Curbing canine car sickness isn’t easy. With warm weather back in action, it is time to travel, hike, and enjoy the scenery. Acclimating your dog to car rides can be difficult for some and naturally easier for others. Some dogs love car rides, whereas others dread it. Beyond the anxiety, some dogs also develop motion sickness.
Some signs of motion sickness in dogs are
- Vomiting
- Whining
- Drooling
- Yawning
- Panicking
Here Are A Few Tips for Acclimating Dogs to Car Rides
Teach Your Dog to Enjoy Car Rides
Desensitize the stress and anxiety your dog develops when nearing the car. Don’t overwhelm your dog with long car rides at the start. Start slow and give your dog time to adjust to the new setting. This will slowly make it easier for your pet to adapt to the new mode of travel.
Reward Your Dog’s Positive Behavior
Rewarding your dog with a treat or healthy snack whenever he successfully journeys on the car is a positive way of encouraging him to travel with you on car rides. This will incentivize your furry friend and increase his comfort level while in the car.
Select Destinations Your Dogs Enjoys Visiting
Take your dog on short trips to places he enjoys visiting. Instead of walking your dog to a nearby park, take him to a slightly distant park via a car ride. In no time, your dog will start looking forward to driving!
Tips to Help Dogs Combat Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is not a chronic issue. Most dogs will forget about recurring motion sickness as they grow up. However, some dogs may continue to face motion sickness. Fortunately, specific tips and tricks can ease your dog’s tummy imbalance.
Here are a few noteworthy tips:
- Walk your dog around 20 minutes before the car ride
- Ask your vet about motion sickness medicine
- Lower the window and give your dog fresh air
- Keep the temperature low inside your car
- You may use dog pheromones inside the car
- Control your dog’s intake of food before the ride
- Keep a chew toy available to engage your dog with
