My dog has car anxiety; meds fail for long trips. Any ideas?

Question

My golden had a serious injury when he was young requiring frequent trips to the vet. Since then he is very fearful riding in the car. No meds have helped when we take overnight trips. Any ideas? Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | neutered | 4 years and 2 months old | 95 lbs

Lauren Kennedy, DVM · Accepted Answer

You may consider asking your vet for some sedation for the trip in the car like acepromazine or gabapentin. These are the more commonly used sedatives and are fairly safe. I would also recommend taking your dog on short trips in the car frequently, about once or twice a week to try and desensitize him to the car rides. It may also be helpful to use lots of positive reinforcement like treats and his favorite toys when he is in the car. Good luck with your trip!

My dog has car anxiety; meds fail for long trips. Any ideas?

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