[DSudd]

We have taken Apollo out several times in the car. As long as we keep the trip short, (a mile or so) he is ok, but if we take him any further, he get car sick. Our vets office is about 5 miles away and between there and home he got sick. He also got sick the last time we took him to the vets office, but that was while he was at the vets office.

Rocky has never had this issue and we would love to be able to take both boys with us when we do out outings. I know you can give dogs motion sickness meds but I will only use that as a last resort if I need to.

Is there anything we can do to overcome this problem? ONe thought is he can see out my car window when he is sitting on the seat

 

[AnnaRiley]

Danielle, I used non-drowsy dramamine with my gsdx when he was a puppy. He eventually outgrew getting sick. The dramamine did not make him sleepy. I also used ginger. I used one pill on my dog - that seemed to be enough to keep him from getting sick. Gave it to him about 30 minutes prior to riding in the car.

 

[kaylesraven]

Apollo will probaby outgrow it soon. Riley occasionally gets carsick

(he is 18 weeks now), which surprised me because he was our first GSD to have this problem. I just try not to make sudden stops or starts, accelerate and deccelerate slowly, and take it easy when turning or going around curves. He is only just now voluntarily trying to climb into the car by himself...grudgingly (ah mom, do we have to?)! I have also noticed just last week that he took an interest in the world outside the car for the first time. I suspect that once they are both big enough to see out all the time, motion sickness will be a thing of the past.

 

[DSudd]

I am hoping so. Rocky never had issues with being in the car. But then again my boys are exact opposites. At least it is keeping things interesting.

 

[shepherdbydesign]

We have had this with a few dogs through the years and found that when we were taking trips that we made sure there wasn't anything in their bellies to throw up. But I feel that it is nerves that makes them do this, since then we take our young pups for rides as often as possible and when they aren't as afraid of the car ride they seem to do better

 

[networkn]

Thunder used to drool heavily when in the car, some ginger helped, and also letting him see outside fixed the problem mostly. He only gets Drooly now if I accelerate hard a fair bit or take corners at speed which I don't do often. Thankfully he didn't vomit.

 

[kbigge]

My GSD has ridden in our car several times a week since we got him at 7 weeks old. He's never gotten sick. However, my mom's little dog used to throw up about 20 minutes into every car ride, for the first 3 or 4 months that she had her. My mom said she almost always did it at the same point in the ride. (Not b/c of hills, curves, etc, just couldn't make it any longer than 20 minutes for whatever reason). However, my mom kept taking her for "fun" rides, and now Maddie tries to drag my mom to the car for a ride, and she never gets sick anymore.

I think it's a combo of being a young puppy, and nerves. The only other dog we had that threw up in the car, only rode in the car for grooming and vet trips. I think she was just terrified and it made her sick.

Good luck - if it were me, I would try to avoid giving the dog any meds at all. I'd just make sure you go on lots of short, fun trips, so they aren't nervous. I think he'll outgrow it.

 

[jdp2134]

The only time my pup (11 wks on tues) throws up is when i feed him and then we go right for a car ride. so try not feeding him. that should solve the problem or if he rides in the front seat try putting him in the back it might be a little more stable for them.

 

[DSudd]

Not feeding him did not work either. He just puked up yellow slimy stuff.

 

[catherinetnc]

Same problem! When my pup gets car sick he is "wiped out" for the rest of the day . . . no eating or playing for 8 to 10 hours. It is soooo pitiful.

I have tried to get him acclimated to the car and tried all methods on the board to get him comfortable - no luck yet. Makes it difficult to get "socializing" in when you can't get to public places! (I live out in the sticks!).

The yellow slimy stuff is more difficult to clean up than the regular recycled food!

How long does it take for your pup to recover from the car sickness?

I wonder if it matters as to whether it is related to motion-sickness or anxiety. I would bet my pup's is anxiety - so I wonder if dramamine would work.

 

[bosco146]

Our guy does it too but he is getting better. I think for him it is the anxiety. He barks the whole time and gets s worked up riding in the back of the truck that I think he throws up because of it. Most of them grow out of it with time.

 

[The Stig]

My puppy does not suffer from motion sickness, but I had a parrot who did. Giving him ginger tea about half hour before we hit the road helps. I steep ginger slices in hot water, let cool and let him take a few sips and chew on the ginger strips.

That helped a lot.