Do Dogs Get Carsick?
Most pooches happily wag their tails when it’s time to go for a ride with their owners. Taking a trip is exciting (unless it’s to the vet), but that doesn’t mean your dog won’t still get carsick. In fact, motion sickness in canines may be more common than you think.
Why do dogs get sick in cars?
Understanding what causes carsickness in dogs is important because it can help protect your pooch from dehydration and other health problems. So, realize that the reaction is perfectly natural. It’s actually due to the way your dog’s body developed.
Fun Fact: Motion sickness becomes less common the older a dog gets.
According to veterinary experts, canine carsickness may be caused by the shape of your dog’s inner ear. In cases where the inner ear isn’t fully developed, the animal could experience dizziness and nausea because of an unbalanced equilibrium. However, dogs usually grow out of carsickness by about a year old.
Does carsickness harm dogs?
It’s okay if your canine gets sick in the car when you travel. Aside from it being a mess, it’s relatively harmless to your pet. Alternatively, if the vomiting continues, gets worse, or causes lethargy in your dog, pull over and assess their condition immediately. In rare cases, extreme carsickness can cause a dog to become dangerously dehydrated or seriously ill.
5 treatments for carsickness in dogs
You don’t have to sit there and watch your fur person suffer, nor do you have to leave them at home all the time. There are ways to compromise with nature until a puppy either grows up or adjusts to your driving motions. So no worries. Here are the top 5 vet-approved carsickness treatments for your dog:
- Essential Oils – Put some chamomile, lavender, or peppermint oil on a cotton ball and let it waft through the air in your car.
- Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) – Spray some of this in the air or on the upholstery to keep your pooch calm.
- Nux Vomica – Use this homeopathic carsickness remedy to settle your dog’s belly until you arrive at your destination.
- Benadryl – Give this antihistamine to your pup every 8 hours as needed in the car (plane, train, boat, etc.).
- Dramamine – Provide this strong sedative with some food before a trip if your dog gets queasy easily.
For more information about possible carsickness causes and treatments, talk to your veterinarian.
References
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/motion-sickness-in-dogs
Carsickness in Dogs: What to Know
