Mary Allen
Does your dog vomit while driving?
This is a very unsightly and dangerous business. In addition to smell and ugly stains, the health of your pet is the priority here.
The longer you ignore this behavior, the worse it can get. Fear or motion sickness is usually behind it.
In the following article we will inform you about the possible causes and offer individual solutions.
In a nutshell: Why does my dog vomit while driving?
If your dog vomits in the car, it can be attributed to a disturbed sense of balance, an anxiety disorder or motion sickness, among other things. This is no longer a concern.
If your sense of balance is disturbed, you should pull over to the right and calm your dog down. After a short break you can safely continue. This problem occurs mainly in puppies, as their sense of balance is not yet developed. You can train away this form of nausea.
If your dog regularly vomits in the car, then you should do something about it. If all the tips, tricks and exercises do not work, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
Your dog vomits in the car: 6 possible causes
Are you and your dog an inseparable team?
Your partner is always by your side, even at work, on longer trips or when travelling. Stupid only when your dog throws up while driving.
This can have different triggers. We have put together a few options for you here.
1. Unpleasant smell
Dogs have very fine and sensitive noses. They perceive smells much more intensively than we humans do.
If your dog throws up while driving, it could be related to the smells in the car, among other things.
Perhaps your furry friend is sensitive to scents from upholstery, car materials, food smells, or tobacco smoke. Ventilate your car regularly and do without other fragrances such as scented trees.
2. Fear
Dogs get scared sometimes too. A car ride in particular can lead to anxiety and panic attacks in your furry friend. Perhaps he or she has made a negative association with car rides.
If your dog squeals, whines, howls, or vomits in the car, these are classic signs of a fear of driving.
If your dog feels unwell or even vomits while driving, you should pull over, get out briefly and give the animal a break.
3. Disturbed sense of balance
Does your dog spit when driving? Then there could also be a disturbed sense of balance behind it.
Movements that are too fast and/or hectic can cause nausea and vomiting in humans and animals.
Dogs often feel unsafe in the car. The unusually rapid speed can upset your darling’s stomach, negatively affect his sense of balance and encourage vomiting.
So pay attention to your driving style, stick to the speed limit and avoid risky overtaking manoeuvres.
4. Motion sickness
Just like humans, dogs can also suffer from motion sickness. Even the smallest tour with Bello and Co. can quickly become an ordeal. Nervous panting, salivating or even vomiting indicate travel sickness.
5. Nervousness
A car ride is not without for your dog. There is always a certain nervousness. A puppy in particular often vomits while driving.
Maybe it’s his first ride and he’s understandably nervous. A mishap like this can happen before.
6. Unfavorable space in the car
Last but not least, the space in the car can also be used as a cause of the vomiting. An unfavorable seat on the back seat or in the trunk can also lead to nausea in your pet.
So keep a close eye on your darling and change places in an emergency.
When should you visit a vet?
Does your dog not tolerate driving? He’s not alone in that. Many dogs get sick when driving. We explained the reasons for this in the previous section.
Signs that your dog is feeling nauseous or nervous while driving include:
- panting
- Tremble
- restlessness
- bark
- howl
- feces and/or urine
- Vomit
What can you do about your dog vomiting in the car?
If your dog salivates or vomits in the car, this is not immediately a case for the vet. You can often do something about this idiosyncrasy yourself.
In the following we will tell you a few tricks and tips on how to get the problem under control:
- Watch the dog closely and intervene if necessary
- Carefully get your four-legged friend used to the car
- Slowly increase travel times
- Stop and calm the dog
- Break travel time for a walk
- Do not feed before driving
- Give the dog Nux Vomica (or other tranquilizers) before driving
- change seat
- drive slowly and carefully
If your dog still vomits while driving, even after a wide variety of exercises and sedation methods, you should consult a veterinarian.
How can you prevent your dog from vomiting in the car?
In order to protect your dog and your car, you can take individual measures in advance. For example, it is important to relieve your dog of tension. Calm down and soothe him before driving and create a pleasant atmosphere in the car for him.
Calming home remedies such as St. John’s wort, Bach flowers, or Nux Vomica also reduce your pet’s stress level and reduce its urge to vomit.
Good to know:
Observations have shown that puppies in particular vomit when driving. With a little patience and discipline, you can train your dog out of this unsightly habit.
Conclusion
Many dogs salivate or vomit in the car. You are either anxious, nervous, or suffer from motion sickness. Negative memories of unpleasant car journeys can also lead to vomiting in your pet. Action is required now.
Calm down your darling, ensure a pleasant atmosphere while driving and take short breather breaks in an emergency. Light sedatives can also be helpful here.