Travel-Induced Anxiety in Pets

Travel anxiety can become apparent when you try to put your dog in the car and she resists. Travel-induced anxieties can be overcome with a number of helpful methods such as training, homeopathic remedies and aromatherapy.

  1. Causes

    • Dogs can develop dog travel anxieties as puppies when separated from their mother too soon and then taken on an unfamiliar car ride to the new owner's home.

    Symptoms

    • Trembling, panting, crouching, nervousness, barking or whining when traveling are all signs of a dog suffering from travel anxiety.

    Travel Training

    • Desensitize a dog for travel by feeding him in the vehicle, then starting the vehicle and taking short trips. Dog obedience and behaviorist trainer Stan Rawlinson believes that dog travel anxieties can be resolved with proper training.

    Homeopathic Treatments

    • Use HomeoPet Travel Anxiety, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, to aleve travel-induced anxiety in pets.

    Aromatherapy Treatment

    • Introducing lavender has been shown to be effective. "Aromatherapy in the form of diffused lavender odor may offer a practical alternative treatment for travel-induced excitement in this species, according to The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The odor of lavender was released in the immediate area of dogs resulting in less vocalization and fidgeting.