Motion Sickness in Dogs

Dogs commonly get motion sickness while riding in cars. Nausea is usually the cause and excitement adds to the intensity of it. Taking your dog for frequent short car trips tends to get him over the excitement of being in a car and will put him in a calmer frame of mind. Instead of just trips to the vet, the groomer or the kennel, take your pet out to pick up a gallon of milk, the newspaper or on whatever errands you may be running.

For medical remedies, you can try an over-the-counter anti-motion sickness pill used by humans, such as dimenhydrinate. This should be given to your dog by mouth one hour prior to departure, and the dose depends on your pet's weight. Ask your veterinarian how much to give. Your vet can supply stronger medications, such as acepromazine which has the additional effect of sedation. I would only recommend this for long trips and it should not be given two days in a row.

For natural remedies, try peppermint tea or bach flower remedy. Peppermint tea is available in capsules and the bach flower remedy is given via dropper. Both are given orally every two hours to combat excitement and subsequent nausea, and both are available in health food stores.

It also may be helpful to encourage your pet to lay down on the floor of the vehicle or to keep them in a well-ventilated travel crate if they are small enough.

It is best to keep your pet on an empty stomach while traveling, so withhold food about six hours prior to your trip. Water, however, should always be available before and during your trip. On long trips it's a good idea to pack a water bottle and bowl. You can feed your pet once you get to your destination.

Other tips for travel:

• Make sure your pet has an ID tag with a number of someone who will be home while you're traveling.

• Never leave a pet in a sealed car on a hot day. The car can turn into an oven in under ten minutes and send your pet into heat exhaustion.

• Never let your dog stick her head out the car window. She could easily develop conjunctivitis or an outer ear infection from the irritation created by the outside air. That's why we have windshields.

Dr. Peter Kross, DVM, has had his own veterinary practice, the Rivergate Veterinary Clinic in New York City, since 1989. He lives in Manhattan with his three white boxers, Buchanan, Wilhelmina and Laila.