Car Sickness

[tvanderwall]

Wyatt my 7 month old boy, is having problems traveling

He is very well behaved in the car well actually it's a truck, he lays down almost the entire time.

Every wekend we go to our camp site for a weekend of fun and of course he goes with us, it is a 50 minute ride, he can make it for about 40 minutes then he gets sick.

Is this someting that he will just out grow or is this something that can be trained on or just what is the best solution other than not taking him, thats not an option.

Thanks

[MonteRiehl]

I had the same problem with our S'Dragon between 7-9 months old. S'Dragon got wobbly and woozy as soon as the car start moving. AND THE DROOL/SLIME, ACK!
We gave him a small dose (1 tsp) of children's gravol 1/2 hour before going on trips. It helped, and he doesn't YAK in the jeep, but he's never really excited by car rides anymore.

We did take him everywhere when he was a puppy, including boat rides! This started about 1 1/2 months ago. We were so proud of what a good "traveler" he was. Then he started getting motion sick.

I chatted about this with our vet, and she thinks that dogs go through growth spurts, and the development of the inner ear canals (balance) is slightly out of wack with actual size from time to time. The big dogs who are still growing, and have these symptoms, are also often noticed to be going through a "clumsy" phase. She says they typicallly grow out of it. It's true for us. He's definately gone thru his "oaf" stages.

My Vet's explanation makes sense in my brain, but I'm not an expert, and I don't think it's from a study, just some hands on experience.

Hope that your dog(s) grow out of this! The gravol and dramamine definately do help!

[2rotties2luv]

My rottie Jazz always got carsick as a puppy. Sometimes he would throw up, other times he would drool and look miserable. He outgrew it at some point, but I honestly can't remember how old he was - maybe a year or so. He finally stopped lying down on the seat and learned to look out the window while riding and I think that helped. He is 10 years old and still rides sitting up - if he wants to sleep, he drapes his chin over the back of the seat and just leans.....

[pdelaney40]

my pup gets sick too! she is 5& 1/2 mos old..i was looking for this topic just yesterday
seen some from last year... mine can go about 45 min...gets sick even without food and (lots) of water before we leave..my family lives an hour away..along with our vet..
she does a little better in her crate..but she's getting to big for it!..and only use when we are in the car! ( blazer) all windows open..she gets air...but still....pukes!
i'm hopeing like you that she out grows....(sooner than later)....
I really love this site!..lots of information..and suggestions...thanks guys!!!!

[tvanderwall]

Thanks guys, I will definately try the gravol and dramamine to see if that works, I feel terrible for him during the ride he looks miserable. But the end result which is the fun at the camp he absolutely loves. I hope he out grows it.

[Judi W]

I've never had a dog that got car sick but from your description, why don't you simply schedule a short stop at 30 minutes? Take the dog out and for a short walk-around, then continue on your way? I would rather see you do that than to use drugs unnecessarily.

[tvanderwall]

Originally Posted by Judi W

I've never had a dog that got car sick but from your description, why don't you simply schedule a short stop at 30 minutes? Take the dog out and for a short walk-around, then continue on your way? I would rather see you do that than to use drugs unnecessarily.

Judy we have done exactlly that on the last two trips and that didn't work either, we took about a 10 to 15 min break after a 35 minute ride, got back on the road and within 10 minutes he got sick. Now we are also trying the no food until we get there, the weird part is he never gets sick on the way home only on the way there??????????

[Judi W]

well, then stumps me!

[JaniceH]

Teazle was the same. She eventually got used to the car because I drove her to work every day which was only a 20 min ride. I gave her a homeopathic remedy which seemed to work and weaned her off it after a couple of months. However, now she is at home and doesn't use the car every day, she was back to being sick. I don't give her anything now because I want her to combat it naturally. However, if we are going out first thing in the morning, then I do make sure she has just a very little of her breakfast in her belly as I think it helps settle the stomach, and I give her the rest when we arrive at our destination. She seems to be doing better on this regime and she hasn't been sick on the last three occasions.

But, same as your rott, she was/is never sick on the return journey.