[bischbullies]

Help! My 7 month old gets really motion sick in just about every ride. We are going on a long cross country trip in a month and need to fix it before then. Today after tossing his cookies, we took a later (shorter) trip and he makes this smacking noise every 10-15 seconds. He also salivates likes crazy when he does this. I am sure that the puke was soon to come because he always drools like crazy before losing it. Any suggestions?

[CorkyMax]

Here is a link that might give some help:
Dog Car Sickness and Motion Sickness: Causes and Treatment

My married daughter's pup gets car sick also. I had warned her against at least one of the vet prescribed meds--Wish I could remember what it was--I had gotten a postcard from my vet on it. I am leary of all meds to start with so I always look them up to see all the side effects/dangers that go with them. Well this particular med was very dangerous---surely would not give it for such a non-life threatning disorder (same way I would not give the poison PROIN for incontinence)!!!

What I am trying to say here---Be sure and look up all the dangerous side effects of any med you may look into---And I hope you don't use any at all.--But be smart and check things out 1st!! The link I gave you above I found by putting--dogs/car sickness in my browser. You will find many more sites if you also do that---It is late and I haven't the time right now--but if you want to check out more--I know there are other sites as I saw the list. And put the name of the meds you may find mentioned in these sites in your browser along with dogs/(name of med). I brought up the site above for 'natural' solutions and would prefer you not even see any meds mentioned!

[cigwyllt]

My husband's old dog suffered terrible car sickness at first - we had a 7 mile drive home when we bought him. So we started to take him out on short trips twice a day. At first he was very rough but he went from being sick to drooling to licking his lips in a fortnight or so and within a month he was absolutely fine.

I'm in the UK so meds and things are different here but I don't know if there is a magic cure that will stop him vomiting - the safest thing to do is to desensitise him slowly so that he accepts the travel without any problems.

My dog is three had has vomited on every journey, no matter how short - until one day last week when we were going out for the day. He climbed over onto the passenger seat and I held him on my knee. He wasn't "happy" but he didn't vomit. On the return journey I just kept him with me and he was fine.

[Todd]

Don't feed the treats. Don't want a full stomach. Here are some natural remedies I found online...

"Natural methods. Many dogs can be trained out of their motion sickness simply by taking them on several short trips that have a happy conclusion (i.e., not a trip to the veterinarian). Moderate exercise 30 minutes or so before departure will help them relax. Keeping them occupied while traveling may be helpful – have a play toy they can chew on and let them watch out the window if possible. On longer trips, provide a place where they can curl up and sleep. Finally, let them grow up – many puppies outgrow their tendencies toward motion sickness.

We are dealing with three primary areas that may affect the animal prone to motion sickness: fear and anxiety, stomach upset, and an upset sense of balance due to perceptual differences between the inner ear, eyes, and body position. There are several natural methods that have been shown to benefit all these.

Flower essences (Bach Flowers). Flower essences especially good for easing tensions that occur during travel include:

• Aspen (an original Bach Flower) – for unknown fear or terror, especially for the nervous animal.

• Mimulus (an original Bach Flower) – for nervous animals.

• Dill (Flower Essence Society) – for the overwhelmed or confused dog, such as during travel or an upset in his normal schedule.

• Rescue Remedy (an original Bach Flower) – a five-flower combination for any time there is extreme emotional or physical stress.

Herbal remedies. There are several herbs that have been used for upset stomach and for motion sickness particularly, but the best known and perhaps most effective is ginger, Zingiber officinale. Ginger has a long history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine. Research has shown it to be effective in relieving symptoms of nausea, vomiting, indigestion, flatulence, and dizziness. Ginger works mainly in the digestive tract, where it boosts digestive fluids and neutralizes acids.

Other herbs that help to calm the stomach include peppermint (Mentha piperita), chamomile (Anthemis nobile or Matricaria chamomilla), horehound (Ballota nigra), and the Chinese herb Pingandan, a mixture of several herbs.

Herbal remedies offer a mild, short-acting sedative action, and the ones mentioned here are calming to the stomach or specifically anti-emetic. Many herbs, however, are not pleasing to a dog’s palate. You can use capsules or non-alcoholic tinctures or pour a mild tea over your dog’s favorite treats. For dosage amounts for capsules and tinctures, follow the label directions and adapt them for the weight of the dog versus a normal human’s weight (usually considered to be 120 to 150 pounds).

The oils of several plants (including basil, ginger, chamomile, and peppermint) have been shown to relieve nausea when they are included in a mild tea. The oils can also be used as an aromatherapy application in which they can be dispensed throughout the car during travel. Simply put a few drops on a piece of cotton and place the cotton on the dashboard, or use a dispenser that hangs from the rear-view mirror. You can also make an anti-nausea massage by mixing eight drops of chamomile and four drops of ginger into one ounce of vegetable oil and rub it on your dog’s belly.

Homeopathic remedies. These include the following:
• Cocculus – the primary homeopathic treatment for motion sickness, especially if nausea and dizziness are present. Cocculus is indicated when the symptoms worsen in fresh air and from the smell of food.

• Nux vomica – a potent remedy for stomach upsets and indicated for motion sickness accompanied by nausea. It is especially good for the dog that is sensitive to noises and odors.

• Kalium phosphate – used to treat anxiety and stress and often referred to as a natural tranquilizer. It is especially good for treating a nervous stomach.

• Petroleum – indicated for dizziness and nausea that occur when riding in a car or boat. This remedy is most appropriate for individuals who feel faint and for those who salivate or sweat excessively.

• Tabacum – a remedy for motion sickness with severe nausea and vomiting where the symptoms are aggravated by tobacco smoke but open air or vomiting bring relief.
I would give a 30c dose of the remedy I’d chosen from the list above, several hours before travel, and then repeat it every few hours if indicated – for a total of three to five doses.

Traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture and Eastern herbs) has a long history of alleviating the signs of motion sickness.

A large body of clinical evidence supports the effectiveness of acupuncture for suppressing nausea associated with motion sickness, chemotherapy, the postoperative state, and pregnancy, as well as for treating several other conditions. Acupressure has also been used for the same conditions, although scientific evidence proving its efficacy is not as great as that for acupuncture.

Massage. A good massage shortly before or during the trip seems to be helpful for some individuals. A whole-body massage relieves tension and can activate local acupuncture points that calm the gastrointestinal tract. Be sure to include the following areas: above and medial to the dog’s wrist, the area below and lateral to the knee and along the spine and the belly (which will include most of the major points for activating organ systems)."

[bacon1]

There are several reason why dogs get car sick. Here are a few effective remedies you could try with your dog. Refrain from feeding and give water to your dog at least an hour before the trip. This could minimize the possibility of the dog vomiting or salivating in the car for other great remedies for dog car sickness.

[Lunareclipse]

Mr. Sweaters gets carsick if we take him on a trip of more than a 1/2 hour. No food or treats before the trip helps. It also helps if he's on my lap. (Not sure how big your dog is.)