Hi all! I have a question about car sickness. I've never had dogs that had this problem, but BOTH harry and koda get car sick :( Koda tends to salivate profusely and will vomit in most cases. Harry doesn't vomit but he salivates like crazy. They both also cry and whine. Its such a bummer b/c we like to take them eveywhere.
I've tried doing short rides and slowly increase the lenght of the rides, but that doesn't seem to be working. I also make sure that when we get out of the car I play with them so they associate it with something fun.
The vet recommended Benadryl but that doesnt' seem to do anything either.
Do you leave them free in the vehicle? I have gotten some calming stuff through Solid Gold that works good. You have to give it to them at least an hour before you leave...even the Benydral should be given at least an hour before. Some dogs need to see out...others can't . Just like people...My husband HAS to sit in the front seat and can't look out the side windows for very long. With Chloe', I have a booster carseat that she is in for short trips....and I put her in her crate for our 12 hour trips to Canada. She seems to get more sick when in the Crate. You have to try and figure out what works for your dogs and each one will be different.
I would also just leave the vehicle doors open and throw the toys in and out...also just take the dogs and sit in the vehicle...don't go anywhere...just sit and play....keep doing till they get better. Some dogs just can't be happy in moving vehicles no matter what.
Here is some other info I found for you.... CAR SICKNESS AND RIDING BEHAVIOR When first introduced to car riding, some dogs get sick. Luckily, most get over it and love to go for car rides.
The first signs of car sickness are yawning, then excessive drooling, sometimes followed by vomiting. For a dog that is exhibiting these symptoms, open a window a crack to get some fresh air in the car. Along with getting fresh air, it is important that the dog be able to see out of the window. Arrange a spot in the car, perhaps the rear window ledge or a box, that the dog can get up onto and see the road ahead. For severe cases and for long trips you may want to try motion sickness medication.
Conditioning is the best method to prepare your dog for riding in the car. This is done over several weeks and it involves you, your dog, your car, and the use of lavish praise. For a few minutes several times a day for three days in a row set up the following schedule. First, just sit in the car with your dog and give him lots of praise for not showing any symptoms of sickness. Then, start and run the engine for the next three days and continue with the praise. Next, start the engine and back the car out of the driveway and drive back in. Never mind what the neighbors will be thinking! Continue praise for showing no symptoms. Finally, drive around the block, then go half a mile, then two miles. Keep this up until your dog is able to ride several miles without getting sick!
Teach your dog a verbal signal such as "OKAY" for getting in the car. Use the same signal for getting out. In other words, do not let your dog get into or out of the car without your okay. This will teach him not to get into strangers’ cars, and it will keep him from jumping out of your car into traffic.
If your dog is jumping around inside your car, try putting him in a crate (a small cage). After he appears to have settled down, you can open the door of the crate and offer him some freedom so long as he behaves.
Whining and running around can often be a symptom of impending sickness, excitement, or anxiety. If you determine car-sickness, follow the procedure above. If the whining is simply a bad habit, work on training him to stop. When he whines, say, "NO Whine!" When he stops follow this with "Good Dog!" For some dogs, you may have to try some aversion therapy by squirting lime juice from a plastic squeeze lime into his mouth immediately during the whine. Follow this with "NO Whine!" and praise when he stops. The best way to accomplish this training is do it in small steps following the routine outlined above for conditioning.
Overcoming Car Sickness by Capt. Arthur J. Haggerty and Carol Benjamin
Car sickness is a form of motion sickness that is caused by excessive, uneven, rhythmic motion in a car. Some doctors say this malady is caused by motion's effect on the labyrinths of the inner ear, but many other factors can bring on motion sickness. In humans, car sickness can be caused by smells and odors, physical discomfort, unsanitary conditions, suggestion, and fear. Fear has a decided effect on the dog. Psychosomatic illnesses in dogs have been well documented in veterinary literature. In severe cases, merely putting a dog in a parked car will cause salivation. Car sickness can not always be cured in humans. This may be true with some dogs, but we have never experienced it to be so.
