I tried everything: vet-prescribed medication for motion sickness in dogs, over-the-counter antihistamines, human anti-nausea medications typically given to chemotherapy patients, homeopathy, Chinese herbs, etc. Nothing worked. I always arrived at my destination with a nauseous dog and soaked, smelly towels.
With summer fast approaching, more and more people are planning vacations to pet-friendly locations within driving distance. But for those with dogs (or cats) that get carsick, these road trips can be an unpleasant ordeal.
“It’s really sad and traumatic to see your pet in that state, especially when they can’t vocalize what’s going on.” Matthew Lechner“It can be a visceral and emotional issue for both humans and pets,” says , an internal medicine specialist at Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
What causes motion sickness in dogs?
Motion sickness in dogs, like in humans, is caused by bodily Vestibular SystemA complex set of structures and neural pathways located in the center of the inner ear that controls balance and body orientation. When there is a conflict between certain stimuli (for example, what your eyes see and what your body feels), your balance is disturbed and the vestibular system sends distress signals to the brain (including the vomiting center).
“The driver is looking out the window so they are less likely to get motion sickness,” he said. Trisha Dowling“They’re focused on what’s outside the car and how the world is moving in relation to the car, and that helps them,” says the professor of veterinary clinical pharmacology at Western Veterinary College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. “But their field of vision is limited to what the dog in the car seat sees. At the same time, their body is sensing the movement. There’s a dissonance that activates the trigger.”
Car sickness in dogs is most common in puppies, whose inner ear structures are not yet fully developed. Many young dogs outgrow it as they grow, but some, like Raylan, never get better. Also, dogs of all ages can become anxious in the car, which can lead to car sickness.
Do cats get carsick too?
Yes. Car rides can make cats anxious. Not just with vomiting, but with urination, defecation, and meowing. “Cats spend 99 percent of their lives indoors, so a car ride to, say, a vet appointment can be very stressful,” says Lechner. “It takes them out of their world.”
However, cats usually travel in carriers, which can catch vomit and other substances that can soil the car seats. However, the cat and carrier must be cleaned, which can be a hassle for both you and the cat. (Small dogs can travel in cages, too.)
How do you treat car sickness in pets?
Do not give your pet anything without consulting your veterinarian. Even over-the-counter medications can cause side effects. The recommendations below should only be used as a guide for discussions with your veterinarian.
Maropitant citrate (brand name Cerenia) is the gold standard for treating car sickness in dogs. It is a prescription medication for dogs with motion sickness. the study It has been proven safe and effective. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007. A generic version was released last year.
Injectable Cerenia is approved for both dogs and cats and is often used to treat chronic vomiting and nausea caused by surgery or chemotherapy, and can also be administered at your veterinarian’s office prior to traveling.
The pills are not approved for cats, but veterinarians prescribe them “off label.” Lechner said Cerenia works for cats, but other drugs used for dogs typically don’t.
Maropitant citrate reduces the chances of nausea and vomiting by blocking a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) called substance P, which is involved in nausea and vomiting.
“You can’t get anything more powerful than Serenia,” Dowling said. “It’s the best we have.”
Other options include human medications that can be used on dogs, but you’ll need to check with your vet about dosage and other requirements.
- DimenhydrinateBrand names include Dramamine, Benadryl, Gravol, Travtab, Doliminate, and Triptone. This is an antihistamine used to prevent motion sickness and can be effective in dogs, especially those with vestibular disease, but it can cause drowsiness.
- Meclizine hydrochloride. that It is the active ingredient in Dramamine, another antihistamine that causes less drowsiness. Antihistamines target the balance center in the inner ear.
- Ondansetronbrand name Zofran. This medication helps prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. It also works by blocking certain substances in the body that cause vomiting.
Talk to your vet about what to feed your cat — for example, your vet might prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to reduce your cat’s stress.
Most medications should be administered a few hours before you leave. Follow the directions on the label or your veterinarian’s instructions. Some veterinarians recommend skipping meals, while others recommend a small meal or snack. “Having a little food in the stomach can help keep your pet’s stomach active, so a small meal before you leave is better than a complete fast,” says Lechner.
Some people give their dogs ginger snaps because ginger is known to help with nausea, but there’s no research showing that it works, Lechner said, adding that other ingredients in cookies and ginger products, such as sugar substitutes, can also be quite dangerous.
There are other measures you can take to help your pet:
- Keep your car coolCar sickness often makes dogs pant, so air conditioning or a vent can help – but don’t let your dog stick their head out the window, as flying debris can hurt their sensitive eyes and cause them to jump out.
- Cage your dog or fasten your seatbelt The back seat: This is the safest place for kids, experts say.
What if Cerenia or other medications alone don’t work?
Talk to your vet about combination treatments. When the individual medications didn’t work for Raylan, our vet recommended combining Cerenia with the less-drowsy Dramine. That solution worked well.
While Cerenia is usually effective, motion sickness in dogs is complex, with many different pathways and mechanisms of action, and “one drug alone may not be sufficient,” the researchers said. Kate Illinga veterinarian and researcher at the Canine Aging Project. “Dogs have multiple receptors, neurotransmitters and nerves that affect nausea and vomiting, so to treat them we try to target one or more of them.”
While Cerenia works on the vomiting center in the brain, antihistamines work on the balance function of the inner ear, and this strategy ultimately proved effective for Raylan. “Cerenia alone wasn’t enough, so adding an antihistamine gave him the synergistic effect he needed,” Dowling said.
The key is to not give up: “This is a tricky and often frustrating problem,” Illing says, “but keep trying — and be patient.”