Tag: travel

Dog Car Sickness: Signs, Symptoms & Prevention

Posted on April 2, 2025 - 6:39 pm by
A close-up of a dog sitting in the back seat of a car looking sick.

Whether you’re exploring the back roads or hitting the open highway, road-tripping with your dog can be a fun adventure for both of you — unless your dog gets sick. Motion sickness leaves your dog feeling terrible and you with a big mess to clean up. So we’ve got some tips for helping your dog enjoy (or at least tolerate) car rides.

Can Dogs Get Carsick?

Yes, dogs can get an upset stomach during car travel. Motion sickness is more common in puppies, possibly because the part of their inner ear responsible for balance hasn’t fully developed yet. Puppies usually outgrow motion sickness, but some adult dogs can still experience it. Motion sickness can range from nausea to severe vomiting.

Dog Nausea from Car Rides Can Be Stress-Related

A dog’s motion sickness can also be due to the car itself and feeling anxious or stressed about it. Car-related anxiety might be due to a previous unpleasant experience or because the only time they go for a car ride is for not-so-fun trips like visiting the veterinary clinic. As awesome as your veterinary team may be, it’s still a strange place full of weird smells and noises. It can be helpful to take your dog on short trips to fun places so that they don’t associate car travel with stressful experiences. For example, take your dog to the veterinary clinic when your dog doesn’t have an appointment — say hi, get some pets, maybe a treat and then home again.

Signs of Nausea in Dogs

It’s good to know the symptoms of nausea. That way you can stop the car and get your dog out into fresh air, hopefully before any vomiting mishaps. Here are some signs of nausea to look for:

  • Excessive drooling
  • Lip smacking or lip licking
  • Lethargy
  • Whining
  • Yawning

Conditioning Your Dog to Car Rides

If you believe your dog’s nausea is related to stress or anxiety from the car ride, you can try conditioning them to the car. It’s a good idea to start conditioning puppies to the car as soon as they are brought home, otherwise a bad experience as a pup may result in permanent travel anxiety.

To condition your dog, start by placing them in the vehicle and sit in there with them. Have the engine running and make sure the air conditioning or heater is on to keep the car at a comfortable temperature. Reward and praise their good behavior and, after a few minutes, leave the car. After your dog is doing well with this, try taking them on short drives (like around the block) then gradually extend the length of the trip.

It may take several trips for them to feel more comfortable. It’s important to remain positive during the conditioning process — you want your dog to continue to associate the car with a positive experience. You could also give them a toy that they only get when they’re in the car. If they seem stressed or anxious, stop and try again another day.

What Can I Give My Dog for Nausea?

To help prevent motion sickness, you can try positioning your dog with a doggie seat belt so that they can look out the windshield, not the side or back windows (it’s recommended to avoid the front seat as airbags can be dangerous for dogs). Keeping them in a carrier or crate may also make them feel more secure and can help with cleaning up potential messes. Make sure the carrier is secured so it doesn’t slide around and has enough space for your dog to stand, turn around and lie down.

If your veterinarian approves, it can help to withhold food for a few hours before a car trip so that your dog has an empty stomach. Keeping the car cool and well ventilated can help, as can cracking the windows to let a little fresh air in. If you’re on a long road trip, it’s a good idea to stop regularly and let your dog take a walk in the fresh air, along with providing them water and frequent potty breaks. The fresh air will be good for you, too!

Motion Sickness Medicine for Dogs

If you think your dog could benefit from anti-anxiety or anti-nausea medication, ask your veterinarian before giving anything to your dog, including over-the-counter medication. Your vet will determine whether your dog’s motion sickness could be helped with prescription medications, or whether natural remedies or other products that treat nausea or anxiety may be useful.

Solo Road Trips May Be the Best Option

Your dog’s motion sickness can quickly put a damper on car trips. You can try conditioning your dog to make the car a less scary experience or ask your vet if medication could help. If your dog still isn’t a fan of the car, you may have to take those road trips by yourself and leave your canine buddy at home with a friend or pet sitter.

Adventures in the Wild: Camping with Your Dog

Posted on April 15, 2021 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

What could be better than stretching out in the moonlight, lulled to sleep by the rustling of leaves, a chorus of crickets and the gentle snoring of your canine companion? Camping with your dog can be truly memorable. Here are a few tips to get you started safely.

Talk to your veterinarian. With any luck, your dog will make friends on your camping trip, so you want to make sure he or she is current on vaccines. Now’s a good time to stock up on flea, tick and heartworm preventives, too.

Be easy to find if your dog gets lost.  Even the best-behaved dogs can get distracted (squirrel!) and take off running. Before you go, make sure your dog’s ID tags contain all your current contact information. Consider a temporary tag with your campground and campsite number, or the number for the nearest ranger station. If your dog has a microchip, call the manufacturer to make sure the chip is registered with the current contact information. You might also want a dog collar with a GPS feature.

