car anxiety & carsickness
anxiety & Motion Sickness
Dogs car be fearful or show concern with vehicles due to past experiences or the lack thereof. Some dogs will avoid approaching a parked vehicle, others will refuse to enter or try to escape the vehicle immediately, and some will hunker down in the floorboard or stand shaking and or drooling. This can be due to a previous negative experience. Often times car rides have only ended up with negative consequences for dogs. e.g.
Ended at the vets office where they were jabbed with a needle.
Dropped at a shelter and left behind.
Resulted in motion sickness with or without vomiting.
Startled by a loud truck, motorcycle, or car backfiring.
Vehicle accident.
Desensitization & Counter-Conditioning
For young dogs with limited or no past experience with vehicles they can show anxiety when placed into a vehicle due to fear of the unknown, or confined spaces. Addressing how a dog feels about the car is the first place to start.
Hows does a dog feel about the vehicle?
Is the dog an anxious dog?
Are they only anxious when a car ride is imminent? (trigger)
Or is the issue just a motion-sickness issue?
With anxious dogs we help them work through the fear and uneasiness with being in a vehicle. To get a dog used to a vehicle we use a process refereed to as counter-conditioning or desensitization. A desensitization program is a slow repeated systematic exposure to things or experiences that do not elicit a negative reaction. Counter-conditioning is pairing something desirable with the thing that evokes fear or reactivity. For counter-conditioning to work it must take place before the thing or experience causes anxiety. For dogs lacking positive experiences with vehicles we can often get them used to vehicles by getting in the vehicle with them for short periods of time and surprising them with a favorite food treat or food stuffed toy while in the vehicle. These sessions should be kept brief to start and the vehicle should not be started. For dogs concerned with confined places the doors can remain open during this time. As the dog gets more comfortable in the vehicle the vehicle can be started then immediately shut off. This can be repeated as many times as necessary over the several days until the dog shows no signs of being uncomfortable with being in the vehicle. Slowly work up to having the vehicle run while the dog is in the vehicle. Keep working in small steps; this may include driving a few feet and turning off the vehicle and immediately exiting the vehicle and doing something fun (from the dog’s point of view) with the dog. Work up to drives around the block or short trips that end at a fun destination.
Teach To Get Out Of The Vehicle (First)
With older dogs that are fearful of the unknown or confined spaces its often best to teach the dog how to get out of the vehicle first so they feel as though they have some control which helps to remove the panic. This needs to be done carefully so we don’t overwhelm the dog and lose their trust. I will often place a dog into a vehicle and immediately (1/2 second) ask the dog to exit the vehicle and lead the dog out of the vehicle. After about 6 times I will slightly lengthen the stay in the vehicle based on the dog’s level of comfort. This is all done is a calm and upbeat manner without trying to “correct” a dog’s behavior. The amount of tension and restraint you use will be reflected in the dog’s behavior.
After teaching how to get out of the vehicle we can then work on desensitizing and counter-conditioning.
Car Sickness (Nausea & Vomiting)
Car sickness can be the result of general motion sickness or it can be based in anxiety, both of which can result in nausea. The challenge is determining the triggers for the problem. For some dogs it is based on the distance, speed, curves, hills, braking, or possibly acceleration. If you have a choice in routes start off in a different direction to see if that makes a difference. It can be solely motion sickness or a combination of anxiety being in the vehicle which can trigger the motion sickness. If strictly motion sickness we set up a process to work through and build tolerance to movement.
How we help them may require a combination of different things. Its important to understand a dog can experience nausea without vomiting. Some dog will stand motionless in the vehicle, and others will stand drooling.
The initial focus is on addressing the nausea and vomiting. Check with your vet regarding the options. Some of the options include Cerena which is FDA approved for dogs to help with motion sickness. Another one recommended is Bonnie (meclizine). Ginger is often recommended to treat motion sickness because it’s considered a safe alternative to many of the common options. Some have reported good results with Lactium (given 60-90 min prior) to reduce anxiety.
When I adopted one of my dogs she experienced motion sickness with vomiting with any drive over 15-20 minutes in length. She was always happy to get into the vehicle but shortly after the vehicle started moving I would observe her standing in a corner of the vehicle looking nauseous. To work her through this during the first year we took short drives (less than 20-min) regularly to build her tolerance to vehicle motion before going for slightly longer drives. I did end up cleaning up the vehicle after several drives during the first year and she eventually overcame her motion sickness. She eventually was able go on long drives and up and down mountain roads with no issues.
Some things to try.
Music on or off?
Windows opened or closed?
Just rear windows opened?
Foam mat under crate to absorb vibrations?
Is static electricity playing a role?
Visual input.
Forward facing with the sides blocked?
Rear facing with sides blocked?
Given freedom to choose front or rear facing?
Covered crate to eliminate visual input?
Wire crate or plastic airline type crate?
Elevate the crate for better visual?
A veterinarian in Avon, Connecticut made a fascinating discovery when one of his senior feline patients was fitted with an E-collar after a minor surgical procedure. For the first time in his life, the kitty didn’t throw up on the car ride home. Since then, the vet has recommended the E-collar for several more cats and a few dogs, and it has worked to relieve their motion sickness as well.
If you have a pet with motion sickness during car rides and want to try the E-collar trick, you can buy a collar online or at your local PetSmart or Petco. Make sure it’s the lampshade type that reduces peripheral vision (there are many types of E-collars out there, the one that’s effective for motion sickness is the old fashioned type).
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/01/10/elizabethan-collar.aspx
Herbs
Wulff, Mary L.. Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet's Life (p. 217). CompanionHouse Books. Kindle Edition.
