Does anyone know how to cure dogs who have motion sickness? serious answers only please?

Answer 1

To cure a problem sometimes it helps to understand why it happens.

True motion sickness occurs when the brain gets mixed messages about the position and movement of the body from the sensory organs. Usually the eyes are telling the brain that the animal is stationary, and the inner ear is telling the brain that the animal is moving, so it gets sick from the mixed signal. It can happen the other way too lets say you are watching a movie on a large screen TV or at the movie theater that involves a high speed car chase on a winding mountian highway. You are sitting still so your inner ear tells your brain that you are stationary but your eyes are saying that you are moving so you get "motion-sickness" from the mixed signals to your brain from your sensory organs.

Alternatively, your dog may be just anxious or excited about the car ride and literally "worries" itself sick. This isn't true motion sickness but rather is attached to the dogs emotional state while in the car.

Try the following and see if any of these suggestions help.

***Whatever is the cause for the car sickness, it's best be sure that your dog has recently eliminated, and has not had any food for at least 5-6 hours before the car ride.***

1. If your dog rides in a plastic "air-line" type crate, switch to a seatbelt harness. The crates are safer, but the restricted vision sometimes causes the motion sickness. Also it helps if he /she can see out of the window. Try a pillow or a booster seat if your dog is to small to see out. Remember to keep the window closed to avoid eye injuries.

2. Take short (1-2 miles or 5 -10 minute) frequent trips to "neutral" places with your dog. You don't want the dog to get anxious/nervous/excited while riding in the car. Don't talk to the dog or play the radio during these trips. Be as boring as possible during the car ride until you get home then have a "party" with your dog .... play fetch, give treats, etc. Just make sure your destination isn't somewhere your dog has been before and has formed a negative or an over-the-top overly positive connection with before. You want your dog to relize that riding in the car is positive but no big deal. If everytime your dog rides in the car, he is going to the dog park for some wild canine fun with his pals he may start to anticipate that the car ride will end in this super fun place and get so excited he makes himself sick. Same thing with the vet or groomer except it is fear or anxiety that is causing the stomach sickness.

3. If your dog is a young puppy, they usually grow out of the car sickness. Just place a puppy housebreaking pad or shredded up newspaper in his crate to help with mess, and wait it out. Take short trips like I mentioned above and soon taking a car trip will be no problem.

4. Ginger capsules really help to ease the motion sickness (I take these myself before airplane trips) and Rescue Remedy can help calm nerves. Call your vet for proper dosing.

Hope this helps. Good luck, this is a common problem and most dogs get used to the trips over time.

Answer 2

Dogs generally become sick in the car because they are frightened, not because they have real motion sickness. It is necessary to reassure your dog that these fears are groundless (which might be hard depending on how you drive). You need to get your dog used to the car by taking trips that are short enough that your dog does not exhibit the typical signs of car sickness- drooling, vomiting, etc. It may be necessary to start out by just sitting in the car together and giving your dog a treat after a few minutes. Then take very short rides followed by a treat - even if you can only make it to the end of the driveway. Gradually increase the length of the trips until your dog enjoys the car rides.

If you don't want your dog in the car, but find it necessary on occasion, you can use tranquilizers to control the nervousness with good success in most dogs. Your vet will have one that works well for him or her.

Some dogs really have motion sickness. It is possible that dramamine will work in these dogs but even in these dogs tranquilizers like acepromazine that also have anti-emetic properties usually work well.
They also have tablets called Travel Calm Formula

