Dog car sickness

hbowen87

Is there anything that can be done about dog car sickness? If Star has eaten anything before we get in the car, she throws it up on the way. We've been dealing with it and still taking her with us lots of places around here by making sure she doesn't eat for at least an hour before we leave and lots of towels/papertowels and plastic in the floor juuuuust in case.

But the holidays are coming up and I'd like to take her to visit my mom and my dad at some point and that involves a 9 hour car ride to both of their houses. Or if I do both in one trip 9 hours to mom's, 4 hours to dad's, 9 hours home. It dawned on me today she might not appreciate being unable to eat ANYTHING for 10 hours (and I mean anything, we were good once and hadn't fed her and stopped at petsmart where a trainer gave her a liver treat, which she threw up in my purse much to my dismay )

Is fasting her for all that time the only way around vomit, should we just puke proof the back seat and let her have her breakfast, or is there something my vet can give me to give her before we leave, so I should be making an appointment once travel plans are decided on?

digits mama

I have used ginger snap cookies with my dogs before with great results.

poodleholic

Ginger cookies worked with my dog, and so did candied ginger. She liked the cookies better. Motion sickness is no fun. If it persists, have your vet write you a prescription - I had mine filled at Walmart, and it was very inexpensive. (Good thing, too, because the cookies worked, and I didn't need to give her the drug!)

hbowen87

Thanks guys! I'd never heard of Ginger cookies working for this before (then again I've never had a dog with motion sickness before so no need to find something hehe), I'll try that next time we take her on a short trip and see if we need something more or not before a longer trip. Something tells me she definitely won't mind the cookies either way

5 s corral

hi
my one sheltie has it i give him the over the counter motion sickness pill it works great
jamie

JLWillow

I know this thread was made yesterday, but I'll say something anyway...

Do you drive a van or a regular car? Or a truck, even? I find that vans are much rockier rides for dogs (at least my dog) than a regular car provides. My dog has thrown up at least four or five times in my mom's van, but never in my boyfriend's car.

michelleboston

Bailey got carsick quite a bit when he was younger and the vet recommended to give him Dramamine 1/2 hour before a trip on an empty stomach or an hour before on a full stomach.

He still gets sick from time to time so if we're going on a long trip or one that I know will be stop and go (due to traffic) I'll give him a 1/2 pill. Just be careful not to buy the non-drowsy formula or you'll be dealing with a caffeinated dog

I don't love the idea of giving my dog drugs so I think I'll start trying the gingersnap cookies. I'm sure Bailey would love them

Kathyy

She would be fine fasting for ten hours. I wish I had known about ginger when Max had so much trouble riding in cars.

I found that crating him helped both of us. I had an easier mess to clean up and he felt more secure. Crating high enough so he could see out the window and was forward of the rear axle seemed best.

Binkalette

Our cat used to get sick in the car anytime we took him somewhere.. we just cut up Dramamine tablets and gave them to him - crushed - mixed with spray cheese.

hbowen87

Sorry for the slow response, been busy, but thanks for all the responses! She actually has thrown up in both a pickup truck and my Mitsubishi Galant car in the back seat. When she originally did it it my boyfriend's truck (hung her head over the seat and threw up in my purse! ) I thought my car would be better, but she's painted my back seat four times now. (pulled the towels off the seat before doing so last time...so time for me to take the steam cleaner to my car, dogs )

I've been painting the house so haven't had any time for trips, but I'll be trying people's suggestions next time we get the chance

my2weiners

My 1 year old daschund used to do the saaame thing lol just gave him a half a drammamine tablet. Been fine ever since =)

skelaki

Ginger will usually work well. just make sure that whatever you give has real ginger and not artificial flavoring. I've also heard that giving some vanilla ice cream about 1/2 hour before travel can help but I've never tried that.