Carsick puppy

[benelli]

Our 4-month-old GSP hates car rides. We've tried tying him up in the back of the pickup (there's a pull-out bed cover, so he has a bit of shade and the option to look out over the side, but he's tethered so he can't jump out), kenneling him in the back of the truck, letting him sit/lay down in front of the passenger seat, and kenneling him in the back of a van ... nothing seems to be at all pleasant for him. He cowers when he realizes we're going to be driving him somewhere, drools to the point where it looks like he's foaming at the mouth, and usually throws up at some point along the drive.

It probably doesn't help that most of the times we go somewhere, it's a 2-hour drive. We do have a dog park that is 3-4 minutes away - would it help to make more frequent trips there, just so he has a better association with car rides? Or would that not make much difference? Is this just a puppy thing that he'll outgrow? The dog we had previously we bought at 1.5 years old and he never had any issues riding in the back of the truck - he was perfectly content with rides up to 8-10 hours - so I don't really know how to try to fix this, but we'd like to be able to take the dog places easily. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[SHORTFAT]

Yes, make very short trips to something fun for the dog! eventually, you can gradually increase the distance... just like anything else. Good luck..

[TraditionsGSPs2010]

I lived through this and it is no fun. The short trip method will help but I believe time is the ultimate cure. I have heard of people giving the equivolent to dramamene (sp?) to help with the motion sickness but eventually most will simply out grow it on their own.

[mkleisch]

I have used half a Dramamine tab, Vet's advice, successfully.

I've also noticed that my pup only threw up in the car when he ate some of his stuffed toys earlier that day.

[stlgsp]

I have had a couple that got carsick as pups and did eventually outgrow it. Rather than Dramamine, my vet suggested Bonine which helps with carsickness without the drowsiness. It worked well for training days or field events since your not getting there with a half asleep pup.

For mild cases, a little bit of ginger or a few ginger cookies work good too.

[buckmaster]

taking him on 2 hr rides when he was prone to carsickness was not the best idea....now he has a pretty strong association. find a fun destination 10- 15 minutes away for the dog...and start going there daily...once he no longer cowers at the car...start extending the trip. if you start with short trips the bonine is not necessary...and he would probably get himself worked up enough once in the car he will be drooling even for short trips....if you must take a long trip...use the bonine hours in advance...but remember the he has a strong negative association so he will probably barf on the first long trip regardless.
When I brought home a setter a few years ago he drooled so much on a 2 hr ride home, I did not understand how he could have any fluids left in his body..must have been 2 inches deep in the kennel...took a good 3 weeks of short trips before he got over the issue...now no problems in a car or plane.

[Fester]

I have never had one that didn't outgrow it
Fester

[displaced_texan]

I had one that used to get carsick. Got her at 12 weeks, about 6 months she grew out of it.

Lots of short trips to places that were fun for her.

[ezzy333]

I found putting them in a crate where they can't see out well helped a whole lot. The movement of things going by the windows is one of the main causes.

Ezzy

[Will]

I found putting them in a crate where they can't see out well helped a whole lot. The movement of things going by the windows is one of the main causes.

Ezzy

+100

[Sharon]

I don't know about pups , but having had car sickness for 65 years I can tell you don't always get over it.
Driving or sitting high enough to see the horizon solves the problem for me. I would think pup would do better of he was high enough to see out the front.

[dakotashooter2]

The 2 year old I lost in January never did like riding in cars. She tollerated it but would immediately lay down on the passenger side floor. She rarely looked out the window and if she did it was only for a few seconds.