Puppy Car Sickness Tips

Having a dog that experiences car sickness is stressful for both the  pup and the owner. No one enjoys seeing their pet in discomfort, and the  thought of causing your dog any level of pain can reroute entire  vacation plans.

That’s why we put together this helpful dog car  sickness guide. Follow along to make your dog as comfortable as possible  the next time the two of your need to hit the road.

Any age dog, but particularly puppies and older dogs are prone to car sickness.

Puppies  often get car sick because their ears are still developing and the  motion of the car can upset those delicate structures.

More mature dogs might experience car sickness due to their natural levels of anxiety.

•  Drooling Excessively
•  Panting From Anxiety
•  Pacing and Moving Around A Lot
•  Whining
•  Excessive swallowing
•  Wide-eyes
•  Sometimes Vomiting

Try the following tips and prevention methods to provide your carsick dog with the most comfortable car-ride experience.

There  is a range of harnesses, car seats, and seat belts designed to keep  your pup safe and secure on the road. Find what fits your dog best, and  use it consistently. Be sure your dog is accustomed to the apparatus you  select prior to hitting the road for your trip. Use it for short jaunts  around town so that anxiety about a new harness doesn’t add to any  road-trip anxiety.

Oftentimes,  car sickness is triggered by motion, which is why it’s also called  motion sickness. Affix a sunscreen, available just about everywhere, to  the window closest to your dog’s seat belt to obscure his vision of  passing cars.

Music  like Through a Dog’s Ear has been designed to calm anxiety in dogs.  It’s been clinically tested and proven to work even in shelter  environments. CDs are available, as is a portable player called the  iCalmDog, which is pre-loaded with four hours of canine-calming music.  Bonus: This is a great way to soothe nervous pups in a hotel room, too.

This may be a time for a favorite edible chew like The Honest Kitchen’s beams.  You want something that your dog can consume safely and something that  is also very appetizing to him. Avoid new chews so that you know exactly  how your dog consumes them in order to help avoid choking hazards (if  you have any doubt, don’t use a chew). The key is for him to be so  completely engaged in gnawing on his chew that he’s not anxiously pacing  across the backseat. If you don’t have doggie seat covers for your car,  make sure to bring a towel where he can do his chewing or you may end  up with quite a mess on your seats.

When  re-introducing the car, it’s important to take your time. Don’t skip  steps and don’t rush the process. Your puppy needs to be comfortable at  one step before going on to the next.

Unfortunately, this can be  traumatic since you’re taking him away from his mother and littermates  as well as his first human family. Although you may already be in love  with this fuzzy little creature, he could be frightened. This fright can  lead to a fear of cars, riding in the car, and ultimately car sickness.  That’s not the best way to begin his new life. Thankfully, though, you  can help your puppy.

For  his or her safety, the puppy should ride in a crate. Although most new puppy  owners prefer to hold the puppy in their arms, it’s not safe. Not only  can the puppy be endangered in sudden stops or in an accident, the puppy  is more likely to be frightened at the scenery zipping by, and watching  all these things could also lead to an upset tummy. Plus, should he  panic and wiggle out of your arms, he could hurt himself or interfere  with the driver. You can snuggle him later, but for his sake, on the  ride home put him in a crate.

Place the crate in the back seat  where it can be secured with a seat belt or tie-down so it will ride  without too much jostling. If possible, have the crate opening facing so  an air vent will blow across the front. You don’t want the air  conditioning to blow there on full/cold but the puppy will do better  with some airflow.

Once  you have your puppy, drive straight home. Don’t go visit anyone, don’t  go shopping, and don’t make any side trips. Just go home. Let the puppy  settle in before he goes visiting anyone.