How to deal with motion sickness in dogs?
Recently, we often travel by car with our dogs. More and more places – hotels, restaurants, and shops are dog-friendly. However, it may turn out that our dog, just like humans, tolerates car travel poorly. The most common difficulties associated with transport and discomfort during travel are caused by motion sickness, also known as kinetosis. Unfortunately, a trip with a four-legged friend who tolerates travel poorly can be extremely troublesome. Bobi did not have this problem; he slept through the entire journey from the beginning, but it was not so easy with Mela – more on that below. So, we decided to explore the topic of whether a dog can have motion sickness and whether a dog's fear of car travel can contribute to it. In the text below, we will try to explain what will be the best antidote for motion sickness in dogs.
Motion sickness in dogs: symptoms.
A dog that enjoys car rides is happy and calm, and during the journey, it is clear that they feel comfortable. However, if your dog vomits in the car and behaves as described below, it may indicate motion sickness:
- Reluctance to get into the car - desire to escape
- Is restless and agitated and cannot find a comfortable spot in the car
- Frequently swallows saliva
- Yawns
- Smacks their lips
- Licks their nose
- Is nervous, breathes rapidly, and has an accelerated heart rate
- Vomits
How to deal with this illness in dogs?
Don't worry, we know a few ways that can help your dog and at the same time make shared journeys easier:
- Do not feed your dog for a few hours before the trip, this can prevent vomiting
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- Open the window - fresh air helps a lot
- Make frequent stops, during which give the dog small amounts of water
- If the dog is very restless during the ride, avoid excessive petting, cuddling, or holding them. This can increase panic, and in turn, excessive excitement and fear can exacerbate vomiting
- Consultation with a veterinarian is also recommended, who may suggest gentle and appropriate medications for dog motion sickness. IMPORTANT! Do not give your pet medications intended for humans or any medications at all without prior consultation with a veterinarian. Although your intentions are good, remember this because you can cause serious harm. Contact a veterinarian and ask for advice.
How to accustom a dog to car travel, minimizing symptoms?
Most often, poor tolerance for car travel is associated with anxiety and great fear. This can also be a cause of vomiting. The process of accustoming a dog to car travel can be time-consuming but it is not impossible. We will act differently with a puppy, for whom short but frequent "parking" rides are often sufficient as acclimatization, and differently with an adult dog, e.g., an adopted one. Below we have prepared some tips, from our own experience, on accustoming our Mela to car travel. Mela was not familiar with car travel, which manifested as immense fear – howling, tremors, overall great anxiety, but we succeeded, and now it's great!
- Introduce your dog to their car carrier / car seat cover or dog car seat already at home. Place it down and let your dog sniff it, you can also place treats and observe if the dog accepts this place as their own
- Next, place the mat in the car and get in with the dog without starting the engine. Unfortunately, this can be a time-consuming stage – observe your dog and do not force anything. It may turn out that they do not even want to get in, in which case encourage them with treats, but remember – nothing by force. Eventually, there will come a day when the dog, trusting you, will jump in next to you?
- If the dog is already calm while sitting in the car, you can introduce treats or a chew toy
- If you pass this stage, start the engine and continue to sit for a while without driving (of course, we accustom the dog from the beginning to the car mat they know from home)
- Then we introduce short rides, maybe around the parking lot or near the block
- Gradually extend the rides, constantly observing the dog closely
ØFor us, Bobi was ideal as a guide dog in the acclimatization process – he enjoyed riding and was calm, so Mela observed him and over time also started lying down next to him, less and less giving vocal signals of her fear?
ØThe whole process for us took about 4-5 months, but it required our discipline and not skipping practice days. Remember, however, that each case is different, and if you feel the need, use the experience of a behaviorist who will surely help you.
Transporting a dog with motion sickness on a car mat also ensures comfort and safety during travel, the main advantages are:
Ødefining space for the dog, which significantly improves their comfort and calms them,
Øsecuring nooks and crannies (space between seats) where the dog may try to hide during the ride and separating the front seats to prevent crossing, which creates a danger while driving,
Øseat belt openings + seat belts that limit movement space in the car,
Ømats are waterproof and easy to clean - this is very important in case of vomiting
Øin the pockets you can store necessary accessories during the trip – a bottle of water, paper towels, or plastic bags.
If the above methods fail and accustoming your dog to driving also does not bring relief, you should consider whether a shared longer trip will truly be a pleasure for both your dog and you. Perhaps you should consider whether it would be better to leave your four-legged friend in a familiar and comfortable place, such as with your mother, aunt, or at a friendly hotel?
Chin up and good luck! We wish you peaceful and safe trips together?
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