How Can Carsickness In A Dog Be Treated?

With behavioral modification and occasionally medication.
Dogs may get carsick for two reasons: motion sickness and car-related anxiety. Motion sickness occurs when the moving vehicle causes excessive and continuous stimulation of the vestibular (balancing) system of the inner ear, which transmits signals to the flocculonodular lobe (part of the cerebellum) of the brain. This stimulation in turn activates the vomiting center of the dog’s brain. Anxiety-induced carsickness is caused when the affected dog becomes fearful of some aspect of travelling in a car. Many veterinarians believe that carsickness in animals is more often due to anxiety (nervous or anxious behavior) than to the motion of the vehicle. This is the opposite circumstance to that of humans; most carsickness in people results from vehicular motion rather than anxiety. Although Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) or Antivert (meclizine) can be used safely in dogs, these drugs may not be effective in preventing anxiety-induced carsickness. Most cases of carsick dogs can be resolved using behavioral modification techniques. Ideally efforts to “desensitize” dogs to car travel-related sickness should begin when they are puppies. Taking a puppy on numerous car trips of short duration may help. Generally the puppy should not have eaten within an hour or two of the trip at first. As travel anxiety abates, this restriction may be relaxed. Gradually, longer trips can be added until the dog is relatively free of car travel-related anxiety. I recommend that you discuss options for decreasing carsickness with your veterinarian. He or she will know your pet’s temperament best and be able to make an appropriate recommendation. Your veterinarian may prescribe a mild sedative and recommend additional conditioning techniques. The doctor will also examine your dog to make certain that there are no physical ailments, such as an inner ear problem, neurological disorder, metabolic disease, or toxin exposure, contributing to your dog’s symptoms. You may wish to read our magazine article titled, “Tips for Traveling with Your Pet.” You can find this by searching the magazine section of VetCentric.com.