Travelling abroad with an older dog

Hello everyone -

I am hoping that someone can ease my mind about making the move to England with my 10 year old cocker spaniel.  She is in good health, but at 10 y/o is "elderly" in dog terms and is a very nervous dog.  She will definetely not enjoy her travels, but do you think I have extra need to worry about her actual survival (eek!) because of her age and disposition?  (I will ask my vet, of course, but am hoping someone will have personal experience to share).  What experiences have any of you had with sedation for the trip? I believe I read that this was not allowed, is that the case?

Thanks in advance!

Sedation isn't allowed and for pets in air travel it just isn't a good idea! They can't be monitored and if the kennel shifts they can't brace or protect themselves from injury. Increased altitude can also create respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

Definitely talk to your vet, and have your dog examined, but if she doesn't have any other pre-existing conditions (heart problems, say) I think she'll probably be Ok.

Something that might be worth a try if your dog gets very nervous is something called a DAP collar. DAP stands for dog appeasing pheromone and the behaviorist at my school has had very good experiences using it.

Thanks Rein - I heard good things about those collars when I worked at an animal shelter a couple years ago.  I will absolutely check them out. 

She does have a thyroid condition and once my vet thought she had a minor heart murmur, but "nothing to worry about" they said.  She is due for a check up soon, so I will certainly bring up the subject of travel with my vet.

Another question: When a dog travels in a kennel, no one (airline staff or otherwise) has a need to open the kennel without me being present do they?

My oldest cat was 15 when we made the journey.   She has a heart murmur and had several issues in the run up to the trip, but she didn't take it any harder than the 2 or 3 year old cats.

It was entirely stressful for all three of mine.  But they're all fine now  

Retrospect has been kind to us  

Thank you. I just made the horrible mistake of looking up safety records of airlines and reading about deaths occuring in flight and then broke down in tears at my desk.  Why do I do those things to myself!?  *slaps self across the face*

It's the curse of the endless hours on that side of the journey. 

When you FINALLY get on this side, it just sort of fades away... 

I was really nervous about my cat who was 10 at the time we moved. He took it like a champ. It really made me feel a whole lot better when I saw how the people at Continental treated them when I dropped them off. You could tell these people really cared about the pets who were in there. They let me come around behind the desk and say goodbye before they took them to the back.

Hi Mirrajay - at that age is it worth it to put your dog through so much stress? I had an elderly cocker spaniel, who recently passed away at the age of 14.  :\\\'( She was blind, deaf, had minor arthritis and had a heart murmur.

One of the hardest decisions I had to make was to leave her at home with my family in Knoxville while I moved to Memphis to go to college. She was my baby - I had gotten her when she was a puppy and I was in middle school. But I knew I was going to be gone long hours with school and work, and that just wouldn't be fair to her. She got nervous and panicked when left alone, which would have been horrible for her heart. She had a very happy and extremely pampered life with them.

Do you have someone in the US who could take care of her for you if you decide it's better to not put her through the stress of moving?

Yes, my mother would absolutely take care of her.   I know I am anthropormorphizing, but I just think that my dog (whom I have also had since a puppy) would feel abandonded eventhough my mother would give her all the love in the world. And, then on top of that, my mom would have to emotionally deal with her eventual death and I hate the thought of that too.   I do genuinely worry, though, that she would give herself a heart attack on the trip - she is a very very anxious dog.

I suppose I will talk to my vet and mention my concern to my mom to see if she is as willing as I assume she would be. 

I always promised my dog that I would be with her until the end and do everything in my power to care for her and I cant help but feel that whatever decision I make is a betrayal.

Mirrajay, I brought my 11 year-old English Setter over with me.  I worried my self sick (I mean I was so nervous, I was throwing up before we left) about how she was going to handle not just the flight, but the huge change to a different climate, new person in her life (Mr. K) and being an only dog, after living with my roommate and her dogs.

She survived the trip from LA without any trauma.  She is now my 16 year-old English Setter!     She is very happy here because I now work from home, we have a back garden and a large off-leash park just 100 yards from our house.  If your vet thinks your spaniel is healthy enough for the journey, then I say go for it!

I agree with Karrit!  Don't let fear keep you from the time you will have with your precious pup!

For all the times I've thought my Syd was about to expire in the last two years, for all the crap she's been through and how ill I've made myself with fear, the trip here was a relative piece of cake.

...she does LOVE my boyfriend, and is more resiliant than I give her credit for.   I appreciate your input and would love to hear any other experiences people have had. 

You are right, Holly, we dont have that much time left together - we should spend it TOGETHER if at all possible.

Karrit - I am so glad to hear this story. Give your pup a hug for me

I always promised my dog that I would be with her until the end and do everything in my power to care for her and I cant help but feel that whatever decision I make is a betrayal.

I understand this.  I have a cat who we think is about 13 year old.  I rescued her from the street.  She's very bonded to my daughter and I.  Although my mom would also care for her, I think Spaz would have serious problems with a prolonged separation from us.  Having been abandoned once, she's got issues about it.

As for anthropomorphizing, they have feelings too.  Stress can be both emotional and physical. 

I agree with Karrit and hollyberry.  If the vet thinks she can take the journey, enjoy the years you have left with your dog.  Best of luck to you and your dog in this adventure! 

I know that you've probably thought of this, but there are things you might be able to do to help her get more comfortable with the journey.  If you don't have the crate you are going to fly her in yet, get it early and set it up like it will be for the trip (same food bowls, etc).  Throw some treats and whatnot in there so she thinks of it as a nice place.  Try taking her to the airport a couple of times, so that she's used to the smells and sounds.  Try driving her around in her crate, so that she is used to the feel of moving in the crate.  I think that dogs are just a lot less stressed out when they are familiar with something.  I've started doing this with my dog--maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I'm hoping it will make the trip easier!

Wonderful suggestions Mungo.  She does have her blanket that I was planning on putting in the crate and I was going to put some lavendar oil on there for calming purposes.  Driving her in the crate will be a very good lesson for her, and I had not even thought of that!

I also (and call me nuts) am probably going to have an animal communicator come talk to her before we go and explain the situation.  When we moved to our current house, she FREAKED out and was very uncomfortable, so I brought in a communicator and she said that Mirra asked for a few things to be put in particular places and I swear after that night, she was totally fine in our new home.   Whatever works!

Thanks everyone.