Car sickness is a common issue for dogs, especially those that have been in the car for long periods of time or travel frequently. It can be an uncomfortable experience for your dog, and it’s important to know how to treat it. Fortunately, there are many options available that can help relieve your dog’s symptoms so you and your pup can enjoy your next road trip together.
Car sickness is a common problem for dogs, especially in the back seat of a vehicle. Nausea, vomiting, and discomfort that dogs experience when traveling in a car can be very stressful for them and their owners. Dog owners often struggle to find the best way to help their dogs cope with this motion sickness.
The best way to prevent motion sickness in your dog is to get them used to ride in the car before you start taking long trips. You can do this by taking short rides around town with your dog on a regular basis, gradually increasing the distance and duration of each ride. You can also give your dog something tasty like chicken or cheese to chew on while riding in the car which may help distract him from feeling sick.
If your dog begins to show signs of motion sickness while traveling in the car, try giving him one tablet of Dramamine® in Tablets or 1ml of Gravol® Liqui-Gel® for Dogs every eight hours until symptoms subside. Do not give more than three doses within 24 hours.
What is The Meaning of Car Sickness
Car sickness is a condition that affects dogs and is caused by motion sickness. It can occur when your dog is in a car, on a boat, or even on an airplane. The symptoms are similar to those experienced by humans: nausea, vomiting, and sometimes diarrhea. This can be very distressing for both you and your dog so it’s important to find out if there’s anything you can do to alleviate the problem.
Causes of Car Sickness In Dogs
There are many causes of car sickness in dogs. The most common include:
- Motion sickness
- Environmental factors, such as lighting, noise, and air quality
- Dietary sensitivities or allergies
- Stress
- Medication that your dog may be taking to treat other conditions (like antibiotics)
However, there are also other potential causes of canine car sickness that you should be aware of. These include dental disease (which can cause pain), fear and anxiety, fatigue, illness, and lack of exercise. If you suspect that your pooch is experiencing car sickness because he has been overdoing it on road trips lately or has recently developed a case of anxiety around driving with you then try taking him for regular walks before hitting the highway again.
How Car Sickness Affects Dogs
You may be wondering how car sickness affects dogs. It’s a condition that can occur when your dog is in a moving vehicle, and it’s caused by varying factors.
The first reason that dogs get car sick is that they have trouble balancing in the vehicle. Dogs use their nose to balance while walking, so when they’re on four legs instead of two, they might struggle to maintain proper equilibrium.
Another reason that dogs get car sick is because of the motion of the vehicle itself. As you take turns or go over bumps in the road, your dog will feel like he’s spinning around inside a washing machine, a sensation he probably won’t enjoy.
The third possible explanation for why dogs get motion sickness is because of smells and sights inside your vehicle: If you’ve ever been in an old school bus from which no one has cleaned out old fast food wrappers or other trash, then maybe this makes sense to you. Or maybe not, but either way, we hope you’ll remember our advice about keeping things clean after this trip (and every other one)
How To Prevent Car Sickness
- Take your dog for a walk before you leave. This will help to keep their stomachs settled, and less likely to cause any problems on the trip.
- Avoid feeding your dog right before you leave. This is especially important if they’ve already eaten recently, as food can easily cause digestive issues that could make them feel sick while traveling. Feeding them something bland like cottage cheese may be helpful in this situation as well.
- Try to avoid feeding your dog right before leaving if possible, or only give them small amounts of bland foods (like cottage cheese) so that their digestive system doesn’t have too much work to do at once.
Common Examples of Car Sickness Medications
Car sickness medications come in a variety of forms: pills, chewable, gummies, and liquid suspensions. Some can be purchased over the counter at your local pharmacy or grocery store while others are prescription-only.
The most common over-the-counter options that you may find include Dramamine for Dogs, Cerenia, and Meclizine.
Dramamine for Dogs
Dramamine for Dogs, also known as DOGpram and DOG-P, is used to treat motion sickness in dogs. It comes in both a liquid or tablet form and can be purchased over the counter at most pet stores. Both forms of Dramamine are safe for dogs, but they work differently. The liquid version (DOG-P) is a sedative while the tablet version (DOGpram) helps reduce nausea. The liquid form of Dramamine takes effect more quickly than its pill counterpart, so if your dog has severe symptoms of car sickness that need immediate relief, opt for the liquid version instead of opting for the pill form.
Dramamine should not be confused with tranquilizers or sedatives because it does not cause drowsiness as those drugs do; rather, it helps relieve nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness while allowing them to remain alert and alert throughout their trip
Meclizine for Dogs
Meclizine is the most common drug used for car sickness, but it’s not without side effects. Meclizine is an antihistamine and sedative. It works by blocking histamines in the body that would otherwise cause symptoms like sneezing and watery eyes. Since dogs don’t have as many histamines as humans do, meclizine won’t work as well on them.
Meclizine is also a prescription medication, which can be difficult to find at your local pet store or pharmacy. You’ll likely have to visit your vet or call around until you find someone who sells it, or order it online if none of those options are available in your area (which they might not be).
Cerenia for Dogs
Cerenia is a prescription medication. It works by lowering the amount of acid produced in your dog’s stomach, reducing the discomfort and nausea that causes them to vomit. This drug is only to be used in dogs that are over 6 weeks old and weighing at least 3 lbs. It’s important to note that Cerenia does not work for all dogs, so it may not help your pup if he/she suffers from car sickness due to other reasons (e.g., motion sickness).
How To Apply Car Sickness Medications
For the most part, car sickness medication for dogs is easy to apply. The instructions are usually simple and straightforward, making it easy for you to administer the medication as directed.
However, there are some important things to remember when giving your dog car sickness medication:
- Only use the medication as directed. Do not give your dog more than the recommended dose or if he is allergic to it.
- Don’t give your dog pregnant or nursing dogs medications without first consulting a veterinarian.
When To Apply Car Sickness Medications
Before leaving on your trip, apply the medication to the dog’s nose. Use a cotton ball and wipe along the length of your dog’s muzzle in an upward motion. Repeat this process for each nostril until you have covered them both completely with medication. Make sure that there is no excess medication left on the cotton ball when you are finished because it could be difficult for your dog to breathe if this happens, which could make them sick even more quickly than they would be otherwise.
If you are already driving or traveling and notice that your dog seems sick, take some immediate action by stopping as soon as possible and applying a new dose of car sickness medication while still in motion if possible (if not actualizing this is still helpful).
If it has been hours since either application but you have noticed no improvement or worsening of symptoms after applying any medication at all, consider seeking medical attention immediately.
Treating your dog’s car sickness is easier than you think.
If your dog is prone to car sickness, you’re in luck. There are many ways you can treat and prevent car sickness in dogs. The first step is determining the cause of your pup’s issues so that you can find a solution that works for them. If your dog has suffered from motion sickness or dizziness before, it might be helpful to use pet medications like Benadryl or Gravol that can help alleviate symptoms related to motion sickness. If the problem stems from anxiety, then there are other solutions available such as calming supplements or anxiety wraps which contain natural ingredients like lavender oil to calm your pup down while they travel with you next time.
In Conclusion
There are many different types of car sickness medicines for dogs. The most common type is meclizine, which can be bought over-the-counter at any pharmacy or pet store. If your dog has severe symptoms, you may want to consult your veterinarian about other available options such as Cerenia or pregabalin (Lyrica).