ACE and Motion Sickness?

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TClarke

Boxer Pal
Trixie has been getting sick in the car. This is especially during longer car rides that we take on a weekly basis to go for overnight stays about 2 hours away. I don't feed her before going on trips, I try not to let her have too much water, and she normally likes the car. It just seems like longer trips through the mountains is really tough for her.

I try to take breaks and let her out to "breathe" and potty, but she still ends up getting sick in the car. There's no telling when it'll happen (beginning, middle, or end of the trip), and I just don't know what to do.

When I asked the vet about motion sickness meds, the office recommended ACE. I hate that Trixie gets miserable in the car... I mean she is really starting to HATE the car, but I'm not sure I want to use ACE everytime we go for a trip.

What do y'all recommend?
 
Boxerworld

Boxerworld

BW owner
Staff member
ACE can dangerous for boxers and I personally do not recommend the use of tranquilizer. My boxer Bismarck had ACE once and collapsed. That was more than 10 years ago when information about Acepromazine was not well known.

Olly
 
Robyn

Robyn

Completely Boxer Crazy
I'm sorry about Trixie's motion sickness but by all means, DO NOT use ACE!!!

Acepromazine is a tranquilizer that is also often used as a preanesthetic. In the Boxer, it tends to cause a problem called first degree heart block which is an arrhythmia. It can also cause life threatening low blood pressure. There are many articles pertaining to the adverse reactions to Ace and boxers and still MANY vets are unaware of this possibly life threatening
reaction.

Here are two links to the pages where I've gotten my info:
http://www.boxerrescue.com/ace1.htm
http://www.boxerrescue.com/ace2.htm
 
T

TClarke

Boxer Pal
I'm just a bit concerned about who to believe and what to think. I mean, it's obvious that people on this site are very into their dogs, do their research, etc.

Many of the websites people have referred me to say there have only been two or three recorded cases of boxers having problems with ACE. There have also been sites that say, "there is no hard evidence." Still other sites claim it is too much risk and ACE is potentially fatal.

I appreciate all of this information, but when I'm looking at the whole picture it seems that many of the sites I've been referred to are non-medical in nature and could have been written by anyone. I would LOVE to be referred to a site that specifically states the dangers of ACE relating to Boxers, and offers references where I could refer my vet.

The only site I've seen which appears to be at all credible says "While it appears to be prudent to avoid acepromazine in the boxer, it is important to realize that acepromazine has been used widely in boxers with no problems and that adverse events are unusual."

Also, the vet said the danger of Trixie waking up after surgery without ACE caused a greater risk of her waking with a start and hurting herself in a panic mode.

As for motion sickness, are there any other recommendations?
 
J

jazmin333

Boxer Booster
my dog use to get car sick, not any more though, I started to take her on short 10 minute drives to nowhere to get her used to the car, and since it was a joy ride and she was not nervous, she eventually got over it.you did not mention his/her age. mine did when she was still quite young, as she got older it stopped.
my advise is to start taking shorter pleasant trips to get them used to it, that worked for me
 
douma

douma

Boxer Insane
i was having the same problem with Avra,with my daughter's dog and with my 2 previous dogs.It seems to used to most puppys until the age 9 or 10 months old,so its needs only patience .Now Avra is 9 months old and we don't have problem anymore.
Avra's vet suggested to me a very light antiemetic drug for children (emetostop)and it was working very good to my dogs. You may ask your vet for it.
Patience..and i wish you very good trips!!!
 
Boxerworld

Boxerworld

BW owner
Staff member
Originally posted by TClarke
I appreciate all of this information, but when I'm looking at the whole picture it seems that many of the sites I've been referred to are non-medical in nature and could have been written by anyone. I would LOVE to be referred to a site that specifically states the dangers of ACE relating to Boxers, and offers references where I could refer my vet.
Click to expand...

I have no site but on the medication I got for my dog it was written on the notice delivered with it to be careful with boxers, and to reduce the proportion by 50% compared to other breeds.

Olly
 
Linda

Linda

Boxer Insane
I understand your confusion with the information on ACE. My opinion is if more than ONE boxer had serious complications with ACE, why risk it? There are other alternatives out there. :)
Try searching this site for "ace." I know there have been many discussions about it and referrals to websites.

Good luck with the motion sickness. I don't have any advice, because we've never had to deal with it personally. Can dogs take motion sickness medications like Dramamine (sp?)? You may ask your vet.
 
JulieM

JulieM

Boxer Insane
The Veterinary Drug Handbook states:

Prolonged effects of the drug may be seen in older animals. Giant breeds, as well as greyhounds, appear quite sensitive to the clinical effects of the drug, yet terrier breeds appear more resistant. Boxer dogs, on the other hand, are predisposed to hypotensive and bradycardic effects of the drug.
Click to expand...

All vets should have this book in their library. Ask your vet to let you look up Acepromazine in their VDH.

As for the motion sickness, desensitization is the best bet. You may want to give Rescue Remedy shortly before going on trips, to help her relax a bit.
 
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