[BassetMixUp]

My dog isn't good in the car. It was very slow going in the beginning getting him used to the car and now he will willingly hop in and won't vomit. I don't feed him in the AM and our longest trip is 30 minutes before we take a break because he will dry heave if I drive too long. In the car, he just lays down with his face on the center console. He used to drool really bad and shake but now he only drools excessively if I leave him in the car while I run into a store real quick.

For our normal trips, I make sure a few windows are cracked, the car is nice and cool and not stuffy, the music isn't loud and our destination is always somewhere fun for him.

But now we have a vacation coming up and will be driving almost 5 hours. Any stops will be determined by my kids bladders. I called the vet who suggested giving him one Dramamine pill.

B almost exclusively sits in the front passenger seat but for this trip, he's going to have to lay on the floor in the backseat. I really don't want to traumatized him or make him regress back into a shaky drooly mess for every trip. Any suggestions for making this easier for him?

I'm wondering if Dramamine will be enough or if I should call the vet back and ask for a sedative. Or maybe Benedryl will be better? I'm not sure anti nausea meds are enough.

The trip isn't for a two months so I can start having him ride on the floor now so he can get used to that.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[FaithFurMom09]

Faith use to get really car sick, i couldnt even take her to the gas station up the block. We tried Ginger Snaps, which did help but not quite enough (who wants to clean up puked cookies?) So I tried Dramamine. Especially when we moved an hour away and she had to be in the crate in the back of the car. It DID help. She did not get sick. You can get a bottle cheap at Walgreens.

I would keep practicing with the dog just to get the dog use to it, maybe make your trips a little longer each time.
Also I know sometimes where they are in the car makes a difference. Covering their crate/windows. Putting them in the crate or out. Windows up or down. These things can make a difference. The crate in the back is the safest place for the dog, but sometimes you dont have room or they dont do well in it- you just have to do what works.

ETA: I will say she did outgrow it, I can take her places and she wont get sick.

 

[WestieLove]

Have you used Dramamine with him before? I ask because I find this isn't always effective for all dogs. Some yes, but not all. If it works for him you can use it but if not you can talk to your veterinarian. I prefer cerenia for an antiemetic which you would need to get through your veterinarian. If you aren't able to make as many stops and you think he will get very worked up you can ask your veterinarian about a sedative and see what he says. I've never seen much of a sedative effect with benadryl in the past. However, you know your dog best.

 

[BassetMixUp]

Thanks for the replies. He wears a Bergan harness in the car. He doesn't budge an inch but I don't want him to be a projectile or interfere with anything if we were to crash and after watching you tube videos of crates crashing open and flying through cars, crates make me nervous. I'm comforable tethering it to the seat track for the trip.
I'll give the Dramamine a shot sometime this week and see how he does. I certainly don't want him to have an adverse reaction mid road trip! Who knows, maybe he'll prefer the floor to the front seat.

We already have Dramamine from a deep sea fishing trip but if you ask my husband, it doesn't work. LOL!

 

[InkedMarie]

I used ginger snaps when we traveled 3hrs to MA with a dog who got carsick. Worked like a charm!

 

[NRB]

Most ginger snaps have a no to low amt of ginger in them.

:Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate [vitamin b1], riboflavin [vitamin b2], folic acid), sugar, molasses preserved with sulfur dioxide, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, leavening (baking soda, calcium phosphate), ginger, salt, soy lecithin (emulsifier)."

A ginger supplement in a local health food store would be better way to get ginger. It is a good herb for motion sickness and works wonders.

I've used cerenia with my carsick pup with great success.

The back of the car has more motion in it and is harder on a car sick critter (or person) the back seat better and the front seat the best. I have friends who can not ride in the back seat of a car but do fine in the front. So is a good idea to do short trips with him in the far back to see how he does.