Car Sickness In Your Dog

Curbing Car Sickness in your Dog  - Hints for a Happy Animal

You are ready to go on vacation and you are all prepared. The luggage is loaded into the trunk, and the remainder is securely strapped to the roof of the car. You are taking your canine companion on the trip with you, and so you have packed his food, water dish, toys, treats, leash, and even a doggie sweater in case those nights get cold. You have popped a Dramamine to make sure that the time on the highway will not be marred by motion sickness, and you are ready to roll. A half an hour later you find yourself pulled over at a rest stop, attempting to placate a very unhappy little canine who just got sick all over the car seat and is decidedly not having a good time on this vacation at all. Is there anything you could do to curb car sickness in your dog?

First and foremost, it is important to remember that not all car sickness is created equal. While you can see a great many dogs riding in cars with their human companions, happily sticking their heads out the car windows and letting the breeze play with their floppy ears, there are also those dogs are plain and simply afraid of the car. Perhaps it is the noise, or the smell, or quite possibly the unanticipated starting and stopping of the vehicle that frightens these dogs. Whatever the case may be, such dogs with a simple fear of the car will quite possibly become upset at riding in one that they may vomit.

To help a doggie that is scared of your car, take small steps. At first, simply allow her to sit with your in the car, but leave the doors open - obviously you want to have her on a leash at this point. Repeat this exercise until you are certain that she feels comfortable with it. She can see outside, she sits with you, and she will be able to feel safe. Next, allow her to sit in the car with you, but gently close the door. Try to avoid slamming it shut as this loud noise may upset her. You might want to bring her favorite blanket, and just speak to her calmly. Repeat this again over the next few days. If she is comfortable at this point, simply turn on the car and see how she reacts. You may need to repeat this simple exercise a number of times or not at all, depending on your dog’s tolerance. Once this is mastered, you could have her riding with you just around the block. Similar short trips over the next few days may very well boost her confidence in the moving vehicle, and before you know it, she may actually beg to go for a drive!

Of course, there are those dogs that will indeed have genuine motion sickness, which is a condition that has to do with the inner ear rather than fear. In those cases your vet may direct you to give your dog some Dramamine. For those canines that simply cannot let go of their fears, there are some prescriptions of mild tranquilizers available that will help calm your pooch’s nerves and help her or him endue the time in the car without getting car sick. Another thing to consider is your dog’s tummy prior to the trip. If it is empty, perhaps she hates traveling on an empty stomach. Conversely, if it is full, this too may upset a dog. It is important to find out what works for your dog, personally.

Last but not least, if you are not sure about what you could do, there are a number of homeopathic remedies that may help to calm down your pet’s tummy on a road trip. Some suggest that feeding raw liver, for the high vitamin B contained therein, is a good step in avoiding and upset dog tummy. Another suggestion is ginger; such as it is found in ginger ale, sprinkled over a treat. While these remedies may or may not work, it is always best to go easy and try little steps before deciding to tranquilize your dog for the trip.