SERIOUS Car Sickness

[Carol and Truffle]

I take Truffle to work with me, because it's just hubby (who also works full-time +) and I & I live too far away to come home to let her out & not have her crated for long periods of time.

I work full-time but as a supervisor do have considerable flexibility. Nevertheless, it is a 20 minute drive either way between home & work.

When we brought her home from the breeder at 8.5 weeks old , it was a 7 hour drive & she got sick twice on the ride home. She is now 13.5 weeks old.

I had a week off where I didn't have to put her in the car again, except for the day after Gotcha-Day for a 15-minute-each-way trip to the vet.

After that I began driving her to work with me daily. She showed serious car anxiety & the following long weekend (Memorial Day), my husband and I worked hard on desensitizing her to the car without having to take her anywhere.

We made some tiny progress, but she never willingly walks up to the car to get in. I always have to pick her up (and she is clearly very unwilling to be put in the car).

Since then we take 1 step forward and 2 steps back, with her throwing up every few days (and unfortunately 3x this week). 

• She associates the door into/out of my work as related to having to get into the car. 
• She associates me putting the leash on her at predictable times at home as meaning that we are going to the car & she hides in the back of her crate (at least she considers her crate as a safe place).
• She knows the time of day at my office when we would be heading home & she nows goes to the back of her work-place crate to avoid having to head out to the car.
• I've learned not to let her have food within an hour of putting her in the car.
• I've learned to turn the car on & let the AC run long enough to cool it off.

Knowing her hate of the car has seriously curtailed us taking her around town to get experiences (she threw up on the way home from Lowes!).

My choices seem very limited at this point: to continue to have to expose her to car rides (20 minutes, twice a day), or to leave her at home, all alone, crated for 4-5 hours at a time (her housebreaking so far has been stupendous & I think she could hold it that long - but she'd be all alone; folks at my office are true dog people & this week she has finally come out of her shell and has enjoyed playing with people).

I'M DESPERATE FOR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THIS! Everyone has helped Stacy & Maggie so much ... I'm hoping to hear some great guidance here.

Thanks, everyone, in advance.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Since she is so young, I would talk to your vet. I know you can give an adult dog Dramamine, but not sure about 5 days a week, and certainly not sure about a little puppy. Ginger is supposed to help with motion sickness, maybe a bite of a ginger snap cookie that doesn't have zylotol(sp?) in it since it is toxic to dogs. I was thinking about not feeding her until you get to work, but it looks like you are waiting an hour after after feeding anyway. But if it is anxiety that is making her sick and not motion, Dramamine and ginger probably wouldn't help anyway. So maybe Benedryl might help, but there again I would talk to my vet about dosage and if it is a good option. Probably a very small dose, like half of a 25mg pill. Also where is she sitting while in the car? Can she see you? Does she have a dog bed, blanket or toy she loves that you can bring along in the car to help ease her fears. Or maybe leave her home and have someone come to the house to walk her about mid-day. Good Luck, I hope you find a remedy.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Also what could be causing her anxiety? Is it the car ride itself, being away from the safety of her home, the people at work, are they too loud, or give her unwanted attention...if that one is even possible. Maybe give her one of your old t-shirts with your scent all over it, that she can keep with her in the car and at work. I feel bad or you and Truffle. 

[Stacy]

The papillon people swear by Bonine - which is meclizine. At one point, many years ago I did confirm with my vet that this was safe, but as a disclaimer, you should always check with your vet before using any meds. In my experience lots of puppies get car sick and then outgrow it. But I think the question if she's anxious is: is she carsick because she's nervous about the car? Or is she nervous about the car because she's carsick? 

I've also found that not all dogs are the same. Some of them just don't love to go. I've been taking Katie places since she was just a baby.  And she never got carsick, but she never really seemed to want to go with me. She loves to be at the park, but she doesn't get excited about getting to go for a ride. I put on my shoes and she runs and gets in her crate. In contrast Maggie and Ava both loved to go anywhere. Maggie stands at the door while I'm getting my stuff together and I can almost hear her. "Can I go, can I go? Huh, huh? Please. I'll be so good. I just want to go with you." The irony is that neither one of them probably ever got to go anywhere during their formative period. They're just different dogs with their own distinct personalities. 

I would just keep making the car a fun place to be. Sit in the car and feed lots of great treats when you don't have to go anywhere. Then maybe very short trips starting with just around the block and work up to longer trips as she is able to tolerate it without vomiting. I think it's wonderful that you can take her to work. And that socialization is amazing! But I would be very cautious about reinforcing the idea that car rides = feeling gross = scary event. Maybe while you're working on it you could get someone to come in during the day to let her out for some play time and a potty break. 

