Motion sickness is a quite common problem that many people and pets experience when they go on a trip. If your dog tends to suffer from car sickness, you might want to know what you can do to prevent it.
In this article, we’re looking at some tips and tricks that can help you do just that.
Why does motion sickness happen?
While the vast majority of dogs tend to get sick during car rides only until they reach the age of 1, this can happen regularly for other pets.
If your canine friend is not used to car travel, they might get sick every time. It’s actually not uncommon for dogs to become overly anxious if they are taken in the car only once or twice a year, when they visit the vet clinic.
Not only will they associate the experience with meeting new people, but they’ll also be stressed since they might get a shot.
Another aspect that we have to note is that if your dog experiences some kind of trauma during their first ride, they might associate any future car rides with that stressful event.
Pets that have problems with keeping their balance, such as those that have developed vestibular disease, are more likely to experience car sickness than completely healthy dogs.
How can you tell if your dog suffers from car sickness?
There are some specific symptoms that you can notice in your canine companion that could tell you they are suffering from motion sickness. For example, they might begin to drool incessantly, pant, or pace in the car, or they could whine and swallow frequently.
Some dogs also smack their lips, have dilated pupils, and in the end, they vomit wherever they can. This makes for a stressful experience both for yourself, the pet parent, and for the dog themselves.
There’s also the possibility of the dog being so anxious and nervous that they might sit completely still at the beginning of the ride. Only then will they begin to experience other symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea.
If you believe that your pooch is about to vomit, stop the car when you can and get Fido out for a bit.
How to stop car sickness in dogs
Get your dog used to car rides beforehand
This is perhaps the best piece of advice that we can give you. Conditioning your dog to become accustomed to being in the car prevents motion sickness, but it needs to be done some time before the actual trip.
Anxious dogs need to take short rides in order for them to get used to this type of travel. For example, you can take your pooch on a ride every day for as little as 5 or 10 minutes and then get back home.
This technique can reassure your canine friend that nothing wrong’s happened and that they’ve ended up in the right place at the end anyway.
Avoid solid food 12 hours before the car ride
If your dog has ever undergone surgery, you probably know that the vet has advised you to avoid giving your pet any food (especially kibble) beginning with 12 hours before the procedure.
Keeping your dog hydrated is essential, however, so do not withhold access to clean and fresh water. Canned food is a no-go too, but you can give your dog strained chicken soup or bone broth.
Make sure your dog is safe in the car
Car safety is important for pets and people alike. Using a kennel, a carrier, or investing in a quality harness and pet seat belt can save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
With these accessories, your dog is not going to bounce around too much, and if some vomiting does occur, at least you’ll know where it will happen. Covering the back seat of your car with an old blanket and some pee pads can make cleanups a lot easier.
Keep the AC on or a window slightly open
Lack of ventilation can be at the root of car sickness in dogs, so it is essential to have one of your windows partially open, or your air conditioning turned on. If you intend to travel in the summer, it’s going to get rather warm in your car.
Consider getting a car window shade as it will allow your dog to be comfortable since the sun is not going to get them too hot. Also, some dogs become anxious because of all of the movement that’s happening on the freeway, so they might be less inclined to look out the window and get sick.
A dark window shade can restrict your dog’s vision to the outdoors, at least in part.
Bring a favorite toy or blanket with you
The best way of going about things for dogs that tend to become very anxious when traveling in the car is to reassure them by bringing along an item they know.
If your dog has a favorite toy, blanket, or pet bed, it definitely wouldn’t hurt if you placed it right next to him.
Reward your dog’s patience
If your dog’s being calmer than usual, take a short ride, a break, and then give them a very small treat.
This method is particularly effective when you train your puppy to get used to the car — dogs know that they’re going to receive a reward for their patience, so they will look forward to it and behave. Still, avoid giving your dog too much food until you have reached your destination.
Take frequent breaks
Any pet needs to go potty once in a while, so if you have a 6-hour ride ahead of you, try to make a stop at least once an hour.
Giving your dog water on a regular basis is essential for making sure that they don’t become dehydrated by the end of the trip. Make sure you use a collapsible bowl and give your dog small amounts of water each time you take a break from driving.
Talk to your vet about getting pet medication for car sickness
If none of the techniques that we have mentioned seem to work, and your dog still gets car sick, you can ask your veterinarian to prescribe special medication for this problem.
There are two main kinds of meds that can be given to dogs for this purpose and none of them have long-lasting effects. Medications can be used to prevent nausea or to calm your dog down in the short run.
Some examples of anti-nausea drugs are Cerenia and Bonine, and your vet might prescribe Alprazolam for anxiety, for example.
There are also alternative ways of calming your dog down, such as by using herbs such as valerian, ginger, or passionflower. You can even get a lavender or dog pheromone diffuser.
Although some people swear by using CBD for curing car sickness in dogs, there haven’t been enough studies performed in this sense until now. It might work for anxiety, but not for the nausea itself.
*This is a collaborative post