Dog Car Sickness Remedy: CBD May Skew Your Dog's Need To Spew

Many dogs experiencing motion sickness may have trouble on short trips, which can cause small errands feel a bit bigger for your dog and yourself. If your dog suffers from car sickness and you need some home remedies, you're at the right place! For some tips on preventing motion sickness, common signs of car sickness, and other tips to help your dog's car sickness, continue reading!

 

 

What Causes Car Sickness In Dogs? 

Motion sickness is more common in puppies and young dogs. This may be because parts of the inner ear involved in balance are not yet fully developed. Most young dogs will grow out of their motion sickness after a year or so, but for some dogs, car sickness may be an issue that carries into or develops in adulthood with no long-lasting remedy.

 

Dogs who do not take car rides often may have a higher chance of developing motion sickness when they need to ride. The motion of riding in a car comes with conflicting sensory signals that might be overwhelming to a dog not conditioned to the experience. In addition, dogs who do not travel in the car often may only do so when they are on their way to the vet, an event most dogs do not necessarily look forward to! This means that your dog's car sickness could be related to the expectations of a stressful experience following the car ride.

 

A dog gets car sick if it also has a traumatic experience riding in the car. Your dog might associate all trips in the car with this bad experience, which can trigger queasiness and vomiting during car rides from the associated stress. Other dogs may also become more motion-sensitive due to certain prescription medications. These conditions can predispose a dog to motion sickness, making its occurrence more likely.

 

 

 

Knowing The Signs

Identifying some of the signs that your dog is feeling car sick may help you figure out why they are sick in the first place. This can help you develop a plan to treat motion sickness accordingly.

 

• Whining: Whining and other vocalizations coming from the back seat might be your dog expressing its discomfort. Like people, when dogs are uncomfortable, they want to express it. So if you notice hear your dog whining, pay attention; they might be trying to tell you they aren't feeling very good.
• Pacing Nervously: Another behavior that we can find in people and dogs alike is nervous pacing. A dog suffering from an upset stomach might pace around to distract itself from the discomfort, much in the same way a nervous human might pace around when experiencing stress.
• Vomiting: Unfortunately, if your dog vomits in the car, your nose might be the first thing to take notice. But if your dog does throw up in the car, it might be because it suffers from car sickness.
• Diarrhea: Diarrhea can result from an upset belly during car rides. If your dog suddenly develops diarrhea following a car ride, motion sickness or car-related nervousness might be the cause.
• Lethargy: Drowsiness and exhaustion can also result from your dog feeling motion sick. We all know what it's like to experience car sickness, and often it just makes us want to lay our head down and pass out. Dogs are no different.
• Physically Shaking: If your dog is shaking, this can be a pretty clear sign of nervousness and emotional turmoil. If your dog gets shaky whenever a car trip comes or when they are in the car for long trips, this could signify that your dog is experiencing motion sickness or car-related skittishness.
• Licking Lips Or Drooling: Anytime your dog's stomach is upset, it may produce more saliva, resulting in drooling and lip licking. This is a common reaction to queasiness, so if you notice your dog drooling, they might need to hurl.

 

 

 

Car Sickness Remedy List

Now that you know some key signs of motion sickness in dogs, you can start thinking about ways to alleviate their upset belly. Various remedies may help your dog overcome their motion sickness, many of which are readily available to you. Here's a rundown on some of your options regarding anti nausea for dogs:

 

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are an over-the-counter option pet owners can utilize as a light sedative for easing the stress of a car ride. Two of the most popular antihistamines are Benadryl and Dramamine for dogs. You can find these at most grocery stores or anywhere that medicines are sold. Generally, these drugs are well tolerated by dogs so long as they are given the appropriate amount and have been given enough food before administration.

 

If you decide to give your dog antihistamines, always be extra careful you are not giving them a combination product. Human products marketed for fighting colds often contain multiple different drugs, some of which may be potentially harmful to your pup. Only give your dog products with a single active ingredient to avoid this.

