Pet-friendly road trips are a fun way to bond with your pooch—unless, that is, your dog gets carsick. Car sickness hits some dogs just as it does some people. Common symptoms include excessive drooling, panting, nausea, and, unfortunately, vomiting. Except in the most severe cases, a few simple steps mitigate your dog’s car sickness, so you can go on vomit-free adventures.
Before you hit the road, take your dog in for a quick consult at the vet. Tell your vet about previous incidents of car sickness; she may be able to recommend an easy solution. For instance, my vet suggested an over-the-counter antihistamine for my dog Lucas because his carsickness was rooted in anxiety. The dose she recommended is enough to help him feel calm without knocking him out.
There are a range of harnesses, car seats, and seat belts designed to keep your pup safe and secure on the road. Find what fits your dog best, and use it consistently. Be sure your dog is accustomed to the apparatus you select prior to hitting the road for your trip. Use it for short jaunts around town so that anxiety about a new harness doesn’t add to any road-trip anxiety.
Oftentimes, car sickness is triggered by motion, which is why it’s also called motion sickness. Affix a sun screen, available just about everywhere, to the window closest to your dog’s seat belt to obscure his vision of passing cars.
All-natural calming sprays and calming treats may help alleviate car sickness. Chewables, liquids, gel tablets, and more are available, and not all are effective for all dogs. Try several options with drives around town before your big trip to gauge effectiveness for your dog.
Music like Through a Dog’s Ear has been designed to calm anxiety in dogs. It’s been clinically tested and proven to work even in shelter environments. CDs are available, as is a portable player called the iCalmDog, which is pre-loaded with four hours of canine-calming music. Bonus: This is a great way to soothe nervous pups in a hotel room, too.
If your dog suffers from car sickness, and you’re excited to road trip together, try one or a combination of the tricks above to see if you can alleviate the symptoms. If nothing seems to work, another trip to the vet is warranted. Your dog may need a prescription solution.
