My friend Sara tells this story about a road trip with her dog Dakota where somewhere during a 14-hour drive her Husky-mix got car sick and vomited all over the back of the car. Then, embarrassed by the vomit, managed to pee all over the back of the vehicle as well. Her car was never the same.
Image: Pexels
Humans can let you know when they’re having trouble with motion sickness. Dogs have a bit of a harder time.
This week Travel and Leisure posted an article on travelling with pets (something a lot of us are likely doing next week for the holiday) and how to tell if Fido is about to toss his peanut butter biscuits in the back seat.
According to their veterinarian specialist, vomiting isn’t the only sign of motion sickness in pets. Others include dry heaving, shaking, whining, drooling and excessive lip licking. If you observe any of the symptoms in your pooch it might be time to pull over for a break.
In general, if you’re travelling with a pet you should make sure he or she is safely retrained in a harness and that you’re taking breaks every 2-3 hours for everyone to stretch their legs and visit a fire hydrant if need be.
Sitting your dog closer to the front can also aid in motion sickness since they’re able to see what’s happening outside the front window rather than just a blur of action out the sides. And if your pooch often has motion sickness issues, there’s Dramamine-style meds your vet can prescribe to make travelling a little easier.
Bottom line: don’t just put your pooch in the car and go, think about their comfort and safety just like another human passenger. You’ll both arrive at your destination a lot happier.
Comments