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Puppy travel sickness

8 replies

MsMarvellous · 03/08/2019 21:22

We have a 15 week old Dalmatian and as things stand he gets travel sick. Anything longer than a 15 min journey and I risk him throwing up. I've been slowly increasing car journeys and trying to do short ones regularly with lots of praise and had intended to take lots of time but my hand is being forced.

I need to take him out of the house for a couple of nights for some renovation that we can't be around and our nearest relatives where me, 2 kids and the dogs can stay, are 1hr 45 away.

I have set hi up in the boot with fresh water and towels and have been introducing him to it. I have 8days to try and prep. Is there anything I can do for him to help over and above regular stops and the water?

Thanks

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Branster · 03/08/2019 21:37

You are doing the right things. Also try spending time with the dog in the car if possible so he gets a positive experience out of it (he can have a nap and be relaxed).
Keeping car windows open might help.
Not feed a couple of hours or more before travelling.
It could be anxiety or the motion of the car.
The vet can prescribe travel sickness tablets depending on age and size of the dog. Some can’t be given every day.
Not ideal and I feel for you and your puppy. I hope he gets better as he gets older.

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Branster · 03/08/2019 21:38

Oh, maybe only give him water when you stop the car are are outside? I’m not sure if water itself would make him sick but if he’s been sick already I’d imagine water would be beneficial?

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MsMarvellous · 03/08/2019 21:51

Thanks branster. I didn't know about tablets for dogs. I'll speak to my vet and see what she reckons.

I just hate to see him so uncomfortable. He loves it when we get to the exciting places for walks though. I'm just hoping longer term he grows out of it.

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Jouska · 04/08/2019 08:56

Most puppies grow out of travel sickness so there is hope
Cerenia is very effective (but expensive) tablet that can be given to dogs I think over 16 weeks of age. It does seem to break the habit of travel sickness more than otc tablets.

Some dogs prefer to travel in a covered crate others prefer to see out of the window so maybe try different positions.

We had a very travel sick puppy that had to go on a 4 hour journey,he was sick once and then has never been sick again in the car - not that I am recommending this method Smile

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Branster · 04/08/2019 10:36

He has a good chance of growing out of it, most dogs do.

As someone mentioned, Cerenia is an option. There’s something else I can’t remember the name of, which is a lot cheaper but made my dog salivate a lot and look a bit spaced out so not ideal if you want to go for a walk.
Mine never grew out of it so I always make sure I have a stock of Cerenia (my vet charges around £16/tablet, as I buy about two dozens in a go, I feel a bit sick myself when paying for them Grin - cheaper online with prescription from the vet but I’m not always organised enough to do it that way) but there’s a limit to how many days in a row they can be used.

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ChestyNut · 04/08/2019 14:37

No help for your long journey but our puppy was terribly car sick, she grew out of it.
We took her on short journeys and eventually it just disappeared.

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Pipandmum · 04/08/2019 14:40

One of my dogs used to get really car sick. Sometimes it helped if he was up front in passenger seat - he would just lie down and don’t think he got sick there. He did grow out of it.

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MsMarvellous · 04/08/2019 14:49

Thanks everyone. I really hope he grows out of it as we have lots of plans for future travel with him included. I'll speak to the vet about some
Meds' I think so he's not too miserable b

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