Getting sick in the car

[Ashley]

I'm pretty new to this site and being a doodle mommy so any suggestions are so very appreciated!

Every time I take my doodle, Kate in the car she throws up and drools terribly. I have tried so many methods and am running out of hope. I live about an hr away from my family so visiting is always a challenge however we try to go about once or twice a month. I have contemplated on leaving her at home but don't have the heart to make her sit in her cage all day while I'm out enjoying myself. Please help!

[Malenie Piscetelli]

Ashley, I am having same problem too. Lucy is 6 months old. Everyone tell me it will grow out.

[Ashley]

Kate is also 6 months. She has done it since I brought her home and it hasn't gotten any better. Sometimes I think it has gotten worse :/

We stop half way at a park and I let her out to play, I bring blankets, toys, chew bones and nothing seems to work! Sometimes I even sit in the back seat with her and have my fiancé drive and she still gets sick. It's so terrible.

[Patti Engle]

My Shelby is almost two and has always had issues riding in the car.  Drooling, nervous and sits watching the entire way.  She was ok for about 2 days after she'd been boarded training and then right back to being nervous.  We drove to Illinois this week and my son hung his suit on hook on the backseat which blocked the window next to her......No drooling and only occasional nervousness.  I'm not sure if that was the reason or just coincidence but might be worth a try. 

[Debbie & Gibbs]

Gibbs can ride in the car for about 30 minutes before he throws up. I have tried withholding food before a trip and he still throws up whatever is in his stomach. Gibbs isn't nervous or panting he just throws up. Any suggestions? Is this something that they will outgrow.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Charlie has had motion sickness since he came home to us at 9 wks.  I tried everything.  He would try to hide his head way down on the seat.  If I was holding him and tried to get him to look outside, he would start drooling.  Now at 3 years old, he is ok, if he is riding shotgun, or riding on my lap, when my husband is driving the SUV. My husband bought me a new car about 6 months ago and Charlie can ride in front or back.  Yeah!  We joke that we bought a ford fusion for Charlie!  LOL Beau on the other hand, just wants to go for a ride! 
You might try a Thundershirt.  I think it is calming, but the flannel is warm.

 

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

My boyfriend's parents have a dog that gets motion sickness. They use these special herbal treats to keep her feeling good. I think they're called Happy Traveler. You might want to give them a try, they rave about them and even give them to her other times to keep her calm.

[Kim and Jaxson]

my Jax would get sick every time we went in the car, no matter how short a ride. Until we started putting him on the floor in the back seat. not being able to look out the windows helped so much with his motion sickness......hope this helps

[Kelly & Zoe]

+1 - this definitely helped us as well.

[Kelly & Zoe]

Zoe got sick every time we took her in the car, same symptoms, drooling and throwing up.  We tried everything - made sure there was plenty of air, had her in the back (in a crate) and not the front, frequent stops with water, making sure we took her to fun places in the car and not just to the vet etc, and all sorts of natural remedies such as ginger, travel-ease, etc.  We eventually resigned ourselves to the fact that she would continue to get sick until she grew out of it, or wouldn't.  Now, we keep towels in the car, everywhere in the back seat, so if she does get sick, we just pick up the towel and put down a new one - we also keep clorox wipes in the car for the ares she may get sick and there's no towel.  

One encouraging thing I can tell you is that Zoe appears to have grown out of it.  She's almost a year now and we haven't had an accident in a month, so I'm highly encouraged that it was just a puppy thing.  Most dogs to grow out if it, I'm told, so just hang in there and be prepared/assume she'll get sick and hopefully it will be on towels and not your upholstery :-) 

[Kathy Janes]

Our little rescue has endured all of this. Leaving giant puddles of drool in the car and ultimately throwing up. Then after weeks of continuing to drive her to school - with a towel in place and ready, she finally got to where she could hold the barf until she made it out of the car. Then my DH started taking her to the park with the boys and she become so excited that she didn't notice she was in the car and does fine! So evidently stress and attitude have lots to do with it. I have used different calming over the counter things, and they help but by the time we get to a therapy visit she is ready for a nap! Then I got her a car seat that lifted her up higher in the front seat. She liked that but I think it was more because it was nearly too small and she felt cozy and safe in it. I had tried a thundershirt and that didn't work. I think taking her on short trips to the park has been the best cure, but I also have a new car seat for her that only fits in the back seat and we need to try that out. (My car was totalled and the first seat won't fit in my new car, thus the new seat.) I do have to add that she is now three years old and has not completely outgrown this. Long drives still stress her, even if the Doodles are with her. My only recommendations to try are the calming "meds" available now, a thundershirt, or a snug car seat that holds her securely (with a seatbelt/harness - always!). Lots of reassurance that they are okay, with a cheery voice, is going to help relieve the stress better too. Don't coddle as that can reinforce that they indeed have something to be concerned about while in the car.

[BettyAnn, Holmes & Lucy]

I have 2 pups and one absolutely LOVES the car and taking rides but the other one, not so much. She's the one who gets car sick and throws up if there's anything in her stomach, for any car ride even if it's a short one. Talked to my vet about this and she suggested Dramamine for it. Lucy, my car sick dog, is 60 lbs. so she's able to have a human dose. I haven't actually tried it yet but hope it works. Good luck!

[Ashley]

My veterinan also recommended Dramamine. I tried it this weekend and it seemed to work. I bought the less drowsy kind and gave her a forth of a tablet. She didn't throw up or drool. It was amazing! :)