Car Sickness

SophieMonsterSophieMonster
edited March 2009 in Food, Nutrition, & Health
So, I searched to see if anyone had already had a thread on this and didn't find anything. The very first day we picked up our shiba, Sophie she didn't mind the car ride, it was in an Excursion, so very large and spacious inside. But after that day, anytime we take her in a car whether it is small or big she gets nervous and has even thrown up a few times. So instead of riding in the front seat, I will sit in the back with her so she can be in my lap, and this is one of the few times she will sit still for something like that. If she looks out the window and sees other cars go by, she will panic so I try to keep her from looking out the window. Although sometimes the fresh air helps if we roll the window down. Do any of you have this problem? Is there any good methods to help her feel more calm in the car. I know the vet has meds that help with carsickness but I heard it would make her drowsy and I don't want to be drug her up cause often we are driving to dog parks now and I want her to be able to have fun and not sleep while everyone else is playing. Oh and I thought about bringing like a favorite toy but to be honest she doesn't really have a favorite toy. She prefers bones but usually ignores those in a car ride.

Comments

  • sunyatasunyata
    edited November -1
    How old is Sophie? I have heard that carsickness can go away as they get older, but I am not sure if that is true or not. I personally have never dealt with that, as both my pups are fine in the car. However, one of the dogs in Nola's puppy class got carsick, but by the end of the class, her owner had gradually increased the amount of car rides they took and she was then fine.

    Maybe someone else has more experience than me, though and can help more!

    Good luck!
  • JessicaRabbitJessicaRabbit
    edited November -1
    My shikoku Miko goes through the same thing. She is so fearful of the car that she gets herself all worked up and has not only vomited but also pooped in the car. Super super gross.

    What I have been doing, which SEEMS to be helping is, daily I work on taking her close to the car just before she gets scared and start giving her treats. So she starts equating happy things with being near the car. I also make a point of even when we go to the vet, to take her somewhere very fun too. So that the car ride always equals good things.

    Her last two car rides, she DIDN'T puke or poop!!!

    One day she will love the car damn it!!!

    Good luck,
  • NekopanNekopan
    edited November -1
    Our mini dachshund started out with very bad carsickness. She'd vomit several times when we were driving, so we always kept a bunch of towels handy. My advice for you and Sophie is to have someone she is comfortable with hold her on their lap. If you're worried about vomit, put a towel on your lap. With frequent car trips our pup outgrew it, and riding in the car became her favourite thing. Hopefully the same will happen with Sophie!
  • SophieMonsterSophieMonster
    edited November -1
    Thanks so much for the advice. Sophie is about five months old, so maybe part of it she will grow out of when she gets older. But I will also try what you said Jessica and see if giving her extra treats near and in the car will help. I will keep her on my lap for the time being. We usually use plastic bags to try and catch any fluids but I hope one day she will get better with it because we really like to drive places; dog parks, the beach, my boyfriend's parents house, etc.
  • Darwin67Darwin67
    edited November -1
    Cody started out w/ car sickness as well. He was always in a crate on the passenger seat when we drove anywhere. If I was going to a friends or to the park, I would feed/water him once we got to our destination (kept him w/ an empty belly for the drive). He did learn that cars mean good things (parks, treats, hikes, camping, beach, etc.) and so he LOVED the car and once he got over the puppy car sickness (a couple of weeks) he was good to go and I no longer needed to crate him in the car.
  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    Sake is nervous about car rides, doesn't get sick, just doensn't want to get in the car and kinda freaks out a bit while inside. She is doing MUCH better now at 7 months old. I think Sophie will grow out of it too.
  • SophieMonsterSophieMonster
    edited November -1
    Yea, we try our best not to give her any food if we know ahead of time that we are going on a ride. That has helped too. But I hope she grows out of it too, because she looks so sad when i put her harness on. She will crouch in a corner and her tail uncurls. :-( But once she gets to our destinations she has a blast, so I hope she will start making the connection.
  • lingmortonlingmorton
    edited November -1
    we have the same prob with sachi, she gets insanely nervous when she gets in th car, she wld drool and be completely soaked, throw up and whine.
    each car ride was a nightmare to her!
    but shes been doing a little better, with me riding in the backseat with her. like mentioned by the rest,
    what i do is to hold her, and keep talking to her to reassure her, and give her tiny bits of treats(to associate car rides with good things)
    fresh air helps.
    the 1st time we went for a slightly longer drive (abt 40mins), i didnt know of her car sickness, we were on the toll roads and i had a handful/lap-ful of doggie puke to hold for 15mins, cos we had no bags :/
  • primitivedogprimitivedog
    edited November -1
    You will have to associate car with good things. Try even just hanging out in it. Not running. Then with the motor running, then down the road and back, then further... working up to driving somewhere fun- for a walk and back, etc. Sometimes as a youngster the only place they go i to the vet. The ride has to mean something good 90% of the time.
    Nerves-- rescue remedy, dab of lavendar oil rubbed on your palms then in fur around chest & ears might calm. If really sick- might be motion sickness. When sailing with my Shibas, I use a tablet of mesclizine (bonine) non-drowsy Dramamine. I use a thin bit of butter for pill taking- goes down everytime! My dogs also like music, having a snuggly bed or blanket for better footing, or a crate if that's a comfortable thing to your dog. But I'd start with just hanging out in the car as if it was "the place to be". I used to bring a puzzle or a book to read or do my checkbook, etc. to make the time go easier for me- I tend to be antsy... Good luck!
  • primitivedogprimitivedog
    edited November -1
    Oh- also GINGER... a natural gingersnap cookie may help settle the stomach too. Never met a dog who didn't like gingersnaps!
  • SophieMonsterSophieMonster
    edited November -1
    lingmorton, that sounds awful about having the puke in your lap. :-( But thanks for your additional comments! And thanks Rachel! So it is safe to use a tablet of the non-Drawsy dramamine? I actually have some from a cruise we went on a few months ago... we were in the front of the ship so it was def a life saver for me! Can the dogs take the same dosage or do you try and break the pill in half?
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