Help Car sickness

[ruledbyheart]

My 2yr old rescue dog has been car sick since the day we got her, wasn't a problem we just walked every where instead unless nessacry (vets etc)

However I have signed up to a dog walking meet in the next town and want to take both my dogs along for socializing as all the dog walkers in my town tend to keep to themselves and my other dog is getting nervous with big dogs as she doesn't mix with them.

I want to take my dog whisky with me but have no idea how to help her stop being sick.

I don't feed her before going out but if her stomach is empty she brings up water and looks miserable, she traveled from Greece with no problems apparently but has always been sick with me, any advice?

[IAmNotAMindReader]

The advice my vet gave me to reduce travel sickness is that it will lessen over time as they get used to it but until then:
Face forward for travelling and in the front if possible.
You are already doing the empty stomach advice so not a lot to add really

[IAmNotAMindReader]

No idea how sound that advice is yet btw not had much of a chance to put it into practise.

[Slavetothechild]

Lots of padding under where she sits. So if its the boot use cardboard and blankets, also children's dose of travel sickness tablets . Hope these work , over the years we have had travel sick dogs and its horrible all round :(

[macreturnofthe]

mine was terribly sick in the car everytime we took her out as a puppy. She couldnt make it out of the village before throwing up (or crapping). Vet tried lots of things including pheromone (not sure of spelling) sprays, tablets etc. Vet suggested feeding only in the car to make it a happy place (she stopped eating for three days).

In the end a combination of the following worked (over a long period of time):

1. spent about 30mins to an hour a couple of times a week with back seats down, playing very exciting games in the car. Special toys only for car. My neighbours now have compelling evidence of my madness.
   

1. Homeopathic vet (not sure how I feel about this, but working on the basis its probablly not placebo effect with a dog!!) Gave us some pills for travel sickness (little white things, different to the homeopathic ones the proper vet sold me) One just before she got in the car.
   

1. lots really short car journeys and exciting ends to them - big games lots of fun. The trick is to stop the car just before they start getting the [i'mgonnahurl] look and get out and have some fun. Gradually increase distance over time.
   

1. limit food prior to car journeys of any length.
   

1. my biggest sympathy - it does get better but its hard work. It probably took about 6 - 8 months to get to mostly puke free journeys.
   

We achieved a massive length of the country and ferry trip with no puke or poo this year (v.proud) she is now 3.

Good luck and stick with it x

[ruledbyheart]

Thank you I will try these suggestions and update.

[Callisto]

My jrt used to get terribly car sick. What worked for him was lots (and I mean every day) of short trips, no more than 10-15 mins, with a really good walk at the end. As he started to associate car travel with good things his car sickness reduced. Now I can take him in the car and he is absolutely fine most of the time. He does still get genuine motion sickness - lots of ups and downs does it, but as he doesn't feel anxious too he is so much better. I put a dog towel or two down for him just in case.

[Jaskla]

We had this with one of our dogs.

His first journey was unexpectedly long as we got lost on the way to puppy training - we never actually arrived there as the state of me and the car meant that we needed to go home and clean up!

I think once they have had that bad experience it is really hard to stop them getting stressed as soon as they get in the car.

We had a 4 wheel drive at the time which rolled quite a lot and thought that may have been the cause. We started taking the dog out for short trips (only a few minutes) in my dad's van and he seemed ok with that so gradually lengthened the journeys in that before going back to the car.

For a long time after he used to shake and whine. He did eventually get used to it but he was never happy to get in the car like my two dogs now are.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Ask your vet about the antiemetic tablets cerenia usually you only need to use them for 2 to 4 journeys and the travel sickness is cure.

[topbannana]

Lots of short journeys ( you could hear my neighbours muttering about the lazy bitch across the road who gets the car out to fetch a pint of milk :)
I would drive to the shop (1 minute max!!) park the car and walk the dog home. A bit later walk dog back to car, get in car and drive back. Later go to do recycling, little walkin nearby fields then drive home again.
It was very labour intensive and cost a fortune in fuel but it really did work after a few weeks. Good luck OP, I know how soul destroying it can be

[happygardening]

We have the same problem even anti emetics and heavy for sedation for an essential journey don't work forget pheromones an homeopathy. I've spent a fortune cleaning up my car despite heavy padding. We've even not fed him for 12 hours given anti emetics/sedation and he's still vomited. If you ever wonder where the term "sick as a dog" comes from I now know! We've done daily short journeys 1-2 mins (my neighbours think I'm mad) , journey to nice places, tried food in the car (no chance), I've also tried the front seat back seat and boot I still thinking about the roof rack! I think (may be I'm just clutching at straws) he is slightly better (lets not get excited still salivating yawning shaking) in the boot with another dog or maybe the I just cant see him salivating everywhere.
It is a real shame as I really want to take him further afield. The longest journey I do t to the local wood 6-8 mins and the groomers 15 mins I would never take him any any further.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Ir is really important that the Anit-emetic is Cerenia it is the only one to block the central chemoreceptor trigger zone that prevents not just the vomiting, but the actually nausea and the salivation that goes with that. I have yet to have it fail with a dog and have had around 30 successfully stop having travel sickness.

[happygardening]

Just checked packet it was cerenia I used.He's got it really badly.