Car sickness in dogs is a concern for a number of dog owners. The uncomfortable feeling is not experienced by humans alone – dogs can feel it too!
There are two underlying reasons behind car sickness in dogs: motion sickness that affects a dog’s balance or car-related anxiety that causes the dog to become fearful while traveling in the car.
Veterinarian Megan Manzie says that some dogs lick their lips and drool excessively when they are a little agitated. These are signs of car sickness. Other symptoms may include inactivity, restlessness, and excessive yawning.
There are medications available to improve your dog’s discomfort, but there are a few simple things that you can do to alleviate the problem.
Here are a few tips to lessen or alleviate car sickness in dogs:
- Make sure the car is cool.
- Position your dog to face forward while in the car.
- Avoid putting your dog in the farthest backseat, where there is the most motion.
- Do not feed your dog a few hours before your trip.
- Try reconditioning your dog, as he may have negative associations with riding in cars.
- You can also give your dog ginger snaps or peppermint tea before the car ride.
Happy travels!
