Carsick ?

[Karen P]

Chewie has always been really great in the car. We always let him sit on the floor in the back seat of the car. Then I learned that was not the best idea, so we purchased a travel crate so that he would be more secure. Well I tried it four times and every sick time he was in the crate he got carsick. So we moved him back to the floor in the back seat. Well yesterday I went to take him in the car and now he is big enough to get on the back seat by himself and got sick all over my seat. Any suggestions on how to keep him on the floor and hopefully not get carsick??

[Leslie J]

I'm going to watch this thread for ideas... Cocoa gets carsick on almost every ride we go on. We always lining the seats and floor of the car with towels before we put her in the car because she is so sensitive. We're planning on taking her up to the snow (as in 3 hour drive up a windy mountain road) in January and would love to provide some relief for her.

We've always put Cocoa on the front passenger seat. What is wrong with the floor, though? We can't put our crate in the car (it's too big) but we're looking for an alternative.

[Amanda and Wheatley]

I'm gonna watch this one too! My goldendoodle gets soooo car sick its ridiculous! She doesn't seem scared of the car but as soon as the car starts moving she crouches down like the car is going to crash and she drools like crazy. Last time I took her out she pooped all over my backseat!

[shelly]

WOW, Amanda! My post below described the same "pooping experience" I had with my dog!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Guinness gets carsick on any trip over 30 minutes. My vet just gave me a prescription for Cerenia tablets and advised that I use them for longer car trips. She says that this drug will not make him drowsy.

[Robyn, Greg and Snickers]

Snickers does not get carsick but I do in the back seat (lol)

have you tried cracking the window and letting some fresh air in? Also make sure he can look out a window. Also we purchased a harness for Snicks that attaches to the seatbelt and let's him sit up and lay down but keeps him safe. You may want to look at thus option instead if the confining crate. Good luck!

[Karen P]

Thanks I will look into the harness. Maybe if he is more secure then he would get so sick to his stomach.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

I have worked with several dogs who were motion sick and resolved the problem.

Few things I would do:

You can administer 1 Dramamine 15 minutes prior to the car ride, most stores have a generic brand that works just as well. Make sure your dog has had something to eat prior to the ride. You can stop mid way, let the dog out to establish his legs and walk a minute then right back into the car with lots of praise and some treats.

Make trips short and positive, go to the park or places where lots of people will be that will give your dog a lot of positive attention. Make it fun! Don't just take him to the vet or groomer and don't take him to the store and leave him in the car~ no good associations are being made here. Try taking him to McDonalds for a plain cheese burger a couple times a week.

If it is really bad, just sit in the car in the drive without the car on and feed him treats. Work your way up to being able to back the car out of the drive and continue positive rewards... the tip here is baby steps. Today just sit in the car, if he acts excited about getting in tomorrow try to move the car... but only proceed if the dog is eager to get in the car and work through each step. This may mean that you sit in the drive in a car that isnt running for a week but it works.

There is also this nice comfy sling that will protect your seats and provide a secure place for your dog

[Karen & Lucy]

I love this :-)

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Love this picture. Frankie gets horribly car sick on every journey we go on. We have tried everything (except drugs) but nothing works. She starts by drooling then "up it comes" We have to force her to get into the car, even on a special trip to meet with friends at the park or doggie day care...I am so sad as I would love to take her everywhere with me as she is such a good puppy (7 months) but she just hates car rides. I loved this sling idea and am wondering where we could purchase one. I have a Honda Civic and am wondering if it will fit in that too. Maybe if she feels secure in a car it might help a bit...who knows...I am going to follow this link too as this car thing is my biggest frustration with our girl.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

We have a back seat slip cover by the same manufacturers. I like the padded seat portion and how the seat back is protected from hair and nails and in Harlow's case car sickness. It is easy to remove to throw in washer & dryer.

[Dori]

Teddy still gets carsick on long trips. We had hoped he would outgrow it, but he is 2 now... We've tried ginger snaps, and he still got sick. On a 6 hour trip to Los Angeles last summer he got sick each way about halfway through the trip - even without feeding him. Poor guy. We now just limit long trips with him, and if we need to - cover his space up with old towels and newspapers! He seems ok on short trips - but he really doesn't like the car so we don't take him around with us unless we need to (groomer, vet, doggie day care...). He does better in my little hybrid than our van - (can see out the window better) so we try to limit his trips to that car. Good luck!

[Laura & Chewie]

My Chewie loves the car and never gets sick, but my friend's Labradoodle used to as a puppy and I know she had meds to give him that took care of the problem. He did outgrow it, so hopefully your Chewie will also.