I'm going on a trip to see my family in Texas and since my husband is deployed his family has offered to take his overly hyper beagle for the year he is gone. It's going to be an 9 hour car ride and I have no idea if he gets carsick, but I do know that he has and will jump all over the place including on my infant son. My mother in law told me that one tab of Benadryl would be ok to give him to sedate him through the trip. Our beagle is about 25-27 lbs and the doses of benadryl come on 25 mg tabs. What is safe and can I do that? My mother in law said her vet told her to do the same with her dogs and they are around the same size as our beagle, maybe even a little lighter. I trust my mother in law, but I still want to be safe.
2006-11-22 03:15:23 · 8 answers · asked by d4cav_dragoons_wife84 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes, Benadryl is fine & reccomended by vets. You may want to start with 1/2 a pill, but a full one is fine for his size. If you give 1/2 & he does not seem affected (calmer, sleepy) in 1 hour, go ahead & give the other half.
The breeder that shows my Boxer often gives him one when they are traveling to shows, as he does not like traveling in the motorhome (& being away from me). One makes him sleep most the trips!
2006-11-22 03:22:47 · answer #1 · answered by mustanglynnie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would talk to your vet before you give your dog anything that was intended for humans but in the past I have been instructed to use half a tab of Dramamine for a Dalmatian that got car sick. It worked very well but the poor thing was so doped up he could hardly stand. As far as your dog's hyper activity...I would say take him on a big outing (like the beach, park, or long walk) the day before or right before you go on your trip. Maybe that will wear him out a little or enough so he won't spaz in a carrier. And carriers disgust me too but you don't want to loose your dog when you stop at a rest point and that will also protect your little boy from being trampled.
2006-11-22 03:31:37 · answer #2 · answered by Bec 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can give benadryl, but I've found that it doesn't work all that great for dogs. 25 mg was prescribed by my vet for my 56 lb dog, so I'd do half that for my beagle!
Ginger snaps help with car sickness though! Many of my friends have dogs that get sick in the car, what they do is not feed them too close to the trip, and then 30 mins before they leave they give them a ginger snap cookie (organic if possible).
Also, try desensitizing your dog by taking him for short trips or even just going into the car for 5 mins at a time- that way he'll realize that he doesn't need to be afraid of getting sick.
2006-11-22 03:38:50 · answer #3 · answered by niubutterfly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I brought my carsick puppy home for Thanksgiving and got a sedative from the vet called acepromazine. He's about 30 pounds and I gave him 12.5 mg. I was going to go the Benadryl route, but asked the vet and they said the ace was better. It was really cheap too, so I don't think they were just trying to take my money. It knocked him out for a couple of hours, and even when he woke up he was quiet.
2006-11-22 03:24:44 · answer #4 · answered by Carson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before giving an animal human medication, it's best to check with your veterinarian.
They can prescribe maybe some Acepromazine or Cloicalm for the anxiety. That is specifically made for anxiety in animals. Benadryl, although might make them sleepy, is not specifically made for anxiety.
I'd call the vet. You don't want to ruin your holiday by making a trip to the emergency room.
2006-11-22 03:40:16 · answer #5 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As someone else said can you not get him a crate or even a guard and put him in the back out of harms way?
I wouldnt personally go down the acp route or any sedative unless you have it weighed at the vets and the correct dosage administered you can even kill the dog with an incorrect dosage.
Have you tried any homeopathic remedies? like bach rescue remedy you only need a few drops in his water or direct on the tongue, a few times each day before he travels.
2006-11-22 03:33:02 · answer #6 · answered by sazzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you shouldn't sedate him and put him in a carring case in the back. Those pet carriers things. You can stop frequently for potty breaks, too. I think the dog and you will be happier.
2006-11-22 03:23:15 · answer #7 · answered by SoccerFrienly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have you ever heard of a pet carrier. it's hard to jump around the car in that. or you could just shoot it.
2006-11-22 03:27:30 · answer #8 · answered by Cyrus 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