Car Trip with Heart Disease Dog (vet, failure, best, test)
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Does anyone have any experience with a dog with heart disease and going on a very long car trip, i.e., driving from NY to FL? I am wondering if it would be harmful to him to take him with me in the car instead of boarding him with the petsitter. I am very nervous about leaving him even though it's just for 5 days. I am wondering if the long car trip would do him more harm than being left with a sitter. Thanks.
Well, he knows this petsitter and he knows her dogs. Does anyone think the ride in the car would be grueling for him, in the end? If he stayed with the petsitter, he could just hang out with her in the apartment, but I feel very upset about leaving him nonetheless. He is fragile. I feel I never want to be separated from him again! He last went into heart failure in Nov. 2010 and I work really hard to keep him on track and he has not gone into heart failure since. I would love to have him with me, but my parents' condo does not allow pets, and this is another obstacle--having to stay in a motel. but again, I'd be with him. Thanks.
No! & I think with all the information it really comes down to You! Sounds like he will be fine either way. And IF hes going to be in a Hotel while you visit .... Leave him home!
You might want to talk this over with your vet, since s/he would know better than us how his condition would be affected. I know it would be really hard to leave a sick pet with others. If you do take him, make sure he gets plenty of breaks, fresh air, and water, and doesn't get overheated. Those would be my worries. Dogs never seem to want to drink much water on car trips, in my experience, even though they tend to pant, and you don't want him to get dehydrated. If you have this problem, and he likes ice maybe ice cubes would help.
Once again, I agree with Katie1 and her latest post.
I will add, only you know your dog and I believe you already know the answer. I say this with the greatest of heart, when I say, I think you already know what would be best for him.
In any event, do take him to the vet before you leave, to confirm his health, as subject2change recommended.
Thanks everyone. Subject2change makes a good point too, that dogs don't drink enough when in a car. My dog doesn't drink on outings and I have to syringe water into him. I guess he's too distracted. So he could actually dehydrate going down there. if this were winter, it'd be a different story. I keep thinking about the time down there, but there's also the 24 hrs. of driving. If he were home resting with the petsitter, he would not dehydrate. I probably should leave him home. This is definitely harder for me than it is for him, I'm sure. I still wish there were some way. He cannot fly either.
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With all the information that's been presented -- especially that he knows the petsitter and her dogs (and presumably likes them all) -- I'd be inclined to leave him at home. I know how hard that is. I hate leaving my dog. And if my dog were ill, I'd feel even worse. I understand that. But putting your dog first in this equation -- health, long car ride, hotel when there -- I'd say that leaving him with the petsitter is the better option.
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