RE: Car Sick Dog

[PopupSgt]

 
I wanted to pose a question to any fellow campers that take your dog or dogs.  Our Aussie is notorious for getting car sick during the ride anywhere, heck I mean it could be 5 miles & he barfs[: (].  We have tried taking the food away at night, limited supply of water and even asking the vet (which was a waste of time).  
 Has anyone had the problem with car sick dog and possibly a remedy?  Max our aussie weighs about 55 to 60 pds and he s a teddy bear but the kids gross out when he starts hacking [>:].  We are getting ready for the Eastern Rally & that 8 hr drive will be w/ the windows rolled down and cleaning sickness if we don t find something.  Thanks in advance.[]

[abbear]

 PopupSgt
I have used childrens dramamine with ours.  Wrapped it in cheese and she took it right down.  Slept like a (sorry) dog!!! No problems on a 3000 mile trip.

[HersheyGirl]

 PopupSgt
Ginger helps with car sickness, I have used the crystalized ginger with the kids and it did help alot.  See ya at the Ranch.[8D][8D][8D]

[JemJen24]

 PopupSgt
Could be anxieties causing this.  You can ask your vet for a mild sedative for traveling or try some pepto bismol in capsule form.  I tablet should do it.  The anxiety medicine would work well since it would make her drowsy.  Ofcourse, Benadryl works the same. (wink wink)  [8D]

[C. Hains]

 PopupSgt
One caution -- just be very careful on the dosage when giving to animals medicine meant for humans!  A little goes a long way.

[Acts 2:38 girl]

 PopupSgt
I thought it was some sort of joke when me sisters vet perscribed human cough medicine for her dog!  True enough, there was her name on the label!  
 I ve heard Dramamine is also good for car sick dogs.  Even the kind that says " non-drowsy"  still makes you tired.  This might be good if your dog needs to take bathroom breakes!  (for a long trip)  []

[ForestCreature]

 PopupSgt
You make it five miles!!!  When our dog was younger he diddn t make it 4 blocks.
 Contact your vet and they can prescribe either the proper dosage of dramamine or mild sedative. We used the mild sedative if I recall right. It was just enough to stop the car sickness, but not knock him out. The good news is this lasted about 3 years and then he finally grew out of it.  
 
 Good luck.

[PopupSgt]

 PopupSgt
I can try the vet again but was told by the vet that Max would grow out of it.  Heck he s almost 4 & hasn t grow out of it yet.  Plus the vet said there was nothing that they could give him to stop the car sickness.  I think I ll try the dramamine but don t exactly know how much to give, maybe the suggestion with kids dramamine & weight might work, ideas?

[ForestCreature]

 PopupSgt
Here is a link that may help you.
 http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1454&articleid=1399

[wahoonc]

 PopupSgt
Sounds to me like you need a new vet[&:] Ours told us how much dramamine to give our pup. He did grow out of it after a couple of years[: (] It may be like seasickness it just takes awhile to get over/used to it.[8D]
 
 
 
 Aaron[]

[abbear]

 PopupSgt
I agree.  Sounds like you need at least a second opinion, if not a new vet.  And what you want is nothing less than what parents with car sick kids want, that is the ability to carry on with everyday events without always listening for that " special"  sound[: (].  The critter will feel better for it as well.
 
 Good Luck!

[wssfetch]

 PopupSgt
Dogs are often carsick because of too much visual stimulation.  The scenery going by way to fast for their eyes and brains to register.  This is often the case with herding breeds (like Aussies) that are more sight and movement sensitive to begin with.  If you have your dog ride in a crate in your vehicle, cover the crate while traveling so that he can t look out.  If you don t use a crate, try having him lie down on the seat or floo rather than sitting up.  Dramamine will help too but make sure to have a little something in his tummy when it give it to him and give it about an hour before you leave.
 
 The other thing to check is to make sure that he does not have an ear infection that might be causing an equilibrium problem due to motion.

[Jo Ann]

 PopupSgt
YOu can ask the vet for sedative which is orange small and has the number 43 on it...(forget what it is called) which should help retrain the dog to realize he won t be anxious and throw up every time he gets in the car....it may take a couple of trips, but eventually you won t need it of couse unless  your dog has true motion sickness....does he drool alot first?

[PopupSgt]

 PopupSgt
This has been the best source for helping with our dog, lots of dog lovers here[]
 To answer a few questions that we placed him in a contained kennel with only the entry gate a means for him to see & still el barfo[: (].  We were told the same think about him being able to look around so figured the kennel would solve the issue but naaaa.  Jo Ann to answer your question he drools alot anyway so maybe he does drool before he makes that wonderful & special sound [: (] that makes me try to immediately pull over to the rd.  Then of course special sound of the kids Daddy it stinks back here and were going to get sick[:@].

[Jo Ann]

 PopupSgt
well Sarge, the drooling is probably due to anxiety...our dog didn t like riding in the car...but he didn t drool or vomit UNTIL i took him to the vet to get the kennel cough stuff up his nose, where as he drooled then vomited in the car afteward...that then told his wee brain that it was associated with car rides.  so he has been sedated for car rides a few times...he still doesn t enjoy it but he now doesn t drool or vomit.  but he may start again and then we go back to sedating him a bit for a few rides....