I, too, had a severe car sickness problem with Midis beginning with his trip home from the breeder! Everytime he was in the car he threw up. I tried Dramamine and it didn't help. Finally, a vet recommended 1/2 of a 2mg Valium (which I keep on hand for humans) to be given 1/2 hour before the trip. I did this prior to our car trip to Destin, FL (8 hour drive) and he never got sick the entire way, there or back! Repeated this this past weekend when we went to my hometown (3 hour drive) and he never got sick on the way there or back! Keep in mind Midis weighs 11 lbs so you need to talk to your vet about dosage for your dog.
Preventing car sickness & carrier motion sickness???
Hi everyone, I hope someone can help with this!!! I am a new puppy mom, so please have patience with me.
I met my puppy Violet on Monday of this week in FL. My friend Theresa (who's dog gave birth to Violet) took us in the car to the pet store. Within 2-3 minutes, Violet vomited. We changed out the wee-wee pad I had in the bottom of the carrier and cleaned her up with paper towels as best as we could. Please note that Monday was the FIRST time she had left her birth home ever. We then took her into the pet store and while walking around the store, she got sick again. Luckily they also did grooming at the store, so I had them bathe and give her her first haircut.
The next day we took her in the car again to go to the airport, and in less than 5 minutes, she got sick again. This time I was better prepared with dog bath wipes.
Once in the airport, she didn't get sick again, but she was quite shy and lethargic. I thought it was due to not knowing me in addition to all the moving around. At the very end of the flight she spit up just a little, but for the most part, she was OK for the flight, just a little shy and a little pee in one corner of the pad.
I took her to the vet Wednesday, but the vet didn't want to give her shots until she was back to eating- she hadn't eaten since Tues morning - I fed her, but she wanted nothing to do with food. He said to give her plain cooked chicken and white rice. She ate fine, but was still a little cautious of me and still lethargic. By Friday morning, she was A LOT better, bouncing around and playing, following me everywhere (as I understand Malts do!) Then late Friday morning I had to take her back to the vet. And half way to the vets (in 5 minutes) she vomited in her carrier again. The vet said to take small trips with her to get her used to the car.
Yesterday I took her around the corner (VERY short trip) in her carrier and she seemed OK, but plopped down and napped immediately after. Then today I took her to CVS in her carrier... she was "smiling" all the way, I "bribed" her with pieces of chicken, and she seemed OK until I strapped her back into the car. She seemed SO scared, and let out tiny whines two times. The CVS is ONLY 6 blocks in each direction from my home. She ignored the tiny chicken pieces- I thought chicken was the answer to get her to enjoy the carrier, but I guess not. Once I got her home, she was looking at me like she hated me. She went to my husband, but not to me. I put her in her crate and she has been napping for over an hour and a half.
I'm extremely worried about taking her in the car in the future, she is not the same playful puppy she usually is when she gets out. We have family events coming up the next 2 weekends, and each trip is at least an hour drive each direction. Any advice on how I should handle getting her used to the car trips WITHOUT getting sick but staying her sweet playful self???
I met my puppy Violet on Monday of this week in FL. My friend Theresa (who's dog gave birth to Violet) took us in the car to the pet store. Within 2-3 minutes, Violet vomited. We changed out the wee-wee pad I had in the bottom of the carrier and cleaned her up with paper towels as best as we could. Please note that Monday was the FIRST time she had left her birth home ever. We then took her into the pet store and while walking around the store, she got sick again. Luckily they also did grooming at the store, so I had them bathe and give her her first haircut.
The next day we took her in the car again to go to the airport, and in less than 5 minutes, she got sick again. This time I was better prepared with dog bath wipes.
Once in the airport, she didn't get sick again, but she was quite shy and lethargic. I thought it was due to not knowing me in addition to all the moving around. At the very end of the flight she spit up just a little, but for the most part, she was OK for the flight, just a little shy and a little pee in one corner of the pad.
I took her to the vet Wednesday, but the vet didn't want to give her shots until she was back to eating- she hadn't eaten since Tues morning - I fed her, but she wanted nothing to do with food. He said to give her plain cooked chicken and white rice. She ate fine, but was still a little cautious of me and still lethargic. By Friday morning, she was A LOT better, bouncing around and playing, following me everywhere (as I understand Malts do!) Then late Friday morning I had to take her back to the vet. And half way to the vets (in 5 minutes) she vomited in her carrier again. The vet said to take small trips with her to get her used to the car.
Yesterday I took her around the corner (VERY short trip) in her carrier and she seemed OK, but plopped down and napped immediately after. Then today I took her to CVS in her carrier... she was "smiling" all the way, I "bribed" her with pieces of chicken, and she seemed OK until I strapped her back into the car. She seemed SO scared, and let out tiny whines two times. The CVS is ONLY 6 blocks in each direction from my home. She ignored the tiny chicken pieces- I thought chicken was the answer to get her to enjoy the carrier, but I guess not. Once I got her home, she was looking at me like she hated me. She went to my husband, but not to me. I put her in her crate and she has been napping for over an hour and a half.
