How to Avoid a Dog Puking in a Car
by Amy M. Armstrong
Ask your veterinarian's advice when planning a car trip with your pup.
Dean Golja/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Nothing spoils the joy a road trip like having one of your travel companions puke in the vehicle. It's bad when the upchucking victim is a child; it could be as bad or worse when it's your canine. Unlike a child, who can possibly project into an open bag, your dog's vomit is bound to spread across the seat, the floor and your kids.
Limit Food and Water
If pooch's tummy is empty, he won't have anything to upchuck. Don't feed him for two to three hours prior to the vehicle trip. Withhold water for an hour prior.
Take Breaks
Your canine companion likes to get out of the car and stretch his legs, too. Let pup complete his bathroom business first; then play for 5 to 10 minutes before hitting the road again. The result: a calmer, less nauseated travel companion.
Vehicle Environment
Make the vehicle's interior a dog-friendly place. Veterinary Centers of America recommends playing soft music in a cool interior and a blanket from home with your scent. Crack open a window for fresh air.
Pharmaceutical Help
Veterinarians prescribe medications to reduce nausea or cause drowsiness during trips. Cerenia; dimenhydrinate, marketed under the product names Dramamine or Gravol; and meclizine, marketed as Antivert, Bonine, or Dramamine II, are all approved for canine use to reduce nausea. For most dogs, Dramamine also causes sleepiness. Alprazolam, marketed as Xanax, is allowed for dogs with anxiety. Follow veterinarian instructions when giving your pup the medication.
References
- WebMD: Healthy Dogs: Dogs and Motion Sickness
- Vetinfo: Car Sickness in Dogs
- Cesar's Way: Dog Behavior: Carsick and Vomiting Dog Problem
- Dogtime: Dog car Sickness
- Vetinfo: Car Sick dog Remedies
- Vetinfo: Car Sickness
- Veterinary Partner: Carsick Puppies
- Veterinary Centers of America Animal Hospitals: Motion Sickness in Dogsstorie
Photo Credits
- Dean Golja/Digital Vision/Getty Images
About the Author
Amy M. Armstrong is a former community news journalist with more than 15 years of experience writing features and covering school districts. She has received more than 40 awards for excellence in journalism and photography. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Washington State University. Armstrong grew up on a dairy farm in western Washington and wrote agricultural news while in college.