As in humans, motion sickness is caused primarily by movement in the inner ear, and it can be temporarily cured by taking medicine such as Benadryl (Diphenhydramine). An alternative medicine suggested by petbitsforyou.com is Bonamine. However, motion sickness is not always the cause of vomiting in the car for a dog.
Your dog is more likely vomiting out of fear than motion sickness. Some ways to know that fear is the cause of vomiting instead of motion sickness are if your dog is trembling, whining, barking, resistant to get into the car or hyperactive and difficult to control. Thus, according to petbitsforyou.com, a better long-term cure for your pet is a simple training program that can make her comfortable in the car.
Things You'll Need
- Dog bed
- Dog treats
Instructions
Make the environment as comfortable as possible by placing a bed or other comfort item like a blanket in the spot where your dog sits during rides.
Allow your dog to sit in the well-ventilated car without traveling anywhere for 10 to 25 minutes a day for a week. This begins the positive associations that the training will build upon later.
Prepare the area for her to sit as you have been while the car was stationary, and get the dog in the car. Turn the engine on and let the car sit in the driveway for a few minutes before driving it around the block a few times. Keep the trip brief; ride in the car for no more than 10 to 15 minutes for the first four to seven days.
Reward your dog with a positive experience at the end of each short trip. A nice walk or a game of fetch in a nearby park works well, but a quick run around the yard with your dog's favorite treat to munch on will work in a pinch.
Increase the riding time gradually by five-minute intervals after the first four to seven days--remembering to provide positive interaction and praise for good behavior--until your dog can ride for 30 minutes in the car without stress or vomiting. The more positive experiences your dog has at the end of a car ride the better. If he can accumulate many of those, chances are he will begin to think that a car ride ends in fun rather than a trip to the vet or groomer's.