All beings react differently to stress, even amoebas have a stress reaction. However, there’s normal and abnormal stress-related behaviour. Much of their reaction depends on temperament; easy-going pets might not feel much stress at all. A naturally anxious dog might hyperventilate herself into a coma. The easy-going reaction is normal, the poor anxious doggy is not.
We’ll delve into what to expect when travelling with your pet, how to manage their stress-levels during travel, and recognise serious distress that might benefit from the expertise of a reputable company, like Pets Travel.
Normal Pet Behaviour During Travel
- Curiosity and exploration: Some pets get a kick out of new environments. They can’t get enough sniffing and exploring. This is a superb reaction.
- Quietness: You must understand your pet when it comes to quietness because it can mean two very different things. Your pet can be chilled, not bothered by the journey. This is a superb reaction. Or, your pet could be shut down, which means they’re so stressed they’ve retreated within themselves. This is a bad reaction.
- Sleepiness: Chilled pets might sleep on the journey, especially if they’re comfy in their crates. This is a superb reaction.
- Occasional whining: A little distress is normal. They’re experiencing new environments, after all. They usually adjust and settle after a while. This is a normal reaction.
- Panting: Dogs pant when they’re stressed. This is different to their panting after exercise or in the heat and it’s often accompanied by a yawn. This is a normal reaction. However, if the panting continues for a long time or gets worse, you might need some calming aids.
Abnormal Pet Behaviour
- Excessive barking and whining: This intense vocalisation is very unlike your pet. Even barky dogs can bark excessively during travel. You must know the difference between normal barking and panic barking.
- Excessive drooling or vomiting: Vomiting is never a good sign. It could be from motion sickness or stress, either way, you should talk to your vet before you travel because there might be some meds that will ease nausea and help keep your pet calm.
- Aggressive behaviour: Have you ever snapped at someone because you’re stressed and they pushed the wrong button? Pets do the same, but there is a difference between reasonable acting out and severe aggression. If your pet displays signs of aggression you should consult a qualified behaviorist before it gets worse.
- Restlessness: Constant movement, pacing, trying to escape, and sitting, standing sitting are signs of high stress.
- Shaking or trembling: Shaking when afraid is normal but continuous shaking or trembling indicates extreme fear or stress, especially when combined with other signs, like panting, drooling, and whining.
How to Manage Abnormal behaviour
There are management tools you can use to reduce stress and anxiety before, during, and after a journey.
- Calming tools: Things like calming aids (sprays, collars, tablets, diffusers) can help calm your pets. There is special classical calming music for dogs (Through a Dog’s Ear). You can also use Telling Touch (TTouch) techniques, which include wraps and massage, to soothe your pet.
- Crate training: Don’t underestimate the power of the crate. Pets who are comfortable in their crates tend to be comfortable no matter where they are, so long as they’ve got their crates.
- Regular breaks: Stop often to give your pets a chance to stretch their legs, sniff, explore, and relieve themselves.
- Gentle reassurance: Research shows that dogs respond positively to the sound of their guardian’s voice. So, talk to your pets, tell them all the fairy tales you know, and touch them often because physical reassurance is also important.
- Health check: This is very important. Much of pets’ stress behaviour can be attributed to health problems, especially pain.
When to Seek Professional Help
If calming measures don’t touch sides, it’s time for professional help. You might need to consult a qualified behaviourist to address underlying issues before you try travelling again. If travel is inevitable, use a professional company that specialises in pet transport.
Pets Travel has qualified behaviourists and trainers on its team to implement stress management techniques to soothe your pet on the journey.
Know Your Dog
The best thing you can do for your pet is to fully understand their nature. This does two things:
- It helps you anticipate your pet’s reaction to travel and take steps to nip potential stress and anxiety in the bud.
- You can easily tell when they’re excessively stressed and need some extra care before, during, and after travel.
Pets Travel provides professional advice on how to prepare your pets before a journey. Our qualified staff are well trained in pet behaviour and can not only prepare a unique travel plan based on their needs, but also recognise stress signals and take steps to reduce anxiety on the go.
Our aim is to ensure your pets travel in safety and comfort, and even look forward to the next trip.
