My dog gets sick when we travel. What causes this?
Motion sickness in dogs is a common problem. Motion or car sickness is more common in younger dogs than adults. The reason may be due to the fact that the parts of the inner ear involved in balance are not fully developed. Puppies will often “outgrow” motion sickness by the time they are about 1 year old.
Many adult dogs become anxious or even nauseous during travel due to a lack of conditioning and the overwhelming unusual stimuli associated with moving inside a vehicle. Dogs that travel only once or twice a year (typically when visiting the veterinarian) are not used to car rides and often associate the car ride with the stressful experience that follows.
This causes heightened anxiety and stress, and may result in vomiting and diarrhea. Puppies that experience traumatic or frightening first rides may also associate future travel with that stressful event. Some dogs may have medical conditions such as middle or inner ear infections or vestibular disease (disease of the vestibular apparatus, located in the inner ear) that predispose them to nausea. Others may be taking medications that can cause vomiting or diarrhea.
Helping your dog overcome the stress and anxiety of travel will mean that your pet can accompany you on trips more frequently and will allow you to spend more time together.
Dr. Nicholas graduated with honors from The Royal Veterinary College in London, England and completed his Internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. He currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Dr. Nicholas spent many years as an emergency and general practice veterinarian obsessed with keeping pets safe and healthy. He is the author of Preventive Vet’s 101 Essential Tips book series.
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Theres not as much movement in the front of the car as in the back, so it might help your pet if you let him ride in the front seat, but make sure they are in a dog harness or a small kennel that buckles into the seat. Another consideration would be whether your car has dual airbags. This may cause your pet harm or great distress if these are released in the case of an accident. Regardless, try to position your pet so it is facing forward in the car.
Get a carrier or crate and get your pet accustomed to being in it at home. Put familiar things in it and encourage your pet to use it. Treats are excellent for coaxing a pet into a carrier or crate. Always leave the door to the crate of entrance to the carrier open and let your pet come and go as they please. This will take a while, but your pet needs to understand that their carrier or crate is a comfortable and safe place.
Find a park or open space about 5-10 minutes from home, ideally have someone else in the car too, to soothe the dog and distract them from the ride. Keep your pet happy all the way to the park. When at the park do all the enjoyable things that a dog loves, fetch the ball, and chase the Frisbee. The stay at the park doesnt need to be that long. It just needs to be as enjoyable as possible. Then soothe your pet all the way home again. When you reach home, make just as much fuss as you did at the park. Finish the session with his meal or a treat if time and conditions permit. Try doing this as frequently as you can.
When all else fails, Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) — the same drug people take to ward off car sickness — also works for pets. Medium to large dogs should be given 25 to 50 milligrams of Dramamine at least an hour before traveling in a car, cats and small dogs should get about 12.5 milligrams. Be sure to check with your vet before giving your pet any medicinal product. We recommend an all natural pet calmer. You can also try a more holistic approach with ginger, chamomile or peppermint. Best to experiment on solid ground to be sure your pet can tolerate these herbs.
Generally, its a good idea not to feed your pet within four hours before embarking on a road trip. Having an empty stomach will make your pet less likely to throw up, and if he does get sick, theres nothing solid to deal with. Giving your pet water, however, wont upset his stomach and may make him more comfortable.