I am new to the gs world, so forgive my seeminly odd questions. I have an 8wk old pup that will be flying. Can you sedate a pup of this age? The main reason for this question is that the person who bought the pup has purchased a ticket for the her. The pup will be onboard in a carrier. Not down below. Kind of crazy I know. But atleast I feel this puppy is going to a great home.
My local vet advised against it, but we all know about some vets. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I don't know the "true" answer to this, but I know alot of people are against sedating their dogs on flights even as adults.

Is Benadryl effective. I surely don't want to harm this pup in any way.

People fly with their puppies in the cabin with them all the time. They can go on the plane as carry-on luggage if their carriers are small enough.
Personally I wouldn't sedate the puppy, even with Benadryl.

I went to Maine and got my puppy (from Arizona) and took him as carry on. I was worried he would be barking/whining/crying. I was completely surprised because he was quiet the entire time the plane was moving. Of course at home was a different story......as in, I should have slept on the plane <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've been a part of shipping some doggies before (down in the belly of the plane) and I have never seen a steady-nerved pup emerge worse for wear. Riding in the passenger area of an airplane, it is understandable that you would want your pup to stay quiet...but I would guess that he will stay quiet on his own. Puppies sleep most of the time anyway...(my dog just looked at me a little funny as I typed that).
The problems with tranquilizing as best as I understand it are threefold:
1) Dosing is a little iffy and if the dog has a bad reaction to it, there is no way to rush him to the vet. I have heard of dogs dying from these type of adverse reactions.
2) Altitude might make the dog's reaction to the medication different than it would be if given at a normal altitude. (I've only heard about this...I'm no chemisty or veterinary pharmicist). But there is some concern that the altitude might mess with an already iffy dosing of tranqs.
3) THE BIG REASON: Acepromazine is the most common sedative used and it puts the dog in an "altered state." The dog can sense everything going on around it (noises, etc) but is unable to react to them. Very scary!!! This can freak a dog out---it would freak me out!!!
Hope this helps---good luck with your trip.
J
PS. Micheal....your puppy is from Maine? Is he from Bangor? My 9wk old is--could be kin!!

QUOTE: Personally I wouldn't sedate the puppy, even with Benadryl END

I feel the same way, with the possible exception of a dog who is on regular Benadryl for allergies. I once knew a dog who had motion sickness and had low doses of a Benadryl-type med for long car trips, but her owner too preferred not to drug her dog on the plane; she just withheld food for a couple of hours prior to the flight and fed her after they were back on the ground.

She did NOT withhold water. The air in the cabin of a plane is just as drying to a dog as it is to the owner. She used piddle-pads (I think they were called) for just-in-case.

I forgot to add that my vet recommends planning to have a tired dog boarding the plane. A restless dog who hasn't had a good loooooong walk will not be thrilled with an under-the-seat travel crate for any length of time.

Makes great sense, but it's easy to overlook sensible things when you're doing all the stuff you have to do to get ready for a flight with your dog.

Thanks, We have decided not to medicate in any form. I had thought about the motion sickness, so thanks for this imput also. It is also good advise about long exercise session before flight. Thanks SK

My GSD (Kyro) is very sensitive to thunder storms. If I am going to be home during the storm I don't have to do anything. If I'm away when the storm starts, he'll be fine untill I return. If I want to leave during the storm, I have to give him (acepromazine-ACE) if I want a house when I get back. Crating him is not an option as he panics and chews threw the metal bars.

I disagree with the statement that they know what's going on, but can't react. At least at the dosage I give my dog (10mg). If I give him the pill an hour before the storm (only if I know I'm leaving) the effect is hardly noticeable. He appears slightly more relaxed, he still gets up and checks when hears a noise, he still drinks and eats and he'll still obey commands.
I think that you CAN sedate a dog to the extreme that you describe, but I would suggest if sedation is your only option as it is for me, start out with the smallest dose possilbe and work up from there.

My vet said the (SAFE-dosing for benadryl is 1mg for every 1lbs of dog, you can do the math.

Of course, check with your vet for your dog.