Sedating your dogs???

Hello everyone... My dog Charlie is over 12 years old (closer to 13) and in August, my DH and I are moving to NC. We will be moving ourselves in a moving van and of course taking Charlie with us. My question si, has anyone sedated their dogs for a long trip or are they just good?

Unfortunately, DH and I will be in separate vehicles, but Charlie will be with me because he's only driven with me on short trips - no more then 30 minutes. He's good, but he whimpers and is usually restless. So for this 8-10 hour trip, I was considering getting him something to calm him down and relax.

Of course we will make many stops along the way so we all can stretch our legs and potty, so that's definately not a problem. Just curious as to how other dogs have faired and at what age they are/were.

Thanks for the help and info

My Hershey never liked the car and would STAND for the entire ride from NY to SC (and be exhausted when we got there). One time we did get a sedative from the vet and gave it to her and I really didn't like it at all. She still would not lay down and just seemed totally spacey.

It made me very uncomfortable.

Thank you for sharing your experience. That's what I'm worried about - also that he's older

Anyone else?

We drive our dog from VA to NY and back several times a year. He doesn't love it, but he calms down pretty well. In stop and go traffic he whines and gets annoying, but 90% of the time he's fine. We had to sedate him once for an x-ray and it took him 3 days to get back to normal. I wouldn't do it again unless we had to.

Our dog is so much better behaved if we put in the dog seatbelt. They make comfy harnesses that keep them safe and secure.

Bailey LOVES the car and on our move to GA (we stayed overnight in a hotel) she was AMAZING. It was her longest car ride ever. The first half she was a little restless, but good, the 2nd day she pretty much slept on her doggie bed in the back seat. It was a Mustang too, so there wasn't much room for her to move around (she's a 90 lb rottie). I had bottled water and a small bowl that I'd fill up a tiny bit and hold with one hand while driving on the center console for her to drink.

Our puggle, if we are to drive up to NY at all, I think we might sedate him--he's so hyper and needs to be in your face, I just don't think I could take a road trip with him.

Thanks!! I think I'll just maybe get the drugs and just keep it with me. But we'll start the trip with him just sitting in the back seat and see how it goes. Hopefully he'll calm down and be good

I found these stress relieving things...

Dr Foster & Smith

That's great - thank you very much!!! I didn't know they made such things.