Car Sickness

[Faol]

So Ailchu sometimes gets car sick, he's all right for short trips, but tomorrow we are going a bit further and I don't want him to get sick. My mum wants to give him a gravol, but if anyone has an alternative solution that does not involve drugging my dog, I would really appreciate them.

[greekblue]

I used to have this problem with Niki and I had to drive a lot and long distances. Of course, it depends on the individual dog and how big the problem is, but here is what helped with Niki.

I made sure (still do) that she has eaten light and for at least 2 hours prior the driving.
I had one window down, even when it was freezing.
I made a couple stops on the way for her to come out and stretch her legs, and I offered water, which she gladly drank. Then, we could go back on our way.

Is he throwing up on every car ride, is he drooling excessively?

Niki threw up a few times, but mostly she was drooling excessively. I found out that with time the more comfortable she felt in the car, the less she was drooling or getting sick.

Sometimes, if I had to drive a long distance early the morning, I would not feed Niki until after the car ride. She could deal with the car ride better with an empty stomach.

[Lunachick]

This is Faol replying, just to avoid confusing anyone! He has thrown up twice in the van. They were not very long trips, maybe 20 minutes. And he does drool right before being sick. I will try feeding him earlier, thanks for the advice.

[calgal]

You can add vitamin C and vitamin B-complex to his food. This will help with the stress and motion sickness.
If motion sickness does occur, you can give the dog some peppermint tea or peppermint capsules to help settle the stomach. (not well tolerated by cats) Also Resuce Remedy will help calm the dog and it's all natural. Then there is the homeopathic remedy Aconitum napellus 30C. It's very effective at minimizing fear and upset before traveling. Give one pellet of this medicine an hour before leaving home; give another pellet just a few minutes before actually leaving the house.
Also make sure you take a favorite blanket and toy to help calm.

[Faol]

Thanks for all the advice guys. During all our errands today, Ailchu wasn't sick at all. I gave him a little food in the morning and bought him a bone at Petsmart for the ride home and he was just fine! The two times before when he was sick, it was on the way home from the vet's, after he got his shots, maybe it was the experience that made him sick and not the drive?

[greekblue]

Another thing you might want to consider is to try and watch where are you going each time he gets the worst car sickness.
Niki was drooling mostly, but all the times she threw up and she had the worse sickness, we were on our way to her vet. The trips to the vet were three weeks apart, but she knew the way and she was getting more nervous that day.

[calgal]

Originally Posted by Faol

Thanks for all the advice guys. During all our errands today, Ailchu wasn't sick at all. I gave him a little food in the morning and bought him a bone at Petsmart for the ride home and he was just fine! The two times before when he was sick, it was on the way home from the vet's, after he got his shots, maybe it was the experience that made him sick and not the drive?

He must have been traumatized. What you should do now it take him to the Vet. about once a week just to go in with him to say hello and let him see that it isn't such a bad place after all. It helps take away the fear.