Code2High wrote: My dog and I both got altitude sickness one day, up on a SAR deal on a local mountain. The next day involved vomiting. My advice is to restrict activity at high altitudes for a night upon arrival, as you should yourself. By the next morning, most will have adapted. And there will be no vomiting to make anyone late for court. Oh, the clean-up at home was not fun, nor at work!
Another approach is to VERY GRADUALLY go up to the altitude, like take several days with stops in between. I also understand hydration is very important in prevention.
Sandy got a very mild case (nausea and headache) once going over the Appalachians going to Asheville, NC (not sure how the Rockies will do ).
First time I've heard about a case in dogs, living at 614 feet above sea level and the highest point around is the overpass on the interstate just don't get exposed to altitudes.
Doug & Sandy
Jill (11yr old Golden)& Charmin (16 yr old something)
Henry NOW a camping cat
2008 Southwind
2009 Honda CRV
My buddy has never complained or shown issues and we travel from sea level to 8,000+ ft often during the summer and we have been as high as 10,000 ft. I just restrict his activity periods at the higher altitudes.
Steve,Kathy,Josh & Morpheus the Basenji
2004 40' TSDP Country Coach Inspire DaVinci
350 Cummins, 3000 Allison
2008 Wrangler X Rubicon/Blue OX Tow Bar/Ready Brake
Jack (Cattle Dog) and Ike (Aussie) have been at some considerable altitudes in their younger days. Like Dr Doug, we're flatlanders. Even taking several days to get to the Rockies, our guys (and US!) still suffered shortness-of-breath and just a general loss of energy. We drove to the top of Mt Evans (14,000+') and they didn't even want to get out of the car to explore....LOL! But they didn't seem to be distressed, either - *I* was the one who was distressed after I walked 50' to take a picture of some baby Mountain Goats who were playing inside the Visitor Center. It was bad enough that I was gasping for breath - but further humbled because there was a group of bicycle riders who had PEDALED to the top!!!!!!!!
We've gone coast to coast with our dogs many times. We had a minor issue only once, when Bonnie (a rat terrier) started shaking her head acting funny out in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska on our way home. We pulled over and took her for a long walk and a couple of drinks of water and she was fine. I think her ears needed to "pop".
Julie
_____________________________________________________________________
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu