Both car and air travel can induce anxiety for pets and it’s important to help get them through it.
Traveling with your furry friend may be exciting for you but it can riddle them with anxiety, so if they struggle with travel, there are natural remedies to help calm their systems.
The Vet Set supports your dog in every facet of their health — physical and emotional — which makes it crucial to help them work through and cope with triggering events such as travel. Follow along today and pick up some of the best natural remedies to ease the stress of doggy travel.
Travel Anxiety in Dogs
Dogs have travel anxiety just like humans, but we know how to identify and treat the signs and symptoms, so how do you know your dog is suffering?
Possible signs include:
- Pacing
- Shaking
- Panting
- Overwhelmed
- Excessive salivation
- Vomiting
- Urination
- Defecation
- Excessively vocal
- Aggression
- Not eating
If you spot these signs there are plenty of natural remedies to calm their systems and help them relax during travel.
Herbal Remedies
There are a handful of herbs that help your dog chill out in stressful situations, so always check with your vet before giving yours something new.
Valerian
This herb works well for people and for dogs! It provides a sedative effect to help quell anxiety in dogs. Valerian comes in a variety of forms such as tinctures and capsules. Talk to your vet about how to dose this herb.
Passionflower
This is a supportive herb that is wonderful for highly stressed out dogs, and it is recommended to give your dog right before you board the plane. This herb keeps all the happy neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine) intact which promotes a calm, happy, and improved mood.
Chamomile
This a gentle, yet effective herb. Not only does it soothe upset dog tummies but it helps them remain calm.
CBD
CBD is for dogs too! Many dog owners are giving their pets CBD to improve the effects of anxiety. The Vet Set recommends Canna-Pet. Find more information here.
Rescue Remedy
This is a homeopathic formulation that helps calm dogs in stressful environments. It has a combination of plants and botanics to aid your pet.
Essential Oils
Rubbing essentials on your pet before a flight offers superb anxiety support and keeps them calm.
The best practice, assuming your dog won’t try and lick them off, is to use a carrier oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, etc and mix in a couple drops of the following essential oils:
Lavender – This herb goes straight to work on your dog’s nervous system to help relieve anxiety.
- Frankincense – This is derived from resin from the Boswellia tree and improves anxiety.
- Neroli – Not that your dog cares, but neroli smells divine and help pups chill and relax.
- Lemon balm – This herb is uplifting and soothing, leaving your dog in a tranquil state.
- Vetiver – This herb has an earth scent and is a grass native to India. There have even been studies on rats showing that vetiver oil functions similarly to anti-anxiety medications.
Other Methods
Beyond herbs and essential oils there a few more things to try to help your dog stay calm.
Compression shirts – These types of shirts function in the same way baby swaddles do — they hug the dog closely, providing a sense of comfort and security. They have an anxiety-reducing effect that applies constant, yet gentle pressure around the torso area.
Acupressure and/or Massage
Acupressure applies pressure to points along the body that correspond with different systems and using specific points can be effective in helping your pooch deal with stress and anxiety.
Massage is also another great way to help your dog relax before a flight — even a good belly rub will help do the trick!
If you’re looking for a more natural solution to help prevent or aid your dog’s anxiety before travel, there are many amazing herbs, essential oils, products, and alternative modalities to help combat their nerves.
Before embarking on any new supplements or methods, connect with your vet to ensure they’re safe for your furry best friend!
To learn more about our alternative vet services or to schedule an appointment, reach out to our Carroll Gardens vet clinic today!