While most dogs---and even some cats---may enjoy traveling with their human owners to new and exciting places, traveling with pets can be stressful for both the humans and the pets if the pets are not used to travel. They can become vocal and visibly agitated. Fortunately, many different types of medications exist to calm high-strung pets and make travel easier.
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Function
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Veterinary medications made specifically for pet travel can help a high-strung or nervous pet feel more relaxed during a trip. Some medications are available over the counter at pet supply stores and online retailers, while others require a veterinarian's prescription. And while some work as sedatives, others rely on natural ingredients to relax pets and prevent motion sickness.
Prescription Medications
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These include a large variety of sedatives, muscle relaxants and anti-anxiety drugs that can only be dispensed with a veterinarian's prescription. However, such medications are typically only recommended for very fearful pets because all come with potentially dangerous side effects. One common prescription drug used both for dogs and cats is acepromazine tablets, which works by depressing the central nervous system and results in sedation and muscle relaxation.
Homeopathic Medications
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One homeopathic product for helping pets travel with ease is HomeoPet travel. This product is made of natural ingredients meant to relieve motion sickness, nausea, restlessness and anxiety, and it can be used on both cats and dogs. It comes in liquid form. The appropriate dosage is five drops for pets up to 20 pounds and 10 drops for pets between 20 and 100 pounds.
Pheromones
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Pheromone therapy uses synthetic animal pheromones like those released by lactating animals or animals marking their territories. These pheromones have a calming effect on other animals, so they can put traveling pets at ease. A pheromone medication for dogs is Dog Appeasing Pheromone. A similar medication for cats is Feliway. Such medications can be delivered via a diffuser or by spraying them into the pet's environment.
Considerations
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It's recommended that prescription medications for pet travel be used only if they are truly needed. Also, make sure you know how your pet reacts to any animal sedatives or anti-anxiety medications before traveling. The last thing you want is for your pet to experience an adverse drug reaction while you're on the road or in the air and don't have access to a veterinarian. Be aware that sedatives can affect a pet's ability to regulate his body temperature, increasing his risk of overheating or suffering hypothermia.
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