Why You Should Avoid Sedating Your Dog for Flights

We’ve worked with many anxious dogs, and one of the most common questions we get from pet owners is whether dog sedatives are recommended for air travel. We take our cue from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): Sedation prior to air travel comes with too many risks.

Pets that appear sedated at check-in may even be prohibited from boarding by the airline. If you’re worried that your dog cannot fly without sedation, we have tips for prepping your dog for air travel, including natural alternatives without the potential side effects.

Should Pets Be Sedated During Travel?

Sedating pets during air travel is not recommended. It comes with too many risks. The AVMA suggests that some pets may benefit from tranquilizers or anti-anxiety medications over sedatives if they are on a regular regimen, but it’s important to follow dosage recommendations.

It’s also important to note here that anti-anxiety medications can have a sedating effect at higher doses, which would mean your pet is not cleared to fly, especially in cargo. If you have a dog with car sickness from long car trips, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription medication to treat nausea and anxiety. It’s much easier to watch your pet for symptoms when they’re traveling with you, but we still caution against heavy-duty sedatives.

Common Sedation Risks

We’re using a blanket term for sedatives here, but some pet medications are considered tranquilizers or anti-anxiety drugs. That said, any of these drugs can have a sedating effect if a pet receives too high a dose. Generally, these are all only available by prescription from your vet. 

The biggest issue with sedating a pet for travel domestically and abroad is the increased risk of heart and respiratory problems, especially in snub-nosed breeds like pugs and French bulldogs. 

Sedatives slow your pet’s heart rate, respiration, and body temperature. You can’t monitor these while in the air and get your pet help as needed.

Sedating a pet can also lead to more confusion, anxiety, and panic once the medication wears off. This can make it more likely they’ll injure themselves in the air. Instability under sedation is an issue, too.

Here are some commonly prescribed drugs for dog anxiety and their associated risks:

• Trazodone: This antidepressant medication is used to treat behavioral disorders in pets or dogs with situational anxiety. Side effects include lethargy, nausea, rapid heart rate, and changes in appetite.
• Gabapentin: Similar to trazadone, gabapentin is commonly prescribed for pets with situational anxiety. (The two are often prescribed together.) It may also be used to treat chronic pain. Side effects may include lethargy and a loss of coordination.
• Alprazolam: Commonly sold as Xanax, benzodiazepines like these are used to treat anxiety by targeting nerve centers in the brain. Side effects include coordination issues, changes in appetite, and behavioral changes.
• Acepromazine: Administered orally or intravenously, this drug is used as a long-acting sedative, but it doesn’t do anything for dog anxiety. Side effects include disorientation, lowered blood pressure, and respiratory issues. 
• Diazepam: Commonly sold as Valium, this benzodiazepine is used more often to treat seizure activity in dogs rather than anxiety. Side effects include appetite changes, fatigue, and behavioral changes.
• Fluoxetine: Commonly sold as Prozac, this antidepressant is FDA-approved for separation anxiety, but it’s been used in cases of other triggers, as well. Side effects include fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, and lack of coordination.

You should also be cautious about using over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl or Claritin to treat travel anxiety. These drugs are manufactured to relieve allergy symptoms, not anxiety. 

While they can make your pet drowsy, they can cause unwanted side effects like appetite and behavioral changes, nausea, and dry mouth. Always talk to your vet before testing antihistamines on your pet for any reason.

Alternative Solutions for Pet Anxiety During a Flight

Several strategies, outside of sedatives, can reduce travel anxiety in dogs. Here are a few we have seen work:

• We like it when owners send a personal item with their scent inside their dog’s crate for a more comforting environment.
• Some travelers have seen success using small doses of hemp-derived CBD (cannabidiol) in the lead-up to anxiety-producing events. However, it tends to have a greater effect in small dogs. While you may have trouble getting a vet to recommend a brand for you in all states, The Humane Society of the United States calls it a safe treatment for both pain and anxiety. 
• Other pets react well to ThunderShirts, which mimic swaddling effects, and pheromone collars or sprays that release chemicals with a calming effect. 
• Supplements and chews that include ingredients like suntheanine (a form of L-theanine), valerian root, chamomile, and melatonin may also reduce anxiety on long road trips or flights.

It’s important to consult your vet before testing out a new anti-anxiety strategy, especially if your dog is already on medications. Some of these natural methods can interact with medications, making them less effective. 

Recognizing Your Dog’s Anxiety 

You probably already know if you have an anxious pet, but many dogs only exhibit symptoms of anxiety in stressful situations. Fear, nervousness, or anxiety can look like a fight or flight response where a dog tries to escape or exhibits signs of aggression.

More common anxiety symptoms include tucking their tail between their legs, yawning, panting, pacing, shaking, muscle tension, excessive barking, and pinned back ears. Dogs may become more clingy when stressed or exhibit signs of separation anxiety like chewing or scratching.

In severe cases, overly stressed dogs may show changes in appetite or bowel habits. Understanding these signs and your dog’s triggers is essential in finding ways to comfort your pet. You should also take all of this information back to your vet for more advice.

Preparing Your Dog for Travel

Your dog’s first flight shouldn’t be the first time they’re exposed to travel, even if you have to get creative with simulating the experience for them. Here are a few things you can do to prep your pet for travel:

• Get them crate-ready. Use treats and positive reinforcement to develop a positive association with a pet travel crate, whether you’re prepping for car rides or flights. As their travel date approaches, extend the amount of time spent in their crate or kennel.
• Practice on car trips. You won’t know what your dog experiences or how they behave during travel until you travel with them. Car trips can simulate travel conditions in the air. You’ll also know whether your pet has motion sickness. 
• Talk to your vet. You’ll need to keep up with veterinary visits as your travel date approaches to obtain health certificates anyway, but they’re an excellent resource for anxious dogs. Your vet may have additional tips outside of meds based on your pet’s behaviors.
• Exercise your dog. A tired dog is generally a less anxious dog. Make sure your pet gets enough exercise the day before and the day of their flight.
• Adjust feeding times as needed. We recommend you avoid feeding your dog about 4-6 hours before their flight. This reduces the chance of accidents and may keep them from getting motion sickness mid-flight.
• Use a professional pet shipper. We don’t just work with calm dogs. It’s normal for pets and pet parents to be anxious about air travel. Years of experience with both means we know how to handle dogs with extra needs for worry-free transport. 

Traveling With Your Pet Shouldn’t Be Stressful

Pet safety and comfort are our top priorities for all of our clients, especially those with highly anxious pets. We’re here to help relieve some of that stress so that you and your pet are reunited safely and happily.Ready to get started? Fill out a quote request to better understand how we can help and the costs involved.

Ready to get started? Fill out a quote request to better understand how we can help and the costs involved