What can I give my dog for car sickness?

[sojourn]

He's four and has never "outgrown" motion sickness. He can't even go on a quick ride into town w/out vomiting. We've tried limiting his food and water before rides, ensuring everything was squared away w/his ears, easing him into going on rides (like the day one look at car, day two get in car for few minutes, day 3 ride around the block only, etc.), and we ensure windows are cracked and that he can see outside while we ride, and the ride isn't too hot or too cold him. Poor guy still always gets sick. Is there anything we can give him?

[journeymom]

I wish I had an answer for you! I can take the dog on short trips around town but if we get on the freeway or drive for more than, say 15 minutes straight, he vomits.

When we first got him I asked the vet for help and he prescribed a sedative. It made him out of it and he still vomited. I went back and said, can't I just give him Dramamine? He looked at me like I was a loon and kind of laughed and said no, that's people medicine, it won't work.

So we don't take him on long trips.

[Dar]

You can definitely give him dramamine. Just adjust the dosage for the weight of your dog. Your vet was, um, uninformed... my vet told us we could, and it works, and it's cheap.

Here's one cite; if you google "dramamine dog" you get a bunch.

dar

[momto l&a]

My parents once had a dog who got carsick.

One day I had to transport a donkey so I took her along with me. I drove very slowly as it was a windy road and didnt want to upset the donkey or make the dog upchuck. Anyway that was all it took was one very sllllloooooowwww drive. After that she was never carsick again and loved to go for drives. We also had a window open for her. I know my carsickness is made worse but heat and stale air.

[sojourn]

Thank you, everyone! I'm going to see if my whole foods store carries MotionEaze or maybe PetAlive, I think it was, or something similar to that (thanks Dar for the search starting point). If not, I'm strapping those wristband thingys for pg sick mamas to be on him, heheh. I have to find something, b/c believe it not, he LOVES to go on rides (and we like travel).

Would anyone happen to have any experience w/the more natural remedies? No worries if not...I can always report back, or always travel w/puke bags, tee hee hee.

[thekimballs]

Feed very small amounts (a few kibbles at a time, if you feed dry food, or a few tiny pieces of dried liver or whatever you've got around) frequently during the whole car ride. For some reason, that seems to work well for a lot of dogs.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by thekimballs

Feed very small amounts (a few kibbles at a time, if you feed dry food, or a few tiny pieces of dried liver or whatever you've got around) frequently during the whole car ride. For some reason, that seems to work well for a lot of dogs.

Hey, that's what I did when I was pregnant! Only with people food, not dog kibble...

And it totally makes sense. Dd and I both get car sick and I try to make sure we've both eaten a decent meal before we go on long trips.

[Catherine12]

My vet also recommended dramamine, and it does work.