Dealing with Carsick Canines

Dealing with Carsick Canines

               Summer travel plans often include road trips and many people take their dogs along for the ride. But, if your dog suffers from motion sickness, a car ride may not be much fun for him or for you if you have to clean up the mess!  As many as one in five dogs are prone to motion sickness, and, while we mostly think about dogs getting sick while riding in cars, any form of transportation (planes, boats, etc.) can cause a dog to feel the effects of motion sickness.  Cats can be prone to motion sickness as well so these tips also apply to our feline friends.

               What causes that queasy feeling pets get when riding in cars?  Motion sickness is thought to be caused by conflicting signals from the eyes, inner ear and other motion sensors in the body and brain, especially the vestibular center that controls balance.  Anxiety can contribute as well. Symptoms can include panting, drooling, pacing or restlessness, and, of course, the dreaded vomiting.

               There are some things that may prevent or reduce the chance of your dog or cat getting car sick. 

• Use a seatbelt or crate to prevent unnecessary movement while in the car. 
• Don’t feed your pet a full meal before traveling—offer only a small amount of food or a few treats a few hours before the trip.
• Open windows if possible-fresh air can help reduce motion sickness.
• Acclimate your dog to car rides by taking her on short rides, gradually increasing the length of the trips.  This works best for getting puppies used to car rides, but may help older dogs as well.
• Resort to drugs.  No one, I repeat, no one likes to clean dog vomit out of car seats.  If your dog has not outgrown getting carsick or has severe nausea in the car, there are medications that can help.  The prescription drug, Cerenia (maropitant) is one of the most effective drugs in treating canine motion sickness—it’s effective about 93% of the time.  Cerenia works by blocking a neurotransmitter called substance P which is involved in causing vomiting.  By blocking substance P from binding to a cell receptor, Cerenia prevents vomiting.  Cerenia lasts for about 24 hours, so you can dose it the night before a long car ride or up to 2 hours before a trip.  Other over the counter motion sickness drugs are also sometimes effective but less so than Cerenia, and Cerenia does not typically cause sedation or drowsiness.  Ask your vet if Cerenia is right for your dog, for proper dosing of other drugs or for medication options for cats.

If your dog loves hiking, playing at area dog parks, visiting relatives or doing whatever you and your dog enjoy that involves a car ride, there is help out there for those dogs who get carsick.  Don’t let motion sickness hold you and your pet back from having a fun summer!

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://www.cerenia.com/dog-car-sickness.aspx