My pet gets car sick

If your dog is among the furry friends that get travel sick, don't panic: most of the time there is a solution. Except in a few difficult cases, you will happily travel the world with your faithful friend. The tips in this post will help you prevent and remedy this condition.

Car sickness, a shared problem

Car sickness is as common in our dogs as it is in people. It is estimated that it affects around 25% of dogs. After feeling sick, many dogs tend to vomit in the car.

Puppies are usually the worst affected by this problem, just like babies, because their auditory system is still immature, which makes it harder to keep their balance.

Before setting off for your chosen destination, we need to be very clear about why our dogs get car sick, the symptoms and how we can deal with them.

Why do dogs get car sick?

The reasons why our furry friend may feel sick during a car journey include the following:

• It is the first time it has travelled by car and it is not used to it; the vehicle is a strange place for the dog.
• We fed it just before setting off.
• Our dog is unsettled for some reason.

Symptoms before car sickness

As your dog cannot tell you that it doesn't feel up to a journey, you should watch carefully for signs that warn you of possible car sickness.

If it is starting to feel sick and nauseous, it will probably show symptoms such as lethargy, stress, anxiety, panting, restlessness, excessive salivation, yawning, drooling, trembling, barking or whining.

With these signs, your dog may end up vomiting in the car. So it is up to us to spot the signs that it is not feeling well.

Some tips and tricks to prevent car sickness

Before setting off on a car journey with your dog, pay attention to the following tips and tricks, which will help you keep car sickness at bay.

• A visit to the vet
• The right way to travel
• Eat several hours before setting off
• Calm and harmony
• Regular stops
• A comfortable, cosy environment

It is vital not to forget to stroke and pamper your furry friend; with these gestures, it will surely be raring to go on the next trip.