Car sickness in dogs has several possible causes but there are things you can do to help your pooch if the car upsets his tummy.
Car sickness and motion sickness: the causes
Motion sickness in dogs can result from conflicting sensory signals that are sent to the emetic (vomiting) centre in the brain. In other words, the signals from the vestibular system in the inner ear (which is involved in balance) conflict with signals from the eyes, possibly leading to nausea and vomiting, similar to motion sickness in people.
Fear, anxiety, or a previous traumatic experience in a vehicle may also trigger motion sickness in dogs. Dog motion sickness can occur during travel in any type of vehicle.
Puppies seem to be more susceptible than adult dogs because the parts of the inner ear that are involved in balance are not yet fully developed in puppies. The good news is that motion sickness in puppies often improves and resolves with age.
Car sickness signs and symptoms
There are many potential signs of dog car sickness to watch for, including:
- Excessive lip licking
- Whining
- Drooling
- Yawning
- Vomiting
- Excessive panting
- Trembling/shaking
Treatment
There are several homeopathic remedies and calming products on the market that may help your dog but we always recommend seeing your vet first as some of these products may carry serious side effects, or may conflict with medication your dog is already taking. There are also several pharmaceuticals that can help prevent motion sickness. Discuss with your vet.
If your dog suffers from anxiety in the car that results in motion sickness, he or she may need an anti-anxiety medication, along with behavioural modification.
How to prevent car sickness in dogs
There are a few things you can do to minimise car sickness. These include:
• Use car safety restraints
Whether your dog suffers from car sickness or not, it is always a good idea to use a dog car seat, a dog harness with the seat belt, or a travel crate. Such products will help minimize sudden movements or a change in position that may trigger nausea.
• Let your dog look out of the window
Allowing your dog to see out of the window helps their eyes and vestibular system coordinate what is happening during travel. If possible, cracking the windows just a little may help equalise pressure and minimise negative effects on your dog’s vestibular system.
• Avoid feeding your dog right before travelling
Don’t feed your dog a large meal right before travel, and try to take breaks on long trips. Let your dog walk around the car and breathe in fresh air.
• Condition your dog to car rides
Whether you bring your dog home as a puppy or adopt an older friend, take the time to acclimatise them to car rides.
For fearful dogs, this may mean a long process of desensitisation and counter-conditioning to help your dog overcome fear and anxiety associated with car rides.
Start by just sitting in the car with your dog for a few minutes and not driving anywhere. Once your dog is comfortable with that, try going for a drive of less than 5 minutes, and over the next few days gradually extend the length of the trip as your dog becomes used to the idea of car rides being safe and even fun.
As more families travel with their dogs, keeping everyone safe and comfortable has become more important. With a little time and patience, road trips can be another way to keep the whole family connected and to expand your dog’s horizons.
