With airlines and hotels becoming increasingly pet-friendly, more and more of us are traveling with our puppies and pooches in tow. But as logistics have become easier, sometimes our pets still have trouble navigating the big and scary world of travel. Animal Fair looks at several remedies for treating travel anxiety in our pets.
“A lot of people feel that they have to sedate their pets when they travel,” said Dr. Michael Rubinstein, Clinic Director of The Humane Society of New York. “You should never do that without going to a vet and we don’t recommend that you do it at all.”
Bach’s Rescue Remedy is without a doubt the go-to solution for stressed out people who want an alternative to sedatives and other medications. And many pet owners have found that it is equally as effective at calming their dogs, especially at travel time. Rescue Remedy is an herbal remedy made from flowers and spring water that is placed on the pet’s tongue.
Another herbal remedy available from mindbodyandpaw.com is Easy Travel Solution, which claims to not only calm anxiety, but also to prevent motion sickness, another common problem when traveling with pets.
“I always recommend the Rescue Remedy or something similar for calming pets during travel,” continued Dr. Rubinstein. “The Rescue Remedy is very easy to find at health food stores.”
Many pet owners have found success quieting their anxious animals with aromatherapy. Just as soothing scents relieve stress in people, dogs can also benefit. Marjoram Calming Mist from cybercanine.com claims to gently calm our pets through inhalation and make traveling an easier experience for everyone.
Specifically designed to reduce stress in dogs, D.A.P. Dog Appeasing Pheromone Diffuser mimics the pheromones female dogs secrete when nursing their puppies. These pheromones are calming and have been used successfully to reduce stress in many situations including travel or relocation. “Aromatherapy and pheromone therapy are great options, especially for car travel,” confirmed Dr. Rubinstein.
Of course, when all else fails, or for those pet owners more amenable to using medications, drugs like Prozac are a last resort option you can explore with your veterinarian. It really depends on you, your pet, and your doctor.
“The alternative remedies are great,” Dr. Rubinstein summed up. “But you should always couple them with behavior modification. Often it’s as simple as, when you stay calm, they stay calm.”
For more information visit: rescueremedy.com
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