Answer 3

Get your dog used to the car environment. Get in the car together and have a treat. Talk. Be happy. Make it a fun time. Do not have the car running, just share a treat and make it a positive experience. Repeat this a number of times on different occasions. You may want to feed your dog in the car. If your dog is afraid of even getting into the car, try feeding or giving a treat close to the car. Get your dog used to the car while it is running. Repeat step one, only this time start the car. Give a treat before and after. If she looks or acts nervous, reassure her that everything is OK. Take your time and make sure she is relaxed before ending the session. Get your dog used to the motion of the moving car. Once she is used to the car running without any fearful reaction, back the car to the end of the driveway, then forward again to the garage. Give her a treat and praise her. Repetition is the key. The more you do this the more confident your dog becomes that cars are no problem. In fact, to her it becomes a great place for attention, praise, and even treats. Now it is time to take a short trip around the block. Treats and praise before and after, and calm, reassuring talk throughout the ride are a pre-requisite. Gradually increase the distance travelled until your dog is calm no matter how long she's in the car. Some animals still need something to calm them. There are non-prescription products such as Serene-um, Pet Calm, and Rescue Remedy. In severe cases, even stronger prescription anti-anxiety medications can be dispensed by your veterinarian. Get puppies used to the car while they are still young and are more receptive to new adventures. Dogs make excellent travelling companions so it is well worth the training now for the years of enjoyment it will bring both of you once you get over this obstacle together.

Answer 4

first off please don't give any human meds to your puppy or dog unless ok'd by a vet!! ok, now there could be a number of different reasons the dog is vomiting and a number of ways to cure it. i'd try placing the dog in different positions. For example, some dogs get sick if they look out the window while others get sick because they can't see out the window. also, to get your dog or pup used to the car, start out with slow short drives around the block, and when she can tolerate that, slowly increase the amount of time in the car. another thing that i've heard works is not feeding your dog for a few hours before the ride except a bit of ginger snap cookies. ginger is often used as a remedy for humans with upset stomachs due to cars. the ginger is safe to use on your pup and might help. goodluck and i hope your pup feels better in the car!!

Answer 5

Your vet can prescribe some meds and you can zonk them in the car. Mine does better in the crate than wondering around, I think the crate gives an added sense of security. Be sure to keep it cool so your dog doesn't get too hot. I read somwhere that putting a cotton ball in ONE ear would help, but I never tried it. I also read that car sickness is more related to the fear of what happens after the car than actual motion sickness. Make sure the vet is not the only place you take the dog in the car. Check out the link for lots of good tips. Many dogs do grow out of it.

Answer 6

Just try rubbing the dogs belly and comforting them. Allow a little air in the car while riding until they adapt. Don't do to long of a drive at first. Ease it on the dog, ok. My Rotti's had a problem at first then I just talked them through it. Key up the good work! If this doesn't work, see the vet immediately for motion sickness meds for the pup, aight!

Tammi

Answer 7

Oh, I know how you feel, my dog Spot, he could not ride in a car for five minutes without throwing up, They have some medicien at the vet office, it can be pretty expensive though. But helpful. You can't get rid of it, it sticks with them, it's forever. But the medicien calms down his stomach though. It helps calm down the nerves and everything.
good luck
oh, and I've ordered products for my dog from Dr's Foster and Smith's catalog and online. For motion sickness in dogs they recommend "Pet Calm" - $9.99 for 50 tabs, or Content-UM, 30 tabs for $4.59. weaird, the person before me orders the same thing, it helps though.
go to www.drsfosterandsmith.com and I think it'll take you to it, if a dog is young, it may grow out of it, play some music soothing, or let it look out the window.
hope it helps

Answer 8

Hi

What helped with our dog was..never have it facing the opposite direction you are heading in...so if driving forwards..have it facing forwards...give a little bit of water...make frequent stops for short periods of time..(take a walk at rest areas ever 30 min or so (and gradually build this time up)). Another thing that worked..have classical music playing as well as having the windows opened a bit...plus...they say that you can check with the natural food store..for maybe some lavendar oil (or equivalent) to help the dog relax..there might also be something natural that would relieve his/her upset stomach..

these were some of the things that helped our dog..

good luck!

Answer 9

There's a great website for pets. Here is a link to the article on motion sickness: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=107

I've ordered products for my dog from Dr's Foster and Smith's catalog and online. For motion sickness in dogs they recommend "Pet Calm" - $9.99 for 50 tabs, or Content-UM, 30 tabs for $4.59. Both are non-prescription drugs designed to calm your pet because anxiety or stress about riding in the car is the cause of their motion sickness, not like us where the actual motion can cause us to be ill.

Hope this helps!

Answer 10

Dramamine is an otc motion sickness pill for people and can safely be used for dogs. Here's a website with the dosage by weight
http://animalsunlimited.net/meds.htm

Once he get used to riding in the car you may not need the Dramamine.