Car sickness with Chi's-anyone have a cure?

[Romans Mom]

Has anyone ever had a dog who gets car sick? If so, is there anything that can help it?

Elle has been car sick many times now, and I've never had a dog that this happened to. She even gets nervous while we're getting ready to go, while we put her harness on, etc. She even got sick acting (drooling) before we drove out of our driveway, only about 15 feet.

She sleeps most of the time and is fine, but she acts like she doesn't like to be in the car. I let her ride on my lap instead of her crate last time, and she didn't get sick; she just slept.

Is there anything she can take for it? She doesn't go very often, so perhaps a daily trip would get her used to it? Thanks! :wave:

Oh, and here is what I've found on it and not much more, but still, anyone have to do this and how did it work:

"Conditioning is the best method to prepare your dog for riding in the car. This is done over several weeks and it involves you, your dog, your car, and the use of lavish praise. For a few minutes several times a day for three days in a row set up the following schedule. First, just sit in the car with your dog and give him lots of praise for not showing any symptoms of sickness. Then, start and run the engine for the next three days and continue with the praise. Next, start the engine and back the car out of the driveway and drive back in. Never mind what the neighbors will be thinking! Continue praise for showing no symptoms. Finally, drive around the block, then go half a mile, then two miles. Keep this up until your dog is able to ride several miles without getting sick!"

[LuKi]

Barb, I went through the same thing with Kishi. I had never had a dog that got so car sick like she did. We tried everything, rolling the window down, air conditioner full blast and rubbing her tummy but nothing worked. She gets REALLY excited too whenever she knows she is going somewhere in the car. I know this sounds wierd and this may have not helped her at all but when I put her in obedience classes she didn't throw up as much. She stopped for a while. She still throws up every now and then but not every time like she used to. Now I have another problem though. She absolutely loves the idea of getting in the car but when we are driving down the road she whines and barks like she is miserable or too excited. Nothing helps with that, I have tried scolding her and she normally would react to that but not in the car, nothing will stop her.
I know that there are mild sedatives that can help with that and maybe it can at least help her to get used to it a little easier where she won't have to be on them. You can also go to one of those websites and ask the online vet. I hope this helps, poor baby, I know how it is.

[Luckys Mom]

Lucky has never gotten car sick...as a matter of fact HE LOVES TE CAR...he runs right to the door and jumps right in and gets in his spot and stays there the whole time

[Jemma's Mom]

My friend's American Eskimo used to get car sick everytime she went for a ride in the car. She never went anywhere during the winter months and strangely enough, now that she is full grown, she doesn't puke anymore. It just stopped. However, I've seen car sickness pills in a pet store here. I've never stopped to look at the package and labelling.. maybe you can check that out. Perhaps check with the vet first.

[islandbabies]

I'm not really too sure if Alana got car sick when she was younger or was just scared. Everytime we'd take her somewhere in the car with us, she'd freak out. She'd cry and whine, and be stiff and shakey, and also not want to look out the window. But over time she's learned to LOVE car rides and doesn't do the crying thing, or anything else she used to do while going on car rides.
I love that thing you quoted, especially the part of "nevermind what your neighbors think". LOL. TOo funny!

[Romans Mom]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe she'll outgrow it and have to go for those tiny rides in our driveway for a while. LOL Also, I'll check into those pills and ask the vet about them as well. We've tried to feed her lighter and earlier on travel days, but I don't want her to go hungry until we get home at 5 or 6.

[daisy'smom]

HI Roman's Mom: Ginger grated on some food works for a lot of humans. If it is not on the dangerous foods for dogs list then you might give it a try. It works for me when I am sick and for a friend of mine whose wife gets car sick as do all of their children. They started packing some fruit drinks made in their blender with some grated ginger and they all have had smooth traveling since.

[Romans Mom]

Barb, I went through the same thing with Kishi. I had never had a dog that got so car sick like she did. We tried everything, rolling the window down, air conditioner full blast and rubbing her tummy but nothing worked. She gets REALLY excited too whenever she knows she is going somewhere in the car. I know this sounds wierd and this may have not helped her at all but when I put her in obedience classes she didn't throw up as much. She stopped for a while. She still throws up every now and then but not every time like she used to. Now I have another problem though. She absolutely loves the idea of getting in the car but when we are driving down the road she whines and barks like she is miserable or too excited. Nothing helps with that, I have tried scolding her and she normally would react to that but not in the car, nothing will stop her.
I know that there are mild sedatives that can help with that and maybe it can at least help her to get used to it a little easier where she won't have to be on them. You can also go to one of those websites and ask the online vet. I hope this helps, poor baby, I know how it is.

Mandi, Roman whines and cries. :lmbo: We finally know it's because of happy excitement. For a while we thought it was due to fright. He's calmed down some as far as having to constantly whine, cry and scream, and walk and climb all over me (while I'm the passenger). LOL. We learn to live with it with Sheba too, in fact they have both learned to scream at us if they really need something because we tune them all out so easily now. :lmbo:

She hasn't gone on any rides, but I've been taking her to the car in the driveway. She doesn't seem to mind now when I put her harness and sits fine in the car.

[LuKi]

Whhhewww, I hope Kishi calms down one of these days. I swear she is going to cause me to have an accident sometimes, I just can't tune out her screaching whines. That is why I bought her that carseat so that she cannot climb all over me and the car, but she still cries. I have tried taking her out many times and the same thing every time. At least she isn't throwing up anymore (or rarely now)!!! LOL