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Spleenstomper's avatar
Spleenstomper
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014

Anyone have an old dog die while on the road?

I have an old dog-- 14 year old hound. He's trucking along but is old; sounds like he may have CHF though he has no diagnosis yet.

We're planning to go to Colorado next summer and meet my sister there, and we plan to bring the two dogs.

I once had a dog die while I was in Hawaii, she was boarding at the vet's office.

So anyway I was wondering what happens if you have a dog die while you are across the country? Drop him off at vet for cremation and have then ship you remains?

Just curious, of course I hope it never happens but dogs can't live forever.

Thanks.

20 Replies

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  • colliehauler's avatar
    colliehauler
    Explorer III
    Aug 24, 2014
    When Strider had cancer I knew it would be the last trip. He loved the very short walks and being with me 24 hours a day. He got very sick on the trip but recovered. Two weeks after the trip he passed. If he passed on the trip I would cremate.
  • Spleenstomper's avatar
    Spleenstomper
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Good point about the altitude. I'm worried about that for myself.... The old dog... Could be a problem. We are I think 100 ft above sea level. The dogs go to New Orleans with us all the time, which we all know is below sea level.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Aug 24, 2014
    Have not, yet. But cremation is in order when/if we do.
  • Altern's avatar
    Altern
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Another point, AL is sea level or mostly so.
    CO depending where - could be very difficult for your hound's lungs to handle the altitude.
    Something to think about.
  • twins89's avatar
    twins89
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    We travel with our 15-year-old Westie. she has some health issues and it is entirely possible we could awake and she could be gone. We feel we would take her to a place where cremation could take place and we would just take her along. She loves to camp with us and always seems to know when we are going again, so if this was to occur, she would be passing while doing what she loves to do... camp.
  • Spleenstomper's avatar
    Spleenstomper
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Good point about bringing medical records, my vet has a new thing where you get like a credit card with all the shot information and diagnosis so you can keep it in your wallet.

    And, sure, entirely possible the trip will come to pass with no pets dying.

    Thanks for the replies.
  • Dog_Folks's avatar
    Dog_Folks
    Explorer II
    Aug 24, 2014
    We have had three pass on while on our full time adventure.

    Their ashes are with us.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Aug 24, 2014
    Thats what we did one time... It was around $200 as I recall... The remains didn't fill up a very big tube.

    We was at the place when they did the cremation... They said they would mail it us but we just picked it up after they had finished everything... Then we talked to the tube for the rest of the trip...

    Roy Ken
  • n7bsn's avatar
    n7bsn
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Last year we did a long trip with our 13 Y.O. dog (with gall-stones), our 18 Y.O. cat (with kidney and heart issues) and our 16 Y.O. cat (with kidney issues and two types of cancer).
    None died.
    But we carried their recent checkup/medical records.
    We were really concerned the cancer cat would die, so the plan was find a Vet, cremation and pickup/shipment home.

    All three are now a year older, the cats still hate going on trips and the dogs love it.
    But that is still the plan.

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