Just like people, animals have sensitivity to new environments, and as humans do, many animals have issues with riding in a car and may experience various levels of car sickness. Especially if you don’t take your dog or cat for frequent rides, the motion of the car could cause a nervous or symptomatic reaction from your pet.
There are several ways to address car sickness in pets, the easiest of which is to take your pet for more frequent, shorter rides. If your dog or cat never rides in the car, except for that 5-hour vacation trip once a year, it is likely your pet will not be accustomed to the enclosure or motion of the car. This can lead to excessive motion sickness or nervous energy in your pet. Rather than wait for the long trip, take your pets for short rides – a five-minute drive to the park or just around the block. This will help them acclimate to being in a moving vehicle so they can build resistance over time.
Sometimes, as with people, it is more than the lack of consistency in driving that leads to motion sickness in pets. No matter how often they ride with you, they experience sickness. In these instances, you may wish to purchase over-the-counter medicines to help ease the nausea and nervous reaction. Most of these OTC medications contain dimenhydrinate or meclizine and should be taken prior to symptoms occurring, meaning that you should give your pet its medicine before leaving for the drive.
Because dosage is not always the same in pets as it is in humans, and because these particular medicinal dosages differ by body weight, it is recommended that you consult a local Colleyville veterinarian’s office for recommended dosage for any pet suffering from motion sickness. Our professional veterinary staff will be more than willing to help you prevent your dog or cat’s suffering so that you can enjoy a relaxing vacation together, despite a long drive.