The initial manifestation of car sickness in dogs is often an excessive amount of salivation. This is often—but not always—followed by retching and vomiting. The presence of food in the dog's stomach may increase the likelihood of car sickness. Even with only the discomfort of salivation, the dog's appearance would be sickly. He would neither be ready for the show ring nor a visit to Aunt Judy's.
Every ride for the dog should not end up with an inoculation at the veterinarian's office or tedious plucking at the grooming salon. These factors would certainly increase the incidences of psychosomatic car sickness.
The standard method for combating motion sickness in humans is to give Dramamine before the onset of the symptoms. Dramamine will cause extreme drowsiness and is unsatisfactory as a cure for dogs. The show fancier cannot arrive ready to enter his dogs in the ring if they have been given this medication. It is equally unsatisfactory for the average dog owner who wants to make his dog a true part of the family and take him along on outings.
The "sink or swim" method is not the best approach. In this method, you would take the dog out driving until the problem is cured. This is hard on the dog and on the humans who have to clean up after him. The following steps are designed to give dog owners with car sick dogs a minimum amount of work. Some of the steps can be followed when you are going out in the car anyway. If your dog is responding well, you can skip some steps and proceed more rapidly. It will depend upon how severe the problem is. Proceed when your dog seems blase with the present step.
How to Cure Car Sickness
1. Put your dog in your parked car. Praise him, pet him, reassure him. Make him feel it's a party. Do not start the motor. After a few minutes, take him for a walk and then home. Do this twice a day for a few days.
2. Take Fido out to dinner…that is, out of the house and into your car. At his normal feeding time, put him in the car and give him his chow. After a few trys, leave the car and let him eat there alone. Come back, praise him and walk him as soon as he finishes eating. If he won't eat with you gone, take your favorite magazine and keep him company. Try this for one week.
3. Now put Fido in the car, turn your engine on, make sure the window is cracked so that he has air and talk to him. Tell him "The Three Bears", shut off the motor, and take him out. Always praise him for sitting in the car.
4. Increase your warm up—motor on, car parked. Tell him a longer story. Praise and go home.
5. Time for a spin. Proceed as above and go for a very short ride. Talk to him, reassure him, praise him when you get home. Do this for a few days.
6. Now you can start to take Fido on your short errands. When running out to the drugstore or for the Sunday papers, take him for a ride. When you get to your destination, take him with you. Tell him he's terrific—and drive him home. If he begins to salivate while you're driving, pull over and stop for a few minutes, then proceed. A nice walk before the trip home will relax him and make it all worthwhile for him as well. He'll look forward to the next journey.
7. Continue slowly until you can take him on longer and longer trips.
Final Tips
A. Don't feed your dog before you work with him in the car. Except when feeding him in the car, let him look forward to dinner immediately after the lesson.
B. Always leave the window open for enough fresh air but NOT enough for him to jump out.
C. As he progresses so that he can go for short runs, take him whenever you can…on chores, for a short visit to friends, for a fill-up at the gas station. Work his rides into your normal routine whenever possible. Happy motoring!
Oh my gosh--thank you so so so so sos so much Julie for all that information. I really really appreciate it! I will definetly try those suggestions. Thank you again, you are so sweet!!
I had the same problem with Chloe & tried every recommendation to no avail. She was always excited & happy to get in the car as she knew we'd be having fun whereever we ended up but for about 1 1/2 yrs she drooled & vomited and then for approx another 6 mos it was just excessive drooling. The last 2 yrs have been no problem at all. Hopefully Julie's suggestions will help your 2.
I just ended up throwing a light blanket or sheet over the backseat and never left home without a roll of papertowels, a jug of water and a large zip-lock baggy. I am so glad that she has finally gotten over it.
I too talke ziplock baggies with wet papertowel and babywipes along on trips...I also found the the bags you use to pick up the poop, work great for picking up the vomit..then I use the papertowel...then the babywipes...it makes it smell alot fresher. Just keep trying and sooner or later you should be able to travel...I think they just have to "get over it".
i didn't read all post but I know leaving windows opened helped the dog i use to have. it the pressure is diff in a car with closed windows, and can cause them to be sick
