag if the floor gets drafty as it often does and another to change out if there are any accidents in the bag.
wee wee pads (I usually give mine a potty break in the bathroom on the plane- I just put the pad on the floor and let them out of the bag to go- then throw the pad away, back in the bag and out of the bathroom we go)

with you on the plane- you can always ask the stewardess for ice cubes or some water for your baby so no need to drag that on.

Good Luck- I have found it is much worse anticipating the first plane ride with your baby- the actual trip usually goes off without a hitch and you are left wondering why you worried so much!

I should add I take mine from NY-Las Vegas so the flight is over 5 hours, they are in the car 2 hours before for the drive to the airport and then the time in the airport- they usually end up being in the bag for about 9-10 hours.

[sugarmamma]

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tra...och-cabin.html


You may want to check the travel board. Lots of good threads and information there!

[sspaht]

Thank you for the information! I hadn't thought of a few things. I need to start getting her used to the bag she will travel in. Are the airlines pretty bag picky? Do you have any suggestions on what bag to use? My yorkie is 6 lbs.

I'll also be sure to check out the travel boards. Thank you!

[sspaht]

Also this might be a silly question, but what is nutrical?

[ArmaniMan]

Originally Posted by sspaht

Thank you for the information! I hadn't thought of a few things. I need to start getting her used to the bag she will travel in. Are the airlines pretty bag picky? Do you have any suggestions on what bag to use? My yorkie is 6 lbs.

I'll also be sure to check out the travel boards. Thank you!

I fly JetBlue and they are not really picky, as long as the bag fits completely underneath the seat in front of you they don't measure or weight it. I have heard other airlines are picky though- I recommend you find out the exact specs allowed on your airline and stick within them.

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Originally Posted by sspaht

Also this might be a silly question, but what is nutrical?

Not a silly question at all- Nutrical is a very high calorie supplement that can be used if a dog starts to get low blood sugar- since I don't feed mine for hours before leaving and then they are in the bag so long, I worry about that- so I carry it just in case- I have never had to use it but I feel better safe then sorry- in a pinch you could use honey or pancake syrup as well.