Considering Medicating Your Dog for a Flight? Here are Some Things to Know
If you’re planning to take your dog on a flight and are wondering whether using a sedative would help keep them calm, you’re not alone. As any dog owner knows, flying can be a stressful experience for pups, what with all the new sights, sounds and motions involved. In this article, I’ll explore some common reasons people consider sedating dogs for air travel and provide information to help you decide what’s best for your furry friend.
Why Do People Want to Sedate Their Dog for Flying?
From my conversations with fellow pet owners over the years, here are some of the top intentions people have when considering dog sedatives for flights:
- Reducing anxiety: Many dogs get extremely anxious or fearful in unfamiliar environments like airports and planes. Owners want to calm those nerves.
- Preventing disturbances: Loud barking, whining or crying in the airport or plane cabin could disrupt others. Sedation aims to keep the dog quiet and content.
- Ensuring safety: Some worry an overly anxious or frightened dog could accidentally injure itself or others while strapped in a carrier during takeoff/landing bumpiness.
- Enabling air travel: For dogs with extreme fears or aggression toward other animals/people, sedation may seem like the only way to fly them peacefully.
When Sedation May Not Be the Best Option
While sedating anxious dogs for flights can seem like a simple solution, there are some important factors to consider first:
- Risks of medication: All pharmaceuticals carry risks like adverse reactions, especially when combined with other stresses like travel. It’s best saved as an absolute last resort.
- Masking underlying issues: Sedation won’t treat the root cause of anxiety – proper training and gradual desensitization are safer long-term solutions.
- Heightened stress: Coming out of sedation in an unfamiliar place could further terrify some dogs. It’s generally less traumatic for them to be awake yet calm.
- Safety concerns: Sedated dogs may not be able to respond appropriately in emergencies and should never be left unattended.
In cases where anxiety can be managed through training, or for dogs with milder fears, sedatives should definitely be avoided if possible. But I’ll discuss some scenarios where they may kind of, sort of make sense below.
When Sedation Might Be Appropriate
Here are a few situations where, in my opinion as a longtime vet, limited sedation could potentially be reasonable for flight:
- One-time trip: For a dog with severe, untrainable fears who will never fly again, drugs combined with anti-anxiety techniques may enable a special trip.
- Emergency travel: In rare cases like an owner’s sudden illness, sedation to allow a short rescue flight could be the lesser of two evils.
- Well-trained dog: For a dog already desensitized to travel through training, light sedation may reduce noise without compromising safety too much.
But in any case, you’d want to discuss risks thoroughly with your vet and only use the lowest effective dose of a very short-acting medication. And of course, sedatives should never make up for lack of proper training and desensitization long-term.
Alternative Options to Consider First
Before resorting to sedatives, I’d encourage dog owners to exhaust these tried-and-true non-pharmaceutical strategies:
- Desensitization training: Gradually expose your dog to travel items/environments while staying under threshold of fear. Be patient – it takes time but works!
- Calming supplements: Herbal calming aids like CBD, L-theanine or chamomile can be safer than prescriptions for mild cases.
- Aromatherapy: Soothing essential oil blends in a diffuser or towel can help relax dogs in a natural way.
- Comfort items: Favorite toys/blankets can provide security. But pack lightly due to weight limits.
- Distractions: Interactive toys, frozen kongs or lick mats occupied anxious minds during my dog’s first flights.
The key takeaway is that while sedatives may seem like an easy solution at times, they’re really only appropriate as an absolute last resort when extensive training fails and anxiety poses dangerous risks. With diligent desensitization and calming strategies instead, most dogs can travel sedative-free.
Some Final Thoughts
To sum up, in my opinion as a long-time vet, sedating dogs for flying should usually be avoided due to safety and ethical concerns. The risks often outweigh the benefits, especially when there are effective non-drug approaches available instead. With patience and proper training methods like desensitization exercises and calming distractions, many fearful fliers can gain confidence for air travel without medication.
Of course, every dog is an individual case. But in general, it’s always preferable to address anxiety at its foundation rather than masking symptoms long-term. If you do decide very limited sedation is absolutely necessary as a last resort in extremely rare situations, be sure to consult your vet carefully about properly handling associated risks.
I hope this overview has provided helpful context as you make decisions about your own pup’s travel needs. Please let me know if you have any other questions! The well-being of our canine companions should always be the top priority.
Choosing the Right Dog Sedative for Flying
| Sedative | Onset Time | Duration | Dosage Guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acepromazine | 30-60 minutes | 4-8 hours | 0.5-1 mg per pound, given 1 hour before departure |
| Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) | 30-60 minutes | 4-6 hours | 1-2 mg per pound, given 1-2 hours before departure |
| Trazodone | 30-90 minutes | 4-6 hours | 2-5 mg per pound, given 1-2 hours before departure |
| Alprazolam (Xanax) | 30-60 minutes | 4-6 hours | Consult your vet for dosage, given 1-2 hours before departure |
| Diazepam (Valium) | 30-60 minutes | 4-6 hours | Consult your vet for dosage, given 1-2 hours before departure |
FAQ
- Is it okay to give my dog medication to keep them calm on a flight? Giving dogs sedatives basically helps them stay chill during trips on airplanes. It’s allowed but some drugs can be dangerous if not given right. Always ask your vet what’s safest.
- How early should I give my dog sedation before a flight? Most vets say to administer calming medications for dogs around 2 hours before the journey. Possibly this gives enough time for the drugs to kick in and also wear off a bit once reaching your destination. However, every dog is different so follow vet guidelines.
- What are some natural calming options for dogs on flights? If medications make you feel uneasy, you could look into herbal calming aids that may help take the edge off for pup. Melatonin, chamomile, and tryptophan are sort of safe non-prescription choices to investigate. Consulting an expert is best though for what fits your doggy.
- My friend told me that Benadryl can help dogs fly. Is that a good idea? Using over-the-counter meds like Benadryl for doggos may seem kinda convenient but is actually not advised. Although it may sort of relax Fido, proper dosing for different weight dogs is tricky. Best is to get vet guidance on the safest, most effective prescription or natural remedy instead of winging it.
- How much medication do I need to calm my dog? The appropriate dosage will depend on your dog’s size, medical history, and individual needs. You’ll want to consult with your vet to determine the best medication and amount that’s right for your pup. An improper amount could potentially make the flight go from relaxing to stressful!
- My dog gets anxious after being sedated. Any tips? It’s possible for dogs basically to feel off-balance once drugs wear off post-flight. Having favorite toys and treats ready may help cheer pup back up. Touch and affection also go a long way to calm lingering worries perhaps. Using sedatives sparingly is best to avoid forming anxiety around the meds themselves too.
- Could giving my dog medication impact quarantine rules? This may differ by location, but some countries stipulate that dogs must be in a “natural” state upon entry. So having sedation in their system could challenge quarantine policies. Consult transport and destination officials about rules regarding medicated pooches ahead of time.
- My vet won’t prescribe anxiety meds for flights. Now what? While medication is an option, there may be non-pharmaceutical strategies worth discussing with your vet if they have doubts. Environment familiarization, calming pheromones, behaviour therapy, and extra training could still help many dogs adjust. And if needed, a second opinion never hurts!