dogs and altitude question

c_d

c_d

New member
Posted this in another forum, but haven't heard any results. Hope you guys can shed some light into the situation. thanks in advance.

This past weekend we drove down to SoCal to visit my in-laws. The pup (8mos) was in her crate and handled the trip pretty well. We made a couple bathroom breaks, and hit a preserve along the way to let her stretch her legs.

But, as we were crossing the Grapevine she started freaking out in her crate. Scratching the roof, whimpering and demanding to be let out. We pulled over and let her out to do her business. Typically she loves to get in the car crate, but at this stop, she didn't quite have the enthusiasm anymore. Thinking it was just a lot of car time we didn't think much of it.

On our RETURN trip over the grapevine, SAME thing. total panic, clawing at the crate, etc.. We had just let her out a half hour before, so the only thing we can think of is the altitude was driving her nuts. Our ears plug up a bit and pop with the rise in altitude. Could the dog be having trouble with this too and it's just too much for her? Has anyone had similar experiences with their dog? any ideas?
 
c_d said:
Posted this in another forum, but haven't heard any results. Hope you guys can shed some light into the situation. thanks in advance.

This past weekend we drove down to SoCal to visit my in-laws. The pup (8mos) was in her crate and handled the trip pretty well. We made a couple bathroom breaks, and hit a preserve along the way to let her stretch her legs.

But, as we were crossing the Grapevine she started freaking out in her crate. Scratching the roof, whimpering and demanding to be let out. We pulled over and let her out to do her business. Typically she loves to get in the car crate, but at this stop, she didn't quite have the enthusiasm anymore. Thinking it was just a lot of car time we didn't think much of it.

On our RETURN trip over the grapevine, SAME thing. total panic, clawing at the crate, etc.. We had just let her out a half hour before, so the only thing we can think of is the altitude was driving her nuts. Our ears plug up a bit and pop with the rise in altitude. Could the dog be having trouble with this too and it's just too much for her? Has anyone had similar experiences with their dog? any ideas?
Click to expand...

Haven't heard of this before but the altitude may be a good guess.
 
thanks for the reply. You're the first on either thread. I guess this guess is as good as any. Seems like nobody else has experienced this before.
 
I live in Colorado, and travel alot over high altitude passes. I live at 6780ft.
I have even hiked to 14,400 with my dog.
I have never had problems with my dogs.
The only thing that I can think of is a low pressure system while you were going over the passes, or the dog was a little stuffed up or had a head cold.
Then the pressure might affect them.
Similar to people that fly and have pressure headaches.
Remember, dogs are very sensitive to wheather and changes in it.
They can even tell of earthquakes before they happen, and are used to predict seizures in people.
Hope this helps.
 
I live in colorado as well at 8500ft but I take my dogs to work with me at 6000ft almost daily and I have never experienced a problem but it sounds possible...

I have had my dogs over 14,000ft as well with no problem.
 
yellow and blue :)D) I know folks here that go from sea level up to Tahoe regularly with their dogs too and no issues either. YDH, your theory seems plausible. Head cold/pressure what not. One thought I had was how quick the elevation changes there, and if that may have something to do with it?

Hmmm... I guess I'll just have to drive her up to some elevation again soon and keep an eye on her. thanks for the responses.
 
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