How can I ensure my 14-year-old senior dog handles a 2-hour road trip?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is safe for her to make the trip. I would just make frequent stops so she can stretch her legs and go to the bathroom. I wouldn’t feed her during the trip in case she gets car sick. Kisses to your new pup!

If Sara sees a regular vet, you can let them know she is going on a road trip and they should be able to prescribe you a few doses of sedative to take with you on the trip. This may help her settle in and relax enough the entire ride.

Yes, Dexter should be ok. Make sure he has access to water, I'd keep him in a crate during the trip so he doesn't move around too much during the drive, and stop every two hours so he can go potty. Best of luck.

It would probably be easiest to feed before and after, although if the dogs are used to a strict schedule it might be better to try to feed at the normal time. I think either choice is fine! I would probably offer water and a potty break every 4-6 hours.

As long as Charlie likes car rides, your best option is to take him for a long walk or a game of fetch. The goal is to drain some of his energy so he is more calm and less anxious/excitable in the car. Make sure to feed him a couple hours before the ride and take him out to go potty just before he gets in the car. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

That sounds like a lot of fun for Sara and the rest of the crew!!! I would definitely recommend to get all the dogs use to each other well before the trip, that way if there are some aggression issues or other problems, these can be addressed right away. It would be a good idea to get all the dogs use to long car rides. If some of the dogs don't travel well, you can talk to their vet about sedatives/anti-anxiety medications. Also you will need to make sure that all pets are up to date on vaccines as well as flea AND heartworm prevention. I recommend to use a more complete heartworm prevention such as Interceptor or even a combo product like Trifexis. These products prevent heartworm and also have activity against 3 intestinal worms. This is smart since the dogs will be traveling and thus have higher exposure. Lastly, you should carry with you the vaccine records and to be safe, get an interstate health certificate on each one. Best to work out any kinks well in advance and prepare for any legal situations. Have fun and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

In a puppy this age, I would not be comfortable completely skipping a scheduled meal. I would suggest giving her a smaller-than-normal breakfast that morning, and then perhaps a snack once you arrive at your destination.