Alternatives to Dramamine?

[Gretta]

I recall reading several posts on carsickness since I’ve found this forum …

I just found this link: http://www.sfgsrescue.org/Articles/CarSick.html that lists some more natural remedies than the old stand-by Dramamine.

Has anyone tried any of these? Were they successful? Any side effects?

We are planning a short trip this weekend and I think I will try giving Gretta some ginger before we leave, but I’d love to hear any input.

Thanks

Cori

(Sorry if the link doesn't work- I'm pretty illiterate when it comes to the web )

[spidey]

Have you been working on desensitising her to the car? Carsickness is something that most dogs grow out of, or can be desensitised to. My sister's dog threw up every time he got in the car for a couple of months, but now he's fine, all it took was for him to grow up a bit, and some desensitisation work (feeding him in the car without the car moving, very short drives to the end of the road and back, that sort of thing).

[Gretta]

Yep, we have been working to desensitize her to the car (picked that up from the other posts on carsickness)- trying to make it a positive experience, giving treats, using the happy voice, just taking short drives to places she loves but she still seems to be quite stressed out by the car… doesn’t usually throw up but she drools buckets and is not her usual happy self. :(

She is only 8 months, so I’m hoping that she will grow out of it, but in the meantime I was wondering if we could help the desensitization process along by giving her something to settle her down. Maybe it would help her to realize that the car isn’t something scary but can actually be fun?

As a child I remember having to give one of our dogs Dramamine to travel, but she would be groggy and doped up all day as a result. That’s why I was interested in these other options- hoping we could find something to help her tolerate the car without the side effects.

Poor girl- Wer're heading up to my mom's this weekend. It's a 2.5~3 hr drive and I just want to make her as comfortable as I can for the trip. :(

Cori

[rottlove]

It's a little-known alternative to Dramamine sold over the counter, and doesn't make you sleepy. The brand name is "Bonine". Might not be good for dogs, though. Definitely ask your vet before giving it to a dog!!!!!!!

Maybe there is a Bach Flower Remedy for motion sickness.

[clastala]

My mothers cat takes bonine. He travels in the motor home with them. It works wonders. The vet suggested it.

[Gretta]

I had called our vet to check into the Bonine option.
It is safe for dogs, but the proper amount would be 8mg per 1kg of weight... that would put Gretta at around 250mg. With 50mg tablets she'd have to take 5 pills
That seems like a lot to me.

I think I'll stick with trying the ginger...

But thanks much for the ideas!

Cori

[rottlove]

That sounds like a lot because the dose for an adult is one pill.

[Gretta]

I just wanted to post an update if anyone was interested~

We took our trip last weekend, and approx. 45 minutes before we hit the road I gave Gretta the ginger. (took apart the capsule and mixed the contents w/ a little plain yogurt and canned pumpkin)

There was a dramatic reduction in her drooling both there and back- it was amazing! No puddles (and only a few rain drops!)

Unfortunately, I did throw a variable into the equation~ I took the truck instead of the subaru~ but she’s always drooled in the truck before so I consider this trip a huge success!!
:)

Now we just need to work on getting her to go in the vehicles willingly... she still needs a lot of treats and 'gentle persuasion' for that one... ;)

Cori

[moondog]

Interesting that the ginger worked.......I have a human daughter who is 32 now and has been subject to carsickness all her life. She doesn't know that ginger helps carsickness (she would have told me if she had discovered that little tidbit), but she has recently developed a love of crystallized ginger. Coincidence? Somehow I don't think so.........:)