Pet ? .. Anyone ever used a Thundershirt?

I have an anxious 7 month old puppy who seems to have some significant seperation and travel issues (I've rescued her from animal control and they knew nothing about her history). She cries frequently, throws up almost instantaneously upon getting in the car (she's healthy .. she went to the vet twice and threw up both times), and insists on being nearly on top of us. I work all all day but have the opportunity most days to come home to let her out and she's crated when I'm not home. She does not relish the idea of going into the crate, but she has adjusted and seems to get that it's not punishment (there's usually a biscuit coming her way after the door closes). I'm looking for a means of alleviating some of her anxiety .. I feel terrible. Has anyone ever used a Thundershirt? Any alternatives?

My beagle was terrified of thunderstorms, she would be up all night pacing between the 2 bathrooms trying to
find some place she felt safe. She would end up in the shower in a mass of drool shaking uncontrollably. I bought
a Thundershirt from Amazon and it's one of the few things I kept of hers when she passed. It really did work. It
velcos around their bodies and applies pressure. I kept it on a hook and my dog would stand under it when the rumblings
started to have it put on her. The disadvantage was it really hot for her being made of spandex and there's lots of velcro.
I once called in sick because there was a huge storm and I couldn't leave her in it and I felt couldn't take it off her.

My dad used to give our beagle valium to make her chill out during thunderstorms... otherwise she would nearly dehydrate since she would literally end up bathed in drool from panting and freaking out.

The best thing you can do, in terms of conditioning the animal, is not to baby it when it freaks out. You need to just act calm and normal like nothing is going on.
Make the dog understand that everything is normal and there is nothing to worry about. If you coddle it, then it realizes that something is different and it's worth getting worked up about.

Also, to get the dog better acclimated to the crate, you can work on getting her to go in there, giving her a treat, and leaving the door open or unlatched.
Make sure she understands it is her space. Put some of her toys in there and encourage her to just hang out in Her Room for a little while each day.

Thanks, replyguy. I think I'm going to give her a shot. Lou is a thin dog with a thin coat and the house stays fairly cool, so I don't think she'll suffer from hyperthermia.