Alleviating the woes of doggie motion sickness

I found out the hard way one day while transporting a couple dogs to an offsite adoption event that motion sickness in dogs is a very real thing. Not only is it real, it's very common, especially among younger dogs. If you have a dog that suffers from motion sickness, every trip in the car is stressful, even short rides.

Not every dog exhibits the same symptoms, so you may not immediately recognize that your pet is suffering from motion sickness. Common symptoms include whining, listlessness, yawning, drooling, and, most obvious of all, vomiting. If your pet is uneasy traveling in the car, it's definitely possible that motion sickness is to blame.

One of the easiest ways to help your dog with motion sickness is to make car rides more enjoyable. If your dog associates every trip in the car with a visit to the vet, it is likely they are stressing themselves out before the ride even begins and possibly making themselves sick. Try taking your pet for short trips around the block. While it may seem like a lot of work to get your reluctant traveler into the car just for a two minute ride to the end of the road and back, these short trips to nowhere will help your dog learn that every ride in the car does not end with a vet exam. As your pet becomes more comfortable with the short rides close to home, try venturing out a little further to a fun location, such as the local dog park or a place where you can go for a hike. Again, it's important for your dog to recognize that car rides can lead to good things.

While your dog is in the car, you can help relieve their motion sickness in a couple of ways. While pets should never be allowed to roam free in the car for safety reasons, a seat belt or crate can also be helpful when dealing with motion sickness. By keeping your pet stationary and, ideally, facing forward instead of looking out the side windows, you can help relieve some of their motion sickness. Keeping your car cool will also make them feel better. Putting the car window down a little is often enough to help many dogs feel better about travelling.

You can also help distract your pet by offering them special rewards for being in the car. If your pet is not prone to vomiting, try giving them a few treats and lots of praise. Offering them a special toy that is only available to them when in the car can also help your pet calm down and might distract them from any feelings of motion sickness or anxiety in the car.

For some dogs, no amount of training to like the car will help with their motion sickness. For those dogs, the only solution to help them relax in the car may be medication. Talk to your vet about possible medications to help relax or sedate your pet. In the end, helping your dog be more comfortable travelling in the car will lead to a lot of relief for both you and your pet!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, two cats, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.