Photo: Aleksey Boyko (Shutterstock)
Humans can let you know when they’re having trouble with motion sickness. Dogs have a bit of a harder time.
My friend Sara tells this story about a road trip with her dog Dakota where somewhere during the 14-hour drive, her Husky mix got car sick and vomited all over the back of the car. She then managed to pee all over the seats well. Her car was never the same.
What are some signs my dog might be getting car sick?
According to the Veterinary Centers of America animal hospital (VCA), vomiting isn’t the only sign of motion sickness in pets. Others include:
diarrhea or defecationwhining and pacingexcessive droolingsmacking or licking lipslethargy or inactivityIf you observe any of the symptoms in your pooch, it might be time to pull over for a break.
How to drive safely with a dog who gets car sick
In general, if you’re traveling with a pet you should make sure he or she is safely retrained in a harness and that you’re taking breaks every 2-3 hours for everyone to stretch their legs and visit a fire hydrant if need be.
Take these must-have supplies on your next road trip with your dog:
Sitting your dog closer to the front can also help with motion sickness, since they’re able to see what’s happening outside the front window rather than just a watching a blur of action out the sides. And if your pooch often has motion sickness issues, there are Dramamine-style meds your vet can prescribe to make traveling a little easier.
Bottom line: don’t just put your pooch in the car and go—think about their comfort and safety just like you would any human passenger. You’ll both arrive at your destination a lot happier.
