Luther & DAle's vet visit

Ok yesterday I took both animals to the vet, which I have to give the story before the story, hubby leaves work at 2:45 to give me and the animals a ride to the vet, he gets home at 5:30, there was a really bad accident on the highway and he just had to sit and wait and then take back roads to get home! Our appt was for 5, but he had called the vet and told him what happened the vet says he stays open til 6:30 no problem, normally a 15 minute drive, we get there at 6:15! Anyway he sees us. Husband is in desperate need of a bathroom having sat in the car for 3.5 hours. While he is in the bathroom, the vet says the my rabies vaccination ran out sveral months ago, but don'T worry, it isn'T so bad so I say no in america the first rabies shot is one year after that it is every 3 years, and he is in the 3 year period and he is like no, no matter where you live a rabies shot is only good for a year (and we are speaking German) so I say maybe I am not understanding you, I'll get my husband, so Hubby talks to him and says the same thing to him and I am thinking AAARRGHH I don't want to overdose my dog on rabies shots. But I reluctantly give in and say ok, bc he starts talking about how Luther will have to go to quarantine and stuff. Anyway, he gives Luther the rabies and something else and he got microchipped (because it is required to enter germany, but not to leave, so I figured better to have one now then forget later) So anyway, now I don'T trust this vet, I don't have his little doggie passport so I can'T look up what the shot was. So he also gave me a sedative for Luther, I am sort of scared of these, I have heard such horror stories (mainly from online stories) but people I know have used different sedatives and their dogs are fine, I am not sure what to do, give it to him or not? It is called SEDALIN GEL , by the CHASSOT company, everything in the box is written in German. It is sort of syringe looking and the vet said to not let him eat for 6 hours before the flight and then give it to him .5 hour before the flight, but the airline said I have to sign something saying he was offered food within the last 4 hours before the flight and leave food for him in his kennel. One person at the airline said under no cicumstances are animals allowed to be sedated, another said he will have to be sedated. I don't know what to do?? any suggestions? Sorry this is so long!

 

What a tough question!! I would be very hesitant to sedate an animal that I wasn't going to be able to watch over to make sure he is okay. But you don't want him freaking out, either. How likely is it that he would freak out?

I sedated my cat for a car trip once and he was totally fine, but I did spend the 10 hour drive checking for breathing about every 5 minutes, LOL.

The rabies shot isn't ideal, but if he is otherwise healthy he should be fine. If you notice any new behaviors, I can get you in touch with a good homeopath that should be able to clear it up. That vet should definitely tell you what the other shot was!

I will see if I can find any info on sedating a pet during a flight and post if I find something.

 

Well, that was quick. Everything I have read so far says DO NOT sedate him!! Only if there is a very good reason to do so should you sedate, and then only give half the regular dose. It has to do with the change in oxygen and air pressure, and also he can't balance as well during turbulence if he is all woozy. I would NOT sedate unless you think there is a very good reason to.

 

see that is what I hear too he is a nervous seeming dog, not to be too gross or graphic, but on the way over here Ithink he got scared and some poo slipped out, bc it wasn'T like he went to the bathroom, it was extra small. but I worry bc he is always so nervous seeming that will make him more paranoid and when he can'T control his body and doesn'T know what is going on it will all be worse. I tried to find this sedative online today and everything was about horses. I really wish I could just check on him half way through.

 

Lil I would not sedate especially since you dont know it is a a syringe. usually the sedatives are pills. I had a friend give their dog a prescription sedative on a plane trip and the dog we picked them up, the poor dog was almost dead and did end up dying. I think they gave too much of a dose

and I would be very worried that the vet wants to use what sounds like a horse sedative?

I did sedate my cat once when I moved and had to be in teh car 7 hours. I thought I had given him too much because abut 2 hours later, his poor eyes were so sunken, he looked terrible, I found pay phone and called my vet and he said the was normal


as for rabies, people have posted here that some US states require yearly rabies vaccinations but most are 3 years

you might try like someting below. can yo get these in Germany? Also if you can, you can do a test and give it before you go to see how well it works

Pet Calm


A precise blend of herbs, vitamins and minerals helps your pet relax. Use when taking your pet to the veterinarian, on a plane, on a car trip, during storms, or in times of stress. For dogs and cats.
Please click

Rescue Remedy

Take a Closer Look
* Calms uneasy pets
* Natural stress relief
* Easy to administer

This formulation of floral essence can help pets relax in stressful situations, such as travel, thunderstorms, or just going to the veterinarian's office. Each bottle contains 20 ml.



honeybear

 

I have heard good things about rescue remedy. I actually have a bottle on hand at home for emergencies, but I have not used it yet. Wait, I did rub some on the ears of my cat (one way to get it into a reluctant animal) when he was freaking over Nala, but I can't really say if it helped or not.

With a dog you can just drop some in his mouth. You might also try misting some onto his blanket if he has one in his crate, so that the smell will be there longer during the flight. I'm sure a website about flower remedies can give you more ideas how to use it.

If you do decide to sedate, you should definitely do a test dose a week or so before and make sure that it works for him. But since you are going on a plane, you should probably cut the dose that worked in half.

How long does the sedative last? If it wears off halfway through the flight, it might be more disturbing for him than not having it at all.

 

With the sypringe thing, it has stops on it, so (unless you are an idiot) you can'T overdose. so that is good. The vet says it last 6-7 hours. We leave here at 11:30am (here time), we have to be ther 2 hours beforehand bc it is interntl, so there at 9:30, we land in Dulles at 11:25pm (here time) and at Roanoke at 12:27 (here time) then it is another .5 hour drive home, so in total 13 hours, and I am not supposed to feed Luther 6 hours before I give the medicine, so last meal would be between 3:30-5;30 no eating until 21 hours later when we will be home again, that seems like alot!

 

Dogs can easily go a while without food. In the wild, they would eat a LOT on a couple of days and then maybe not eat for a day or two until the pack brings down the next animal. So he would probably be hungry, but I would think he would be fine, especially if you feed him extra for a few days before you go. I would be really nervous sedating him, though. Can you ask the vet if the dose was adjusted for air travel?

 

Ok. I was researching. Dr Foster & Smiths makes a felaway travel pk. ITs a little plastic ball thing that hangs in their crate. Emits the "calming feramone" with out having to sedate your animals!!!

I would look into that!