Does your dog have a history of
experiencing car sickness during trips in your vehicle? This can obviously
be a big problem, particularly if your dog vomits in your car! Or are you
planning your first car trip with your dog, and want to make it as easy as
possible for your furry friend? We have some options you can try to make
your dog a little more comfortable in the car.
If you haven't been in the car with your
dog before, let your dog sit in the parked car for five minutes each day,
and follow this adventure with a treat. Then, put your dog in the car and
go around the block. Again, follow this with a treat. Do this several
times, until your dog seems at ease in the car.
If
your dog seems to do fine on your next car ride, then keep this trend
working by taking your dog somewhere fun. Go to a park, pick up the kids...
anything but the vet! This will help your dog to associate the car with
happy times rather than frightening ones.
Car sickness in a dog may actually be
caused by stress rather than motion sickness. If you just can't get your
dog used to the car, try a natural anti-stress remedy for dogs such as Pet
Calm or Rescue Remedy. These often come in sprays and have a healthy,
non-chemical calming reaction in your dog.
If your dog vomits in the car, refrain from
giving your dog any food several hours before the trip. Your dog will be
less likely to throw up if he has an empty stomach. But if your dog is
small, she may actually feel better with a small amount of food in her
stomach. If one does not work, try the other on your next car ride.
Some dogs are able to avoid car sickness by
sitting in the front or middle row with the window slightly open for fresh
air. Of course, make sure your dog cannot jump out of the window opening,
and don't allow your dog in the front if there is an air bag. The back seat
of a van is a sure target for motion sickness, so try to keep your dog out
of the third row if he seems uncomfortable.
If your pup seems worse looking out the
window, crate her on the next trip so she can't see the world passing by.
This is truly a trial and error situation. If one of these ideas does not
work, try the other.
Finally, if you just can't give your dog
car sickness relief, talk to your veterinarian about a safe over-the-counter
or prescription medication for your pup. These can be given prior to your
departure time and will help your dog to make it through your next car trip.
f
your dog seems to do fine on your next car ride, then keep this trend
working by taking your dog somewhere fun. Go to a park, pick up the kids...
anything but the vet! This will help your dog to associate the car with
happy times rather than frightening ones.