Healthy Dogs

Dogs and Motion Sickness

Treatment for Dog Motion Sickness continued...

One trick used on the show circuit to prevent dog motion sickness is to limit your dog’s food consumption prior to travel. Then, right before the trip, give your dog a small piece of sugary candy (like a jellybean), which seems to reduce sensations of nausea. Never give your dog chocolate candy, however, because it is toxic to dogs.

If your dog has learned to associate riding in the car with feeling stressed and nauseated, there are a variety of conditioning techniques you can try to lessen this connection. These include:

• Taking a break from car trips for a week or two
• Changing vehicles to avoid association with past unpleasant experiences=.
• Taking short car trips to places your dog enjoys, like the park
• Gradually building your dog’s tolerance to car trips; start by getting your dog used to approaching the car, then spend some time in the car with the engine off. When your dog is ready, take short trips (around the block, for example) to build tolerance before progressing to longer car rides.
• Using treats to make the car a fun place for your dog (but be careful you don’t give too many and make your dog nauseated)
• Buying special toys that your dog enjoys and only has access to in the car

Dog Motion Sickness Medications

Dogs that don’t outgrow motion sickness and don’t respond to conditioning may benefit from the use of medication. There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications that may quell your dog’s motion sickness symptoms.

These include:

• Anti-nausea drugs
• Antihistamines, which can lessen dog motion sickness, reduce drooling, and offer sedation
• Phenothiazine and related drugs, which reduce vomiting and provide sedation

Be sure to consult with your veterinarian before purchasing any over-the-counter treatment for dog motion sickness.