I also think that it's okay for puppies to learn that sometimes they get left home alone. Even if you don't plan to leave her often, almost everyone has the occasional event where all the people go and the dog isn't invited. Separation anxiety is real. I think it's good for her to learn that sometimes you go away, but that you always come back and she's okay. 

It sounds like so many great things are happening for Truffle. What a lucky girl! Just remember that this puppy part is hard. It does get easier. All the work you put in now you will be rewarded for her whole life. Don't be afraid to look for a really great trainer. The guy I hired for Maggie was wonderful. He didn't really help me train Mags, but talking to him was just what I needed. I think it might have been like a therapy session for me. But he helped me see some things about Maggie that really changed my perspective and helped us bond. And our group classes are the highlight of my week.  I just love training with Maggie. 

[Nancy]

Ivy used to have car anxiety and get car sick.  I have given her dramamine, which seemed to help, however, it made her very sleepy for hours.  This is what I did.......I purchased a box like dog bed which was just big enough for her to curl up in.  I have leather seats so I put a rug with a non stick backing on the back seat and placed the dog bed on that.  This prevents the bed from sliding (learned the hard way when the bed slid off with Ivy in it on the floor).  I began using Rescue Remedy for pets, its a natural stress relief every time we went for rides over 10 minutes.  I did this for a couple of months and eventually was able to stop using the Rescue Remedy but I still use the dog bed.  Ivy is 3 years old and we drive back and forth from MA to Florida with no problems.  Good luck!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My Guinness had serious car sickness as a puppy and also got very sick on our trip home from the Breeder.  My Vet prescribed Cerenia which we gave before any car ride and it worked wonders.  Once he was no longer feeling that horrible nausea he started enjoying car rides.  Eventually he outgrew this and hasn't needed the meds in years.  I'm not sure exactly how old he was when we started the Cerenia, but you might want to have a conversation with your vet about this option.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Also I was thinking maybe you could leave early enough to stop halfway to work and let her out a few minutes, give her some love and fresh air and hit the road again.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've never dealt with this problem but in past discussions here, several people mentioned that it helps if the dog rides facing forward, and I know there are car harnesses that keep them in that position. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Facing forward really helps humans.

[Carol and Truffle]

Y'all have definitely given me some ideas.

I do have her sit in the front passenger seat with me, so I can comfort her - I know not the safest, but I'm choosing my battles here. So she is front-facing. 

I have a "bucket" seat that hangs from the headrest that I used for my daughter's mini-dachsund so she could see out & I will give that a try (Truffle is still small enough to fit in; again, not the safest I know)

I'm going to get some Rescue Remedy & drive with both the AC on & car windows rolled down somewhat for fresh air.

And not being a dog-behaviorist, I'm not sure whether it is anxiety producing nausea or nausea producing anxiety (or most likely a combo of both).

Vet had suggested Dramamine but we didn't really want her so doped up (drowsy) since this car ride is twice a day.

She enjoys the people at work. They all play with her and she loves that. As soon as we get into the office, she is relaxed & ready for a great play day. It's just the beginning of the day and end of the day - SHE CAN TELL TIME!! that the anxiety sets in.

[Barbara, Zoey and Zeke]

My Zoey never had any problem riding in the car until after a year old.  All of a sudden she started panting and drooling on car rides over an hour or so.  I tried meclizine, but didn't like how long it made her sleepy. Then I remembered that my previous dog, Lucky, hated thunderstorms about the same way. He settled down when I put a thundershirt on him.  So I got Zoey one.  It has made a great difference!  Much more calm.  

I actually determined that it seemed to be the passing by of the big trucks whooshing sounds that seemed to bother her.  She acts the same way if we go through an automatic car wash.  (Something I never do with her anymore!)

[Carol and Truffle]

I have a thundershirt left over from my earlier dog, so I might give it a try. 

However, it didn't work for him because it seemed that he began to believe that it was the thundershirt that was contributing to the ongoing thunder!

[Carolyn Shusterman]

Carol, DON'T put the Thundershirt on Truffle then go for a car ride!  Get Truffle used to the shirt being a very pleasurable thing.  For short training sessions put on her Thundershirt and play or do whatever Truffle LOVES to do.  Include treats and lots of love and attention and maybe even a nap together.