A dog is cradled in a car - what should I do?

Pets that are part of the family often become full members. We care about dogs as reverently and tenderly as we care for our loved ones. That is why animal problems often become very important and urgent. In this article, we will talk about kinetosis or motion sickness, which occurs not only in humans, but also in our smaller brothers. Owners quite often take their pets with them on trips, out of town, on picnics, hunting and fishing, and simply to a veterinarian or on business in the city. All this is accompanied by short or long trips that not all dogs tolerate well. As a result, there are a lot of problems - vomiting in the car seat, poor health of the pet and the spoiled mood of the owner. What is the dog's motion sickness, is it possible to deal with this, and how to do it, let's try to figure it out.

Why is the dog rocking?

The inner ear of the animal has a similar structure to the human. Ideally, the vestibular apparatus transmits to the brain impulses and signals of a change in movement. At the same time, vision and hearing transmit a signal to the brain that the legs are not moving. That is, the environment of the car’s interior is at rest, and objects outside the window move, in addition, there is shaking and swaying. All this brings serious imbalance and contradiction, chaos occurs in the methodical work of the body. This also happens with chemical poisoning by various poisons. In this case, the body tries to get rid of the toxic substance with the help of vomiting. That is why with kinetosis, similar symptoms occur - nausea and vomiting.

How to understand that a dog is rocking in a car?

As a rule, puppies of the first year of life are prone to the problem, their vestibular apparatus is in an immature state, so kinetosis is more pronounced. As a rule, over time the problem is settled. But how to understand that your dog becomes ill during the trip? Several factors may indicate this.

1. First of all, the dog begins to profuse salivation, not associated with the diet or health status.
2. The dog as a whole becomes restless, does not lie still, constantly replanting, looking for new body positions. In some cases, the pet may become aggressive or begin to whine, the dog may lick its hands, thus asking for help.
3. The dog’s breathing quickens, it constantly swallows saliva, rushes about the inside of the car, licks its nose endlessly.
4. The dog may burp, even several times, which is usually unnatural for a pet. Be on the alert - in this condition, the dog may vomit at any time.

Motion sickness in the car can occur not only in puppies, in rare cases, this condition persists in adults. Kinetosis increases with odors, especially unfamiliar. Stress is another provoking factor in which motion sickness intensifies at times. In this case, behavioral memory affects. If for the first time the dog was driving a car to the doctor for a vaccination or a dropper, then the car interior will be associated with something painful and scary. Fear further enhances nausea. To get rid of this, it is necessary to cause good and positive connections. Drive your car several times to pleasant places - to sports grounds, to fishing, to a picnic and swimming in ponds, and just for a walk. Try to keep the first “outings” close to home, so that the pet does not get scared and does not get sick much too much. Gradually, you can balance the imbalance - in some cases, the problem of kinetosis is solved very quickly.

How to get rid of motion sickness in a car?

In order for the pet to feel good throughout the trip, and the owner enjoyed the views outside the window, and not be nervous next to the dog, you need to follow a few simple rules.

1. Try to refuse sharp and unpleasant odors in the car - do not smoke, leave at home various flavors for the car interior, do not use perfume. Remember that the dog’s scent is very developed, even a slight aroma for a person can become an unbearable stink for a dog.
2. Try not to feed the animal before you go on the road, at least 1.5-2 hours. An empty stomach is a decrease in the likelihood of vomiting.
3. Walk the dog thoroughly before setting off. The absence of urge to urinate and defecate is the key to peace and tranquility.
4. Try not to break the silence with loud sounds - do not turn on the radio, at least before the pet gets used to it. If you are traveling in a noisy company, try to be quieter, because your family member is bad - put yourself in the place of the animal.
5. It is very important that the dog is next to its owner (only if he is not driving). Try to support the pet, stroking it, soothe your voice and hugs.
6. Be sure to leave one window slightly open when the machine is moving, so that fresh air can walk in the cabin. However, make sure that the dog does not sit on a frank draft, it can become sick.
7. A dog can be compared with a child - she is also afraid, does not understand much, is in the power of adults. Therefore, the driver should understand that sharp turns, braking and acceleration should be avoided whenever possible. All this provokes even more motion sickness. The trip should be measured, calm and safe.
8. If you see that your pet is feeling bad, stop the car, give the dog the opportunity to go out, run, to recover. Probably, the baby will want to drink some water or go to the toilet, especially if the trip is long.
9. Be sure to take with you into the car what your pet likes - familiar toys, clothes with the smell of the owner, if that is not nearby. You can take some of your favorite treats, but remember that overeating provokes nausea.
10. To make the dog accustomed to traveling, you should regularly carry it in the car, so you train the vestibular apparatus. Try to start with short journeys, gradually increasing the time and distance of the route. For the very first time, you don’t even have to go anywhere - just stay in the car, the dog should associate the situation with something pleasant.

If all this does not help, the baby grew up, but did not learn how to cope with the motion sickness, it is worth consulting with a veterinarian. In some cases, there is nothing left to do, how to use special drugs. But for this it is important to understand what your dog feels during the trip - is it fear or is it really kinetosis? Start with the simplest herbal sedatives. They will help the dog relax and more easily survive the trip. If anxiety is accompanied by excessive salivation and vomiting, you may need more serious drugs that act on the nervous system, suppress the vomiting reflex, or smooth out the muscular muscles of the stomach. You can take them only after consulting a doctor.

Motion sickness is a serious problem, both for the animal itself and for its owner. But, unfortunately, you can’t do without trips, so you need to look for a solution to this problem, and as soon as possible.

Video: what to do if the dog is sick in the car