Hi Barbara,
Thanks for your question.
Car anxiety in dogs is a common issue and you heard me correctly that providing some sedation is healthier so that your dog doesn’t experience extreme anxiety and nervousness. I did, however, fail to mention a critical point. A dog sedative for car travel will calm your dog down for the trip but it won’t reduce anxiety. Most veterinarians recommend that you combine an anti-anxiety product with a sedative product so that you get the best result and address each symptom your dog experiences during these episodes.
My licensing regulations prevent me from naming specific products as I could be seen endorsing them. I recommend you discuss the options with your veterinarian. Sedatives for dogs come as prescribed oral medication. There are great anti-anxiety products that are natural supplements and they work very well.
You will want to give a low dose of these products to start with and then you can slowly give a little more to create the right level of calmness for the trip. Keep in mind that every dog is different and will have a different tolerance level to these products so start with a low dose and add a little more over an hour or two before you embark on your trip.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Dr. Clayton Greenway