Car Sick

[Rachel Weaver]

I have a 9 month old goldendoodle that does not seem to like car rides. He drools and looks unhappy. One time he even jumped out of the car and got sick. It was only a 15 minute drive to the Pet Store. I take him with me every rnorning when Itake my daghter to school trying to get him use to it. Any suggestions and will he out grow this?

[Kathy Brady]

It sounds as if he has motion sickness. I know there are ways to mitigate it; there may even be an old post here about it.

[Adina P]

I have no personal experience with this, but here are some past discussions that might give you some ideas.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/2065244:Topic:68444

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/2065244...

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/2065244:Topic:103369

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/2065244:Topic:81398

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/2065244...

Good luck and I hope these help you!

[Lisa Beillen]

I have a 5 1/2 mo old aus. labradoodle. She has gotten car sick since she came home from the breeder at 8 wks. It has improved with a lot of effort and a little medication on long rides. She wouldn't even get near the car in the beginning. I feed her in the car (not in motion) at least a couple of times a week. This gets her to jump in the car on her own. On all rides I fill a kong ball with treats and this totally redirects her attention for at least 15 min....that's 15 min. without drool constantly praising. I tried ginger snaps, vanilla ice cream and other calming remedies which didn't work. Her favorite playmate (a year old pug) lives around the corner and we drive to their house for play dates. She's happy to jump in the car when I say "wanna go see George." We will be riding with George for the first time this Sun. He has such a tremendous effect on her, so I think that will also be a positive redirection. I think that they just anticipate they're going to get sick which causes the anxiety, drool, and then ultimately, barf. On longer trips, the vet gave me Cerenia to try. She didn't barf, but lots of drool. I also have given her some Xanax on trips of 1 1/2 hours or more. This works the best (though she did barf once even w/Xanax on board). Sleeps most of the way w/no hangover afterwards. I don't feed for at least 3 hrs prior but do provide water. I've tried crate, floor, front seat and she seems to do best in the front seat. A trainer told me to try this thing called a calming cap, which filters the dog's vision. I haven't tried it...it will be a last resort if she doesn't totally outgrow this. The vet thinks she will, the trainer doesn't. All I can say is she has gotten better! Hope this helps a little. Good luck. Lisa

[Park Mom]

Don't have experience with this in dogs, but just want to note that in humans many cases of car sickness are actually bad reactions to exhaust fumes rather than motion sickness per se. I myself have to close of the ventilation system when going through tunnels. You can also wind up with a lot of chemical-filled exhaust inside your car if you're sitting in traffic in an area where there is not good wind around you, ie if the road dips down between hills.

[Sherree]

Our Piper has also suffered from "car sickness", She has finally stopped puking and now just curls up with her big brother and sleeps. The longest ride since we brought her home is on Sat. mornings when we go to training and she seems to be getting better, and yes a toy or a bone seems to helsp also.

[Mommy2Max]

Max is the same way. I use a safety harness when he is in the car as opposed to a crate/kennel. I tried not feeding him for several hours before a car ride but, that did little for him. Then, I read that for most dogs it's psychological and not physical so, I tried putting him in the front passenger seat versus the back seat by himself. That worked for him. He rarely, if ever, throws up anymore. I also put him on a blanket with a chew toy to help comfort him. Eventually, I will wean him to the back seat again but, he just is too scared in the back by himself at 3 months - baby steps I guess. :)

~Danielle

[Debbie & Cotton Clegg]

I feel your pain. We adopted a little boy cocker last summer and boy does he get sick. I have tried the Cerenia and Dramamine as well as not feeding. He still vomits. He is a very nervous pup, turns 1 year this week. I too will be very interested in the responses you get.

[Stella]

Our first dog used to get really car sick. His nose would run, then he'd drool, and finally throw up. It got so bad he wouldn't even get in the car, and at pushing 70 pounds that was a lot of dog to lift into the car! But, with perseverence it does get better. We ended up giving him Gravol a few times so he got to experience being in the car without feeling sick, that helped with the throwing up, but he still wouldn't get in. After watching an episode of the Dog Whisperer, we tried his advice and it helped. We began to make the car a fun place to be, so after long and hot walks (conveniently it was summer!!) we opened up the trunk and put a bowl of water and a cool wet towel in there. The only way he got to have a drink and cool down was to get in the car! We gave him the best, tastiest treats once he got in, and then settled in to relax, even sitting in the trunk with him reading a book. We also did lots of practice jumping on and off things, so that he learnt the 'up' command to jump up. Then, jumping into the car became a training exercise, jump in, jump out, in, out etc etc. Depending on how high up your car is and how big your puppy is, you might want to use something as a step so he doesn't risk damaging his joints by jumping too much before he stops growing. We used car rides as a tool to do fun things - going out to hikes, to the park, to puppy play time etc etc. It took months, and he still has days when it takes a few attempts to get him in (he is now 15 months old), but most times he gets in first time and travels happily in the car. Good luck!