Are there any drug interactions I should be aware of?
The following medications should be used with caution when given with dimenhydrinate: anticholinergic drugs, central nervous system depressants, or tricyclic antidepressants.
Dimenhydrinate may also interact with antigen skin testing; discontinue at least 2 weeks prior to allergy testing.
Be sure to tell your veterinarian about any medications (including vitamins, supplements, or herbal therapies) that your pet is taking.
Side Effects of Dramamine in Dogs
When you give your dog a new medication for the first time, it’s important to monitor your dog for side effects. Dramamine can cause the following side effects in dogs:
You may look at these potential side effects and think, “Hmm, ironic that the side effects can include vomiting, which is what we’re trying to avoid.” The good news is these side effects are not very common. Most dogs can safely use a proper dose of Dramamine without incident.
Contact your veterinarian if you think your dog is showing adverse side effects to Dramamine or signs of an allergic reaction. Keep an eye on your dog and monitor their symptoms. The vet may recommend a “watch and wait” approach.
The vet will also tell you how long to monitor your dog. If the symptoms start to get better on their own, you may not have to come in. If they stay the same or worsen, you’ll usually need to head to the vet.
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.
Motion Sickness Remedies for Dogs : Pets & Health
Have you ever sat in the back seat of a car on a long, winding road, and suddenly, a wave of nausea comes over you? It is not a pleasant time for those who have experienced car sickness or motion sickness of a different variation.
And while our dogs may not be riding roller coasters or checking their cell phones in a moving car, motion sickness still affects them. Fortunately, veterinarians have a solution by the name of Dramamine.
Dramamine, a brand-name version of the drug dimenhydrinate, is a medication used to treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Dramamine belongs to the same family of drugs as Benadryl, but it works differently. Dramamine is an effective motion sickness remedy for both people and pets.
Dramamine is an antihistamine drug. During stressful situations or allergic reactions, the body can produce chemicals called histamines. Histamines are chemicals that try to identify and remove something that’s causing a problem. While this is happening, your heart rate and breathing rate might increase. You may also feel nauseous or feel like the room is spinning.
Dramamine uses antihistamines for a different purpose. Antihistamines also work to block a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.
Your body produces acetylcholine when motion sickness occurs, and it’s responsible for creating many of the side effects of motion sickness.
The effects of motion sickness are minimized by stopping the production of acetylcholine and putting the body into a semi-sedated state.