Car Sick pets?

mom2bichons · #1 07-26-2006, 09:12 AM

Does anyone else have pets (who travel with them of any kind) who get car sick?

Dexter does something awful. Our vet suggested a quarter of a tablet of Dramamine. He is relaxed not groggy and he still is alert but not whinning because his poor tummy is upset. He gets extra thirsty from it though, therefore I always carry extra water bottles.

I feel bad for the little guy, he gets so excited because he wants to go so bad, but he gets sick and then it is no fun for him. This way he gets the best of both worlds. He doesn't even try to sleep he loves to watch out the window, and annoying his sister Gidget, who also tries hard to annoy him. I swear if they were able to talk I would hear these two things..."He/she is touching me" and "are we there yet?"

Erica · #2 07-26-2006, 12:49 PM

Beth,

Do you take Dexter in the car often? My mastiff used to get car sick all the time when we first brought him home. Thank God he always managed to aim for the rubber floor mat. I personally think it was because he was moved around so much in such a short time through the rescue before I got him. I managed to get him used to the car by taking him more often on short errands. The bank, fast food drive through...ect. I gradually took him for longer rides and this seemed to help. He no longer gets car sick.

Erica

P.S. I would also take him on an empty stomach to start with too.

Erica · #3 07-26-2006, 12:52 PM

Also I just thought too that maybe you should try taking him alone. Our dogs are large so we have to rotate. They take turns going on errands. Maybe for some reason Gidget isn't helping the situation.

Erica

mom2bichons · #4 07-26-2006, 09:45 PM

Hi Erica,

I too had thought about him being the only one in the car, and that time I got puked on. He really is car sick for short and longer rides.

Your suggestion about the short trips and all, I even take him alone in the car around the block, then come home. He still gets drooley and dry heavey. Poor thing he just loves to go and that acts up.

I still attempt to do small rides solo and some together. Gidget tries to stay on the opposite side as him, that way they both (who sit in the back seat) get a window to lean out of.

Poor guy. I am glad to hear yours outgrew his!

luv2bmom · #5 07-26-2006, 10:47 PM

I'm sad to hear about any family member being carsick my daughter(human) still at19 gets carsick dramamine is the cure.
Also my niece's dog Maggie used to get car sick and they read something about ginger online it is supposed to sooth there bellies also do you ride with the window open for dexter to smell the fresh air,you might try to put him in the front somtimes if they see things going by too fast it upsets there tummies at least it did for our daughter.I hope one of these things might help.
Good luck.

mom2bichons · #6 07-27-2006, 09:13 AM

Hi luv2bmom,

No I do not put him in the front seat, I read in my Dog Fancy Magazine that just like kids pets of any kind when traveling should be in an environment that if you had to stop immediately they have some form of protection, such as the back of the front seat to cushion them a bit. I have not purchased the doggy seatbelts yet. I figure maybe once we get little Dexter more accustomed to the car rides (after 3 years and counting) maybe then. But I feel I probably should just go ahead and get them.

Now, I am going to have to say that if I let Dexter ride up front then he wants to ride on my lap (so does Gidget) and I do not feel that I am coordinated (and this is no joke) to handle driving and them riding on my lap. To much going on to pay attention to all that is happening.

But thank you so much for your ideas, which are good ones.

By the way how is Jr?