Basic care

Tips to Prevent your Dog from Getting Dizzy in the Car

 
Josie F. Turner
By Josie F. Turner, Journalist specialized in Animal Welfare. Updated: May 13, 2018
Tips to Prevent your Dog from Getting Dizzy in the Car
Dogs

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Getting your dog used to travelling by car is an invaluable skill; on many occasions, you will see how other means of travel such as public transport prove to be too complicated and you'll have to drive.

In general, travelling by car is a better option for those who travel with dogs. In the car, your dog will have space and you will be able to stop every so often so that it can get out and stretch its legs. Despite all these conveniences, there are some drawbacks; some dogs get motion sickness.

Stay with us at AnimalWised, as in this article we are going to go over the best tips to prevent your dog from getting dizzy in the car, given that getting used to it is so important.

Contents

  1. Getting the dog used to the car
  2. Going by car is fun! Create a positive association
  3. Tips for travelling by car with dogs
  4. Go to the vet if the dizziness persists

Getting the dog used to the car

Regardless of whether your dog is more or less susceptible to motion sickness during car journeys, it will always help if you get it used to the travelling by car from when it is a puppy. When dogs are young they take in all their experiences and incorporate them into their natural background, therefore naturalizing what they have done.

In order to do get your dog used to the car it is advisable to start when it is young. We recommend starting by making short trips or outings with them in the car. If they have never had this experience before, driving an adult dog by car can be a really difficult experience. The dog will perceive the car as something threatening and unsafe, and it will get so nervous that it is quite likely it will become sick.

Regardless of whether your dog is a puppy or not, it is always better to go from less to more. Get your dog used to travelling by car by taking very short trips - 10 minutes at the most - and progressively increasing their length. The car should also be going at an appropriate speed, if you go too fast the impact will be greater. This will help prevent your dog from getting dizzy in the car even if its first car trip takes place in adulthood.

Tips to Prevent your Dog from Getting Dizzy in the Car - Getting the dog used to the car

Going by car is fun! Create a positive association

Creating a positive association for your dog is really important. If you want to prevent your dog from getting dizzy in the car you have to make it associate the experience to a relaxing and fun event. On the other hand, if you only put your dog in the car to take it to the vet the experience will be scary. Your dog will dread getting in the car; it will be anxious, move too much and eventually get motion sickness.

You must remember that travelling by car feels unnatural to the dog. It needs to get used to the sensations, movement and noise of the vehicle, as it is an unknown and unsettling environment.

For this reason, it is important to take care of what happens before and after the car trip:

  • Before a car trip: Although a car trip can be stressful at times, you must try to be relaxed because your mood will be transmitted to your pet. Try to act relaxed; prepare all the necessary accessories calmly beforehand. It will also be very positive to go for a good walk before the trip so that the dog is tired and wants to sleep during the journey.

  • After a car trip: It is very important if the first few car trips finish in a fun place for your dog, like a park or somewhere you can play together. This way, the dog will associate getting in the car with something pleasant. when you it goes in the car it will usually associate it with pleasant experiences. Even if you go to a place other than a park, you should always reward their behavior with a treat, games or cuddles.
Tips to Prevent your Dog from Getting Dizzy in the Car - Going by car is fun! Create a positive association

Tips for travelling by car with dogs

Even if the dog feels comfortable and associates the car with positive things, it can feel physically ill due to the movement of the car. In order to prevent your dog from getting dizzy there are a series of health tips you can follow:

  1. Do not give your dog anything to eat in the two hours before the journey. This will prevent poor digestion.

  2. Make sure the dog is securely tied with a seat belt specifically for pets. This will prevent it from moving in sudden acceleration or strong breaking.

  3. It's best if the dog can play with a toy or has a loved one to pet it by its side, as long as it doesn't get startled or overexcited.

  4. Stop every hour so that the dog can relieve itself, stretch its legs and drink some water. You cannot make long, cramped journeys because that will make your dog too stressed and tired.
Tips to Prevent your Dog from Getting Dizzy in the Car - Tips for travelling by car with dogs

Go to the vet if the dizziness persists

If despite your efforts you notice that your dog deals with car journeys very badly and does not get used to them - the main signs are constant dizziness, motion sickness and fatigue - you should go to the vet in order to be prescribed veterinarian help.

There are drugs that can help alleviate dizziness in the car or even make it disappear. It would be much better to help your dog in a natural way, but the important thing is that your dog has a completely normal life.

The car is going to be part the dog's everyday life, so if your dog is suffering from dizziness, take it to the vet who will prescribe the correct medication and to stop it from suffering during car journeys. These drugs can get the dog used to going on journeys by car in a relaxed manner, and eventually they won't be needed any longer.

Tips to Prevent your Dog from Getting Dizzy in the Car - Go to the vet if the dizziness persists

What do you do to prevent your dog from getting dizzy in the car? Tell us your tips and advice in the comments section!

If you want to read similar articles to Tips to Prevent your Dog from Getting Dizzy in the Car, we recommend you visit our Basic care category.

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Tips to Prevent your Dog from Getting Dizzy in the Car