I'm extremely worried about taking her in the car in the future, she is not the same playful puppy she usually is when she gets out. We have family events coming up the next 2 weekends, and each trip is at least an hour drive each direction. Any advice on how I should handle getting her used to the car trips WITHOUT getting sick but staying her sweet playful self???
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Give this CD a try. I have the one for the house and use it every time I leave them. They know when they hear this music that I am leaving. It is so soothing that I use it for myself if I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep.
The car version says that it is designed not to relax the humans too much, though!! ... thank goodness!!
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0019K4YRA/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music"]
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Amazon.com: Through a Dog's Ear - Driving Edition: Joshua Leeds, Lisa Spector: Music
The car version says that it is designed not to relax the humans too much, though!! ... thank goodness!!
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0019K4YRA/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music"]
Amazon.com: Through a Dog's Ear - Driving Edition: Joshua Leeds, Lisa Spector: Music
A couple of ginger snaps before and during the ride or a piece of fresh ginger chopped up in a capsule 15 minutes before the ride or you can get ginger capsules (just find out correct dosage for your pup). The last 2 are probably more effective than the snaps. Studies show ginger is more effective than dramamine, it's even effective in dealing with nausea from chemo - just a wonder for nausea/motion sickness and no side effects.
Thank you to EVERYONE for your kind support and advice, it is SO appreciated
I'm going to try bringing her out to the car to give her little treats 2 times today, and throughoput the week I'll gradually increase the frequency of bringing her out, then try backing out the driveway, then maybe at the end of the week I'll try short trips. But I think I'll try taking her out to the car on a leash instead of in the carrier. I also plan to get her a booster seat and try that approach. I think for the car ride this Saturday, I may try holding her on my lap and ask my husband to drive so I can soothe her and let her look out the window. Perhaps I'll even put the small donut bed (with a wee-wee pad liner) on my lap in case she gets sleepy. She DOES sleep a lot and I can't imagine her looking out the window for an hour each way. I'll arm myself with paper towels, dog bath wipes, extra pads, nature's miracle, and a change of clothes for the trip to be on the safe side
Oh, and BTW jmm, Violet was not walking around in the pet store, I was. She was in her carrier over my shoulder. Violet got sick while I was in there, not more than 3 minutes inside. The salesman in the store saw she was sitting in a puddle of vomit inside her carrier, took her to the sink to wash her paws, and suggested she get groomed. Would you bring home from FL to NY a puppy covered in vomit?
Hi binniebee thanks for your input. I think I'd be afraid to drug up a 3 month old puppy with Valium at the first go-round. I like some of the other more "natural" advice given here such as k/c mom's musical advice, coconuts and Nikki's Mom's suggestion for the booster seat, and even puppy lover 's advice for something natural like ginger. I personally was NEVER a fan of drugs, I hate to even pop a asprin. If the ginger and music fails, THEN maybe I'll try the dramamine as a last resort. But before I do anything, I'm going to call the vet to ask his opinion.
I'm going to try bringing her out to the car to give her little treats 2 times today, and throughoput the week I'll gradually increase the frequency of bringing her out, then try backing out the driveway, then maybe at the end of the week I'll try short trips. But I think I'll try taking her out to the car on a leash instead of in the carrier. I also plan to get her a booster seat and try that approach. I think for the car ride this Saturday, I may try holding her on my lap and ask my husband to drive so I can soothe her and let her look out the window. Perhaps I'll even put the small donut bed (with a wee-wee pad liner) on my lap in case she gets sleepy. She DOES sleep a lot and I can't imagine her looking out the window for an hour each way. I'll arm myself with paper towels, dog bath wipes, extra pads, nature's miracle, and a change of clothes for the trip to be on the safe side
Oh, and BTW jmm, Violet was not walking around in the pet store, I was. She was in her carrier over my shoulder. Violet got sick while I was in there, not more than 3 minutes inside. The salesman in the store saw she was sitting in a puddle of vomit inside her carrier, took her to the sink to wash her paws, and suggested she get groomed. Would you bring home from FL to NY a puppy covered in vomit?
My vet recommended benadryl for my small miniature schnauzer. He said to use the same dosage I give her from time to time for itchy skin.
I haven't tried it yet--may do so tomorrow. I'll let you know if it works.
Edited to add: He said it is chemically very similar to Dramamine
I haven't tried it yet--may do so tomorrow. I'll let you know if it works.
Edited to add: He said it is chemically very similar to Dramamine
Well, the Benadryl didn't work well enough. It had been at least 5 hours since her last meal, and she got the benadryl well before the trip.
It seemed like an especially bumpy ride, so maybe a better car is the answer.
It seemed like an especially bumpy ride, so maybe a better car is the answer.
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