Health

Dogs

Car sickness and travel anxiety

Car sickness is common in dogs, especially puppies, and is often made worse by fear of travelling. It usually gets worse over time if nothing is done. Gradual travel training is the best long-term fix, and your vet can help in severe cases.

What you might notice

• Drooling, lip licking or swallowing a lot.
• Panting, whining or shaking in the car.
• Retching or vomiting during travel.
• Refusing to get into the car.

Common causes

• Car movement affecting the balance centre in the brain.
• Being young and not used to travel.
• Fear or anxiety linked to past bad journeys.

What you can do at home

• Start with very short trips of five minutes or less and build up slowly.
• Reward calm behaviour at every step.
• Feed 2 to 3 hours before travel and walk your dog first.
• Use a secure crate or harness and keep the car cool and well ventilated.
• Take regular breaks on long journeys.

Book a vet in the next day or two if

• Sickness or distress on most journeys.
• You are planning a long trip with a dog that gets sick.
• Fear of the car is getting worse.

Don't

• Do not give human travel sickness tablets.
• Do not rely on herbal remedies; there is no evidence they work.
• Never leave a dog alone in a warm car.

Prevention

• Get puppies used to short, positive car trips early.
• Keep early journeys short and end them somewhere fun.
• Use a secure crate or travel harness from the start.

This guide gives general information about common health problems in dogs and cats. It is not a diagnosis and it does not replace an examination by a veterinarian. Every animal is different, and signs that look mild can sometimes hide a serious problem, especially in cats, which often hide illness and pain. If you are worried about your pet, or if your pet shows any of the warning signs listed here, contact your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic straight away. Never give your pet human medicines or any medicine not prescribed for that animal by a vet.