Pack all your pooch supplies.  Think of everything your dog needs during a 24-hour period, including food (pack enough for a few extra days), bowls, medications, bedding, a leash, toys, a crate, a yard stake with a short cable, poop bags, towel, brushes and a first aid kit that includes fine-tipped tweezers for removing ticks.

Find dog-friendly campsites: Most national and state park websites will tell you if dogs are welcome, but you can also try searching the web for pet-friendly campsites. Helpful websites include Bring Fido and GoPetFriendly.

Know trail regulations. Just because the campsite is dog friendly doesn’t mean the hiking trails are. Most U.S. national parks don’t allow dogs on trails, even if they’re leashed. If you plan on hiking with your dog, make sure to check the rules before you go.

Drill your dog on obedience skills. To be respectful of your camping neighbors, refresh your dog’s memory on commands such as “come,” “stay,” “drop it” and “quiet.”

Plan for your dog’s drinking water. If the campsite doesn’t offer drinking water, don’t rely on lakes, rivers or streams for your dog to lap from. Some natural bodies of water may contain toxins such as blue algae or harmful germs like Giardia. If using water from natural sources, bring a water purifying kit.

Make your dog comfortable. While you’re setting up the campsite, stake your dog on a short cable or let them relax in the comfort of their crate, so your hands are free. Place a tarp under your tent to protect your dog from the cold, damp ground and bring foam padding and a comforter for bedding. If your dog has a short, thin, coat, consider bringing a doggy sweater for when the temperatures drop at night.

Keep food locked away. You shouldn’t tempt bears and other wildlife with your food, so remember to protect your dog’s food as you would your own. Keep it in a sealed, waterproof container and hoist it high off the ground, if necessary.

Be a good campsite neighbor. Most campsites require your dog to be leashed at all times, so keep your dog from wandering to meet the neighbors. Don’t go on hikes and leave your dog behind on a cable, in a crate or in the car. You don’t want your dog to become a barking nuisance, run after wildlife or be caught in sudden weather changes.

Know the location of the closest emergency veterinary clinic. If your dog has a close encounter of the wildlife kind, such as a tangle with a rattlesnake or porcupine, you will need to seek veterinary help fast.

With a little planning, you can create great memories camping with your dog.

Road Trip! RV Life with Pets

Posted on March 18, 2021 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

Some people travel with garden gnomes, posting photos at famous landmarks. But we’re guessing snapshots of your dog or cat in front of an alien spaceship in Roswell, New Mexico, would garner a lot more attention.

Isn’t it time to indulge your pent-up wanderlust, load up the recreational vehicle with pets, then hit the road? All it takes is a little planning. Here are some suggestions to help make your wilderness adventure with your favorite four-footed friends a success.

Map your trip. Not every campsite accepts pets. Once you have a general idea of where you want to go, find pet-friendly RV parks or campsites along the way. Some campsites offer fenced-in play areas for dogs, which is a great way to wear off energy after a long drive.

Meet with your veterinarian. Your pet should be current on all vaccines. Many campsites will ask for proof of vaccination, so ask for vaccination records and other pertinent medical records. You typically won’t need a health certificate when driving with your pet, but it’s a good idea to check the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the states you’ll visit, just to be sure.

Now’s the time to stock up on medications as well as flea/tick/heartworm preventives to last the whole trip.

Help your pet feel at home. A few weeks before you travel, give your pet a chance to get accustomed to RV living. Start by letting them explore the RV interior in your driveway, so they can get used to where their food, water, beds or litter boxes are located. Provide them with positive reinforcement in the form of treats and praise.

Then, try a few short rides (now’s the best time to find out if they get carsick). If you’re towing a camper, your pet will need to ride in the car.  Make sure you have a seat-halter system or a way to secure their kennel to keep them safe. If you’re driving an RV, your pets will still need to be inside a secured kennel to help prevent injury if you make any sudden stops.

Get your pet’s identification in order. If your pet wanders away at a rest stop or campsite, a current ID tag is the best way to get them back to you. All pets should have an ID tag with your address and cell phone. If your pet has a microchip, check with the manufacturer to make sure they have your current contact information. It can’t hurt to pack a current photo of your pet in case you need to make Lost Pet posters.

Make a pet packing list. You don’t want to be stranded in the middle of the wilderness without a pet necessity. So, start making a list of everything your pet will need, such as: food, bowls, medications, beds, kennels, leashes, litter box, toys, poop bags, swimming life vest, pet sunscreen, playpen for campsite, and a pet first aid kit.

On the road. Schedule stops every few hours, so your pet gets a chance to stretch his or her legs and take care of potty business. Better yet, take a hike along the shoreline or into the woods. Always keep your dog on leash so it doesn’t bolt at an unfamiliar sound or sight.

At the campsite. Always be respectful of your neighbors, which means picking up after your dog, holding barking to a minimum and keeping your dog on a leash so it doesn’t snatch hot dogs off the neighbor’s grill, or worse, wander off.

If you leave your pet behind. You can plan short excursions without your pet, but try not to leave them in the RV for long periods of time. If the weather is hot, make sure to leave the air conditioner and fans on so your pet stays cool.

What are you waiting for? Time to start planning.