Motion sickness or car related anxiety in pets is common, and frustrating for everyone. But there are ways that you can help your pet to enjoy car rides too!
1. Start with showing fido that car rides can be fun!
Your pet may have associated the car with feeling sick, and as a result may have some stress and anxiety. To help overcome this, you can take your pet for a ride that is 10 minutes away or less. Make it somewhere fun, like the park. Play with your pet once you get there. This will reinforce the idea that the car is a good thing.
2. Try a Thundershirt!
Sometimes your pets anxiety is bad enough that small car rides don't do the trick, or may make it worse. If that is the case, using a Thundershirt may help. A Thundershirt is a tight knit wrap that is worn snug, and applies a gentle and constant pressure that helps to initiate a feeling of calm; similar to swaddling a baby. Thundershirts have been shown to be effective in stress related behaviours in 80% of pets!
There are a number of options to help with motion sickness.
a) Limiting visibility by covering the sides of your pets kennel or crate can help.
b) Keep the interior of your car cool by keeping the windows open, and letting the fresh air in!
c) Travel when your pet has an empty stomach. It has been shown that many dogs don't get car sick when they haven't eaten for a little while.
d) Make frequent stops. Sure, this can make it take longer to get to your destination, but letting your pup get out and stretch his legs will help to keep the car ride positive, making for a happier pup.
4. Using natural remedies:
There are many natural alternatives to drugging your dog that are available.
a) Rescue Remedy makes a pet formula. They use a mixture of flower materials that help to calm and soothe.
b) Travel Anxiety by HomeoPet is another liquid treatment that uses herbs to help relieve motion sickness and anxiety.
c) Burt's Bees uses a mixture of Lavender, green tea, and other natural ingredients to make up their calming spray. This spray can be used directly on your pet, or on their bedding and in a crate.
d) Pheromone Spray by Comfort Zone is a spray that mimics the same pheromones that a mother dog releases when she has puppies. This can be used inside a vehicle or crate 15 minutes prior to travelling.
e) Quiet Moments Chews by NatureVet these are a soft chew that uses a mixture of chamomile, passion flower, Vitamin B1, and Ginger. These can be given to your pup 30 minutes prior to travelling.