 

Herbal Remedies

If you prefer to keep your treatment options natural, herbal remedies for nausea in dogs might be the right choice. Natural remedies can provide some of the same relieving benefits that can be found in over-the-counter or synthetic drugs without disturbing your dog's natural balance. Some common natural remedies you can easily access:

 

• Lavender: Lavender essential oil is a safe aromatherapy option for helping stressed-out dogs combat nervousness.
• Ginger: Ginger is best known for its ability to soothe upset stomachs and reduce swelling.
• Rosemary: Rosemary can effectively treat bloating, upset stomachs, and digestive issues.

 

CBD

CBD is a well-known therapeutic compound well tolerated in humans and dogs alike, making it a highly popular option for a wide range of applications. You can get premium-quality CBD products such as CBD oil, dog treats, and soft chews from us at HolistaPet! We make our CBD products with all-natural, organic ingredients, so you can rest assured your dog will receive all the wholesome, holistic benefits CBD has become so well known for.

 

Is CBD Good for Dogs?

HolistaPet utilizes an advanced supercritical CO2 extraction to ensure that no additional compounds are added to the final product, resulting in a pure, solventless hemp extract. That way, when you buy CBD from us, you can rest assured your product consists only of the best ingredients available.

 

According to the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabis plants containing 0.3% THC or less are considered hemp plants, eligible for consumption in creating federally legal CBD products. This bill allows people everywhere access to the wonderful benefits of this amazing cannabinoid!

 

 

 

Training Methods

Besides administering your dog medications or natural remedies, there are additional measures you can implement to decrease the chance of car sickness in dogs. Because car sickness so often comes from nervous or discombobulating feelings related to the experience, it can be beneficial to give your dog some additional training on car etiquette. Training is always beneficial for younger dogs, but even old dogs can learn new tricks to overcome car fears!

 

Desensitizing Or Counter-Conditioning

One way to help your dog get more comfortable with car rides is to take them on short trips. The trips do not need to be long and, at first, should be brief. The point of this method is to start with very brief trips and then slowly increase the amount of time you are spending on the road. This helps your dog slowly adjust to being in the car without needing to expose them to too much at once.

 

Provide Periodic Breaks From Driving

If you plan to take your dog on road trips or long car rides, it is important to give your pup time to rest during the journey. Try stopping periodically for pee breaks to prevent an emergency, and take your dog on a short walk break. This will not only allow you to stretch your driving legs, but it will also give your dog the chance to burn off some stress from sitting still while getting some time away from the car.

 

Withhold Food Prior To Driving

If you fear your dog's motion sickness might result in a puke scenario, one way to make sure this won't happen is to try to have your dog on an empty stomach for as much of the ride as possible. Try to prevent giving your dog food for around twelve hours before your trip. Not only will this lower the likelihood of vomiting, but this could also lower the chance your dog will suffer from digestive issues.

 

Face Your Dog Forward 

Queasiness is a common result of these visual cues and disorientation, but if you face your dog forward in the car, these sensations will be lowered significantly. Try keeping your dog forward-facing to lower the likelihood of queasiness from occurring.

 

Use A Crate With A Blanket

Most owners worry about their dog moving around the car or being too overstimulated by the outside. If this is your case, you can keep them safe inside of a comfortable travel crate. Bring their favorite toy and a comfortable blanket for a liner, so they can cuddle up and relax during the trip. If your dog suffers from nervousness, this can help them feel safe and keep them away from looking at the vomit-inducing moving objects outside.

 

 

Final Thoughts

No one likes to see their dog suffer. When on a car ride with your pup, being comfortable is a must. Luckily, there are many ways to combat car sickness! We provide high-quality, organic CBD treats, soft chews, and CBD oil, perfect for giving your pets relief on the go! Please visit us on our website for a look at our full range of products. Join our HolistaPet family today, and we will be more than happy to help!