Dog motion sickness

While at the lake I got into my truck with her and she began drooling before I even started the engine. We sat in the truck for several minutes and she drooled continuously until got her out. This was not motion sickness. The vet gave us Trazadone to try next. If this doesn't work it will be benedril, next.

Benadryl is your friend. 1/2 a pill for anything under 20 pounds. 1 full pill up to 60 and anything over 1.5 pills.

Its usually anxiety, not the motion, that makes dogs sick in a vehicle. So settling their nerves is the wisest approach.

Ive been around dogs my entire life, coming from a family of obedience trainers. We had a dog some years ago that would literally hyperventilate during 4th of July and thunderstorms. My wife and I aren't ones for pushing pharmaceuticals so we used benadryl. Works like a charm.

My Moose-dog is a nervous rider. When he was a puppy, he'd get carsick on a slightly windy or hilly road. I found in the SUV, he had the least problems if he laid down in the back. It allowed him to see outside, but by laying down, he reduced the wobbly feeling. Standing up was the worst thing for him (he's a tall thin boy and doesn't have a solid center of gravity when standing). I made sure to always take turns and hills slowly so that he wouldn't feel those sensations, and kept him laying down as much as possible. That helped a lot.

When I got the clipper, he got real nervous when I started it up. On the road, he felt so much more movement in the RV than in the SUV and it was much louder. I did short trips with him and watched to see where he had the least response to the movements and noise. When he laid down on the couch, he was the least agitated. He could see me, see out the windows, and felt the least amount of movement. Now, 3+ years later, he loves going in the clipper. He still has some stress if we go over the rumble bumps, etc. - when that happens, he will get up and come stand by my driver seat and lean against me for a few minutes while I pet him; then I tell him to go back and lay down and he hops back on the couch and relaxes. For him, I have found that not letting myself get upset with him helps the most. If I'm calm and relaxed, then he realizes he can be too.

His sister is short and squat and has an iron-clad stomach and never reacts to anything other than seeing people on her street (yes, if she's on it, it's HER street).

We don't smoke and we don't chew and we don't go with the girls that do.

Are either of you smoker's?

She made the entire trip lying in the back seat with my wife and pretty much unable to see anything outside. She began severe drooling before I even started the engine but managed about an hour, until we got on some rough and curvy, country roads. We made it to within about three miles of our destination. Dogs react to an upset stomach almost like a human. Throwing up is accompanied by drooling and slobbering.

The interesting thing was that the Travel Calm didn't seem to have an effect. The when she lost it we found out why. The chopped up pill and the chunk of cheese we had melted it into still in one chunk. That was a good three hours after we gave it to her.

I have seen a lot of products recommended here and appreciate everyone, but for now it seems that getting the medicine digested into her system is job one.

Having tried all these suggestions, I wonder if there is a different way to go. When I was a child I had motion sickness something terrible. Folks finally figured out it was the view of scenery flying by that tripped the "URP" button in my head. They had me travel lying on the back seat so as to not have that visual stimulation and it worked. Have you tried having the dog in a soft crate with a towel or blanket over it so she can't see any movement? It's worth a try.

Tried "Travel Calm" yesterday on a 75 mile trip. Lerge pill for a small dog. Wrapped it in a piece of melted cheese and gave it to her about 90 minutes before leaving. Almost made the destination but hit a section of bumpy road and she lost it. Found the cheese, almost completely intact, after 3 hours, with the crunched up pill inside.

Since she loves oatmeal, I plan to crush the pill completely in a little of that, for the return trip and see if she can digest it.

Our vet told us to use benedril. We give Pickles a 1/2 pill about a hour before we travel. Seams to help a lot.

Although she is starting to get use to traveling. We make sure she does not eat in morning that we travel.

Interesting, Deb. You make a good point that we never know what connections they are making in that little pea brain of theirs. We can't explain as we would to a two legged kid. Good idea to try to see the problem the way the dog does. Poquita was so rock solid she spoiled us for the next two little girls.
Thanks for the feedback.