Being Sick In Car

[bordacollies4me]

Hi All

wondering if anyone has some advice on the topic, my friends have a 9 month old BC puppy and she sometimes vomits when travelling in the car at first i told them to try Ginger tablets to help settle her stomach, and they have not helped, they have asked the vet told the symptoms what they have tried and he seems to think that it may be an anxiety/ stress from travelling. she loves to get in the car, and is not sick all the time, they are getting frustrated as they can't take her anywhere in case she becomes sick.

When she was 4mths old they travelled from Bundaberg to Townsville and back with no problems, we are just looking to see if anyone has any advice as to what they can do to help the BC

[Flying Penguin]

Sam used to have the same problem. It was weird because we got her from about 3+ hours away and she didn't have a problem on the way home.

Sometimes she would vomit in the car and sometimes she wouldn't when we would take her out, even the shortest of rides.

We just persisted and now she doesn't do it at all, she voluntarily hops in the car to go somewhere now, absolutely loves the car.

[wagsalot]

Riley gets motion sickness - but its genuine motion sickness, not anxiety.

The vet gave us Maxalon tablets and they have worked wonders!

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

How can a vet determine that it isn't motion sickness?

If it IS anxiety then any anti-anxiety remedy will help. Your friend could try rescue remedy, DAP spray or collar (Not available in Australia but over the internet you should find a supplier or two), or any homeopathic tincture for generalised anxiety...

[Reddii]

My little BC girl was sick every second or third trip in the car until she was six months or so - at this age she could see out of the car. Hasn't been sick since.

Our little boy has just started the trick with us, (4 months), but has always had a tendancy towards it. Hopefully it will go away in time as well.

[seapig]

hi, my 6month old staffy used to be sick in the car trips ranging from 5min to 30 min. poor thing. we tried everything, but what we found worked to ease her anxiety and give her security was having her bed in the car. we put it in the back seat and she went straight for it. she falls asleep within a few minutes. this has been a lifesaver. worth a try. we also tried to take her for really short trips - to the milkbar and the local dog park - 3-5 min. unfortunately, some dogs dont ever get over motion sickness. good luck.

[Mystiqview]

If anxiety, you have to make car a nice place to be.

This starts by just playing with puppy in car, feeding in car, etc. This first step the car is in the 'garage' and is turned off.

second step once puppy is happy with above, is to turn car on and do the same.

Next step, just reverse car out of garage.

you gradually build up until you take short trips and then gradually increase the trips.

Another tip.. Don't feed or give your pup anything to drink from a few hours before a "planned" trip.

Another thing you can try, once puppy is happy with early steps and you get to travelling, put another puppy in the car with them who LOVES travelling. They will get confidence off them.

Also wind down the windows in favour of the Air Conditioning.

[Danois]

I read something recently that the anxiety can be due to the overload on the senses - all the sights etc whizzing past - the solution was to put the dog on the floor behind the passenger seat where they can see you but not everything around - use their favourite mat there for security too.

[bordacollies4me]

Thanks Guys

will pass on the info,

the dog is quite happy to get into the car, is rather excited about it actually, she prefers to stand up on the seat rather than lay down, they also have another BC which just sleeps on the back seat, when they first got her and went for a long trip she was crated, i was thinking that maybe being in the crate made her feel more secure so was relaxed, they have purchased window socks for the windows.

I also have recently read about the anxiety from things wizzing past windows causing an overload on the senses and have suggested they try putting her on the floor behind the passenger seat.

They can't put crates in car as it is a sedan and they have 2 BC'c and two crates won't fit and 1 doesn't leave any room for other dog to lay down.

The vet ruled out motion sickness from the symptoms that they explained to the vet, same as the symptoms they have told me and i have posted here, i have seen the dog she does get rather excited about travel, and one would think if it was motion sickness then would you be sick nearly eberytime you got into the car. but maybe it could be they have tried motion sickness medication as well as ginger tablets to no avail she was still sick.

Thanks for the replies, i'm sure it will all help

[Poodle wrangler]

They had an overexcited staffy causing problems in the car a few weeks ago on Better Homes and Gardens. Dr Harry's solution was to get a window grille like this: http://www.petnetwork.com.au/images/mik59.jpg to allow good airflow and a length of chain which was used to keep the dog snug down in the footwell behind the passenger seat. Window socks would do a similar job the window grille as long as dog was secure in the back. The staffy couldn't move far enough to try to get into the front seat.

Reasoning given behind this was to reduce the stimulation the dog gets from being able to see all the exciting stuff out the windows. Also for safety, so he didn't distract the driver. Dog appeared more settled. Might be worth a try and costs next to nothing to do. Best of luck! Perhaps some old towels in the back in case he's sick? My dog grew out of car sickness about 8 months. Best of luck

Edited March 6, 2007 by Poodle wrangler