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The first sign of carsickness, actually motion sickness, is the lack of animation in your dog. Next comes drooling. You will see your pup begin to drool profusely. If the ride is a long one, the
pup will usually empty his stomach and continue to drool.
There are dogs that never get carsick. Some are able to build a tolerance to the motion of the car, but it takes time. If the only time your dog gets to ride is when he goes to the vet, one of two
things is going to happen. First, he knows every time he gets in the car, he ends up at the veterinarian's office, where he is poked and prodded, and usually ends up with a shot, and that is not what
he considers a fun outing. He will fight to keep from getting in the car, because the only time he gets in the car, he is headed for the veterinarian. Second, he is not used to the motion of the car,
and it is going to affect his equilibrium and his stomach, making him throw up.
The training required here is going to take time, so do not expect this to be done in a few days. Place the dog in the car, and allow him to just sit or walk around for a while. After about 10
minutes, take him out of the car, and that part of training is over for the day. If you want to do this twice a day, make certain there is a 3 - 4 hour break between sessions. Continue placing him in
the car until he is getting in willingly and no longer fighting you.
Once he has accepted the fact that the car is not a danger, take him for a short drive. Travel about 3 - 4 blocks and stop. In the time it takes to travel four blocks, the dog may begin to feel the
symptoms of being sick, but he will not throw up.
After stopping, take him out of the car and walk around with him for about 10 minutes. After he has relaxed, put him back into the car and drive home. When you get home, take him out of the car,
praise him for being such a great dog, and let him play for another 10 minutes before you attempt any other training. Continue doing this for about 3 days, and then increase your distance by one or
two blocks. Again, spend 2 - 3 days working at this distance and then advance. Within a few weeks, you will be able to travel all over town, your dog will not get sick, and you will not have to worry
about cleaning up the car.
Taking the short rides will also help the dog relax, and those vet visits will not be so hard. When he is traveling well, start taking a few trips to the vet's office just to say hello, not for
any examination or shots, just a visit. If the vet is not too busy, ask if he will come out and pet the dog, just to say hello. This will help to relax him and relieve some of the stress about being
there.
Now, let us put this in perspective. If the only time you were to get a ride was when you had to go to the doctor, I will bet you would put up a fight when they tried to get you into the car.
Therefore, you see, those short rides let the dog know that he will not be going to the vet each time he gets into the car, and the visits to the vet will not always be so stressful.
If the dog is one that does not show any improvement, try giving him about one teaspoonful of anti-acid approximately 15 minutes prior to traveling in order to help settle his stomach. This helps
some dogs get over the problem. Prescription medications are available for this problem, and Dramamine administered by body weight may ease the situation. There is a side affect to doing this. The
dog will become drowsy and listless for approximately 8 - 10 hours. I do not suggest doing this without checking with your veterinarian and ensuring that your dog can handle the medication.
Do not expect any training to work after the first or second try. It takes a little longer for some dogs to adjust. Some have taken up to eight weeks. Be patient and consistent, and it will
happen.
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