Help needed - suggestions for ill traveling dog?

Ryssa · 03-03-2012, 07:09 AM

Hey everyone, Arthur and I are desperate for some suggestions as to what can help with car sickness. We travel every month or two for a 5 hour journey. Arthur is always do excited to go, but he really gets so worked up. It starts with a few whimpers, then excessive drooling, a short time later he will vomit stomach acid (we don't feed him before travel),then cOntinues to drool the entire trip. Pools and pools of drool.

Our vet suggested half a tablet of Benadryl - we tried this with no effect.
She then suggested half a tablet of Dramamine - also no effect.

I'm hopeful some of you may have other thoughts/suggestions.

jabojenny · 03-03-2012, 07:53 AM

Sorry no suggestions here, but I'm sure someone will chime in with words of wisdom.

**Thumper** · 03-03-2012, 07:59 AM

How is he riding? In your lap? in a car seat? on a seat? I would probably try one on the comfy car seats and put a plush blanket in it so he could nest, something that smelled familiar from home, maybe a favorite toy, or pillow or something else that reminds him of home.

stay calm yourself! Their anxiety (or pending anxiety) can make us anxious and then they sense that and it becomes a vicious circle or anxiety.

I would also start taking him on very short car rides and then back home again, so he knows that he will always, eventually, end up back home. Gucci was nervous for a few months as a puppy for our weekly car ride to work, but now car rides are her favorite thing in the whole world. I probably should not let her sit on my lap, I wish I wouldn't have started that bad habit.

Kara

Luciledodd · 03-03-2012, 08:19 AM

Rosie will be three this month and I tried everything and nothing works. She has a llimit of about 7 miles before she starts vomiting. She can get to the Vet's office here in our town and from the exit where we stay to my son's house in Nashville-7 miles. This 7 miles has just been reached. We tried all the meds and then the Vet gave us a sedative. I give it about an hour before we leave and she goes to sleep and as long as we don't stop she can make it about 6 hours. If we leave to soon before she gets sleelpy, she will vomit up the pill and keep on vomiting. We only made that mistake once. The pitiful part of this is that she wants to go. When the suitcases come out, she gets excited and stands by the door, but she won't get in the car on her own. I have to put her in. Oh yes, I bought her the best seat where she could see out and everything. Waste of money, except that it is strapped in like a child's seat and then has a clip to attach to her harness. If you find an answer, I would appreciate you passing it on to me.

curly_DC · 03-04-2012, 01:26 PM

Sergio has traveled with me in his Sherpa bag. In the car I put him in the bag in the back seat with the seat belt wrapped around it. He's also traveled by plane with me under the seat in front of me in his Sherpa bag.

Flynn Gentry-Taylor · 03-04-2012, 01:32 PM

Someone told me ginger snaps, but my dog would not eat them..I on the other hand love them...dearly.
Seems mine want to ride in the front seat. I have heard some people who get car sick MUST ride up front and only get car sick in the back seat..but that is different..people not dogs.

Kalico · 03-04-2012, 01:35 PM

Jasmine doesn't get sick but drools. She seems to do better in the front seat. I usually have her in her carry bag, but today she sat on her dad's lap in the front seat and didn't get sick at all. I don't know if this was because she was calmer and distracted, or if it was because she could see the road.

Flynn Gentry-Taylor · 03-04-2012, 01:44 PM

See if this link works...very informative about motion sickness http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Heal.../Overview.aspx

DonnaC · 03-04-2012, 02:40 PM

Baxter also gets very car sick. The next time we ride, I'm going to try a mint freshener in his crate. When I was pregnant, mint tea helped me. I know it's a desperate attempt, but it's worth it.

I have not tried drugs, but I just hate to see an animal doped up, so I'm reluctant to do it.

LouAnn · 03-04-2012, 03:47 PM

Our Maggie is 4-1/2 months old and has gotten carsick since the first day we brought her home, whether she was in my lap or the carrier. Sitting in the car and taking short trips was working fine.....a couple of miles was about her limit though and she'd start yawning, then licking, then drooling and finally vomiting.....any longer and she'd get loose stools. These have always been happy trips for her once we got where we were going, plus a fun walk when we got home. For a longer trip (about 20 miles) our Vet recommended Dramamine.....we followed all her instructions, but it's the sickest Maggie has ever gotten. So back to square one, but now she barely tolerates a ride around the block. Someone suggested a safety harness and booster seat, so we have ordered them from Amazon. We plan some longer trips with her this summer, so hopefully things will improve.....I'll let you all know how things go. And I look forward to hearing some success stories from the rest of you, too!