8 Car Sickness Cures for Dogs

There are many puppies and older dogs that suffer from nausea and vomiting when they travel in the car.  At the beginning the symptoms are most probably caused by the irregular motion in the car.  This can disturb the organ balance in the inner ear.  You also have to factor in the anxiety issue.  The problem gets even worse when they begin to associate a ride in the car with frightening circumstances.  A vicious cycle can be established that leads to high levels of anxiety and physical effects such as vomiting and even diarrhea.  If this is the case with your dog or a dog you know, there is help.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Play a cd that promotes calm.  I highly recommend the cd series entitled The Most Relaxing Classical... at
   http://bit.ly/cR4wCd
   They can be ordered at http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.amazon.ca/
2. Take your dog for short car rides that result with a walk in the park or a trip to the dog park.  By doing this, they will associate the ride with a reward.
3. If your dog is only mildly stressed, you can use food rewards provided that they aren't so anxious that they may vomit.

4. Avoid smoking in the car.  This can make them very nauseated as their noses are even more sensitive than ours.
5. Keep a window down for fresh air, even in winter.  Just a crack so that fresh air can circulate.
6. Never let your dog ride with his head hanging out the window.  Although they love to do this it is highly unsafe and you risk injury to their head and possible eye damage.
7. Position your dog with a dog harness such as Pet Buckle http://www.immioutdoors.com/petbuckle/  which will allow for stability and less movement which can result in motion sickness.
8. Before the ride, dispense 3-4 drops of Bach Flower Rescue Remedy.  This will help to promote calmness in your pet.  For more information about Bach Flower Remedies see http://bit.ly/9od84t

One final note, please always remember to NEVER leave your dog confined in your car on a warm or hot day.  Dog body temperatures run higher than ours and they heat up very very quickly.  Also, the temperature in a stationary car can rise dramatically in a very short period of time.

Finally, as with any of my posts, I always stress to use your best judgement and if you have any doubts, ask a professional.