My dog gets car sick: what to do?
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Some dog parents regularly face this problem. Why does car sickness happen and how to help your pet?
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Why does your dog get car sick?
Dogs can get motion sickness in all types of transport, not just cars.
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The explanation is simple: the dog is not moving, but his/her vestibular system “thinks” the opposite (this happens because some movement or shaking is unavoidable while driving).
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And if the dog is also scared of cars, the situation only gets worse.
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How to understand that your dog gets motion sick?
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You can recognize motion sickness by the following symptoms:
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1 Shivering.
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2 Excessive salivation.
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3 Anxiety (whining, constantly moving around and changing the position).
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4 Increased heart rate.
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5 Vomiting.
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6 Diarrhea is possible too.
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What to do in this situation?
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▫️1 Don’t feed your dog before the trip (stop at least 3 hours before, but better even earlier).
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▫️2 Walk your dog well before the drive.
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▫️3 Don’t use any perfumes or flavored sprays, don’t smoke in the car.
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▫️4 Speak quietly, don’t listen to loud music.
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▫️5 Open the window a bit, so that fresh air can get inside.
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▫️6 Don’t drive fast and try to go around any bumps in order to minimize shaking.
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▫️7 Stop every now and then. Let your dog go to the toilet, drink and walk around for a few minutes.
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▫️8 Make sure you have wet wipes, mats and towels, in case your dog gets sick and vomits.
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▫️9 Sometimes it’s also useful to consider medication. However, before getting any – consult a vet. Almost all medications have side effects, and even if it helped your friends’ dog, it might make your pet feel worse.
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Have you ever dealt with this problem? What helped your dog? Share your experience! ⬇️