Canine Travel Ailments: Veterinarian Offers 7 Strategies to Alleviate Symptoms During Journeys
Helping Your Dog Overcome Car Sickness
Traveling with your furry companion can be a joyous experience, but for some dogs, car journeys can lead to feelings of discomfort and nausea. This condition, known as dog travel sickness or car sickness, is caused by a conflict between the motion sensed by a dog's inner ear and what their eyes and body perceive, leading to symptoms such as drooling, panting, lip-licking, swallowing, shaking/shivering, retching, and vomiting [1][3][5].
Understanding the Causes
The key causes of dog travel sickness include a sensory mismatch in the brain’s balance center due to motion, especially in moving vehicles. Anxiety or stress associated with travel can also contribute or worsen symptoms. Inner or middle ear infections or vestibular disease may play a role in some cases. Dogs not gradually accustomed to travel may be more prone, and it is more common in puppies and young dogs because their inner ear is still developing [1][3][5].
Recognizing the Symptoms
Common symptoms of dog travel sickness include vomiting (most obvious and frequent sign), excessive drooling, yawning, licking or smacking lips, whining or vocalizing, restlessness, shaking or trembling, listlessness or inactivity, panting, signs of anxiety such as barking or reluctance to enter the car, toileting in the car from distress or nausea, and refusing to get into the car [1][3][4][5].
Preventing and Treating Dog Travel Sickness
Prevention is key when it comes to dog travel sickness. Gradual acclimation, minimizing anxiety, positioning the dog properly, using natural remedies, and avoiding feeding immediately before travel can all help reduce the likelihood of car sickness [3][5].
For treatment, prescription medication such as Cerenia (FDA-approved for preventing motion sickness vomiting in dogs) may be prescribed by a vet. Anti-anxiety medications may also be necessary if anxiety is a contributing factor. Consult your vet early if symptoms are severe or worsen, to customize treatment and rule out other conditions. Frequent breaks on longer journeys to let the dog walk and relieve stress can also be beneficial [1][2][3].
Additional Tips
Providing access to clean drinking water can help reduce car sickness in dogs and provide calming signals to the brain. Proper restraint for dogs in the car can reduce sickness by reducing excessive body movements. Symptoms of dog travel sickness usually stop within a few minutes of the car stopping. The use of anti-anxiety products, such as Pet Remedy sprays, Adaptil sprays for the car, Adaptil collars, or oral calming tablets like Calmex, can help soothe and calm a dog during car journeys.
Car sickness and anxiety in dogs are linked, so helping a dog feel calm in the car is important. Reading about how a pet owner trained her dog to enjoy car rides can provide helpful tips. For dogs that really struggle with travel sickness, medication may be necessary, such as Maropitant (marketed as Cerenia), but it should be prescribed by a vet.
Training a dog to use the car involves starting slowly and breaking it down into small steps. Dog travel sickness is a common issue for pets, causing discomfort and nausea, but with the right preparation and care, it can be managed effectively.
[1] PetMD. (2021). Car Sickness in Dogs. Retrieved from https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_dg_motion_sickness
[2] The Spruce Pets. (2021). How to Help Your Dog Overcome Car Sickness. Retrieved from https://www.thesprucepets.com/help-your-dog-overcome-car-sickness-4696016
[3] VCA Hospitals. (2021). Car Sickness in Dogs. Retrieved from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/car-sickness-in-dogs
[4] Hill's Pet Nutrition. (2021). Dog Car Sickness: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.hillspet.co.uk/petcare/dogs/behaviour/dog-car-sickness-causes-symptoms-and-prevention
[5] ASPCA. (2021). Car Sickness in Dogs. Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/car-sickness-in-dogs
