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Original poster

DAP collar or spray?

11 replies

MrsL123 · 22/01/2010 13:24

We've got to take our very car-shy 8 month old puppy to the vet hospital next week, and it's a two hour drive each way. To make matters worse, we can't take our older dog with us, and it'll be the first time the puppy has been in the car on her own before for more than five minutes. There's also a possibility we'll have to leave her at the hospital alone for a few hours while she has scans.

I'm going to PAH tomorrow so I was going to get her a DAP collar but I see they also do a spray. They're the same price, so I wondered what would be better? I thought if I got the spray I could use it on her own collar and her blanket (and the car seats and us...!) to take care of the car, but when we leave her at the hospital alone, will spraying it on her collar have as strong an effect as the actual DAP collar would have? I'll buy both if I need to but would rather not waste the money if I can help it (first time for everything lol!)

OP posts:
Blackduck · 22/01/2010 13:30

I'd go for the spray - problem with collar is if you need to use it again (say in a couple of months) it will no longer be any good. We use an old tea towel, spray onto it and tie it round the hounds neck (we also spray inside the car...) - works a treat...

Totallyfloaty35 · 22/01/2010 13:30

Well collar is fab but my little git darling has managed to get his off and eat it,so i would suggest the spray

iggypiggy · 22/01/2010 13:33

I have the spray and find it has worked well in the past - You can spray onto someting an tie to your dog's collar too - so you get the collar effect too...

Bella32 · 22/01/2010 13:41

I like the collar better - I think it's more effective as the dog's body heat makes it more 'smelly', and also the effect stays with the dog wherever it goes. Whatever you use, start it as soon as possible before the journey - a few days before if you can. Also ring your vet & ask about Zylkene - it's a non-drug mild sedative which could help her for the journey.
Over the longer term try feeding her treats next to the car, then working up to giving her meals in the car, then with engine running and working up to short journeys, in order to get her over her anxiety.
HTH

Original poster
MrsL123 · 22/01/2010 14:13

Bella we asked the vet about a sedative but she said we can't risk her being sleepy when we get there, as the vet will probably want to see her run about to see how her elbow affects her. Do yu think the Zylkene would be ok for this, or would it knock her out a bit?

She's actually fine in the car for her walks or to the vet etc, and will happily watch the world go by out of the window, but the minute we go onto busy roads she starts drooling like hooch and ducks whenever a big car or van goes past, like she thinks they're going to get her

OP posts:
Blackduck · 22/01/2010 14:16

Spray it on her collar, or on a tea towel and put that round her neck....
My hound gets car sick and he is great with this stuff....

Bella32 · 22/01/2010 14:30

Yes, that's why I suggested Zylkene - it's made from milk protein and has a very mild effect, not a tranquiliser at all.

Could you put her in a crate for the journey and cover it so she can't see the traffic?

midori1999 · 22/01/2010 14:38

I prefer the collar to the spray, I have use dthe spray and it did sod all, depite liberal use. Someone with one of our pups used a DAP collar and she went from s dribbling, sicky mess to happily travelling in the car right away.

With regard to the future, have you tried all the usual feeding by the car, feeding in the car, no journeys, short journeys round the block, slightly longer journeys etc?

Original poster
MrsL123 · 22/01/2010 15:11

Midori yes we've tried all that, she used to be a very bad traveller and we couldn't even go 30 seconds without her being sick, so she's a lot better now. She just seems to hate it when we're going faster, and unfortunately it'll be motorway all the way to the hospital

Bella I'll ask the vet about the Zylkene then, thanks for that. Unfortunately we couldn't fit a crate in our car for her, as she's pretty big for her age and we don't have an estate. I'll maybe try blacking out the back windows with a couple of towels so she can't see the big bad lorries zooming past!

I think I'll get both the collar and the spray to make sure she's ok. They should do a plug-in for the car!

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsL123 · 22/01/2010 16:32

Oh well, decision was made for me! Went into the vets after work and they only had collars left in the small size, they're not getting any bigger ones in until Monday, so I got the spray (cheaper then PAH too!). We're going to do a trial run in the car on Sunday, and take the pup for a half hour drive on her own to see how she gets on with the spray. Hopefully it'll do the trick, but if not I'll go back in and and get the collar and some Zylkene.

I have to say though, so far it seems to be doing the trick! She's usually manic for about an hour after I come home, but I sprayed myself with the DAP stuff in the car (just to see what it smelled of - alcohol, ick!) and after a bit of a cuddle she's now fast asleep on the floor at my feet. My other dog is asleep with her head on my arm as I type! I'm a walking sleeping tablet

Ok so it's probably just coincidence but I'm happy to think it's working for now!

OP posts:
beautifulgirls · 22/01/2010 17:10

If she gets car sick still ask the vet for Cerenia tablets - they are specifically licenced for travel sickness in dogs. They don't make them sleepy.

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