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It was on a long, winding mountain road that I first discovered that my Chihuahua, Papyrus, suffered from motion sickness. The multiple pools of half-digested kibble in the back of the car were a dead giveaway.
Before that fateful trip, he had always shown a lot of anxiety during car trips. Now I knew why.
If your dog suffers from motion sickness, you are not alone. This is a common issue, especially in young dogs. Luckily, there are many ways to help your dog find relief and even overcome their car sickness. We’ll take a closer look at this ailment and how to address it, below.
What Causes Car Sickness In Dogs?
The cause of motion sickness in dogs is the same as the cause in humans.
Our brains use cues from the outside world to help us understand where we are in space and how we are moving. Some of these signals come from structures in the inner ear that help us balance, while others come from sensory cues, predominantly visual signals.
When the vestibular signals from the inner ear disagree with visual cues in a way that is unfamiliar, the brain activates physiological responses intended to be uncomfortable. This process exists as a warning system of sorts to encourage people and animals to withdraw from situations that the brain can’t compute and, thus, the body won’t be able to react appropriately.
All this is to say that, when your dog feels the car moving but sees the interior around them not moving, their brain gets confused and creates symptoms to encourage them to get the heck out of there.
Car sickness is most common in young dogs and puppies for a few reasons.
For one, the structures of the inner ear are still developing in young dogs, which means they have even greater trouble making sense of the signals their brain receives. Puppies also tend to be shorter than adult dogs, which means they are more likely to rely on visual signals from the car interior instead of the world moving outside the windows.
Young dogs are also more likely to have limited experience with car travel. The more a dog gets to ride in the car, the more data their brain will have to make sense of what’s happening. Eventually, with enough experience, most dogs’ brains will stop reacting to car motion by stimulating a dizzying warning response.
Signs Of Motion Sickness In Dogs
Symptoms of car sickness in dogs can range from very mild to very messy. Below is a list of common motion sickness signs.
Those at the top of the list are likely to be the first you see. Those near the bottom are what you may experience if you don’t stop the car and give your pup time to recover.
- Yawning
- Lip licking
- Drooling
- Whining and restlessness
- Hunkering in one spot
- Vomiting
- Defecating
Depending on the severity of your dog’s motion sickness, they may move through this progression very quickly. My poor Chihuahua goes straight to hunkering when he gets in the car and progresses to vomiting fairly quickly, especially if we are on a curving road.
Dog Motion Sickness Remedies
Most dogs will outgrow motion sickness, especially if they get adequate exposure to riding in the car. But to help ease their symptoms during this transition, it can be helpful to employ some proven remedies to reduce nausea and dizziness.
Many of these remedies are also effective for adult dogs who continue to be sensitive to incompatible motion cues. As a lifelong car-sickness sufferer, I feel for them. Utilizing some of these tricks below will help them have a more optimistic view of car trips while keeping your interior cleaner.
Natural Remedies For Dog Motion Sickness
Natural remedies are a great place to start when addressing your dog’s motion sickness.
Many of these herbs and supplements target specific symptoms without changing brain chemistry. This is great for young dogs as it helps them find relief while allowing the brain to get accustomed to car travel.
These natural options are also generally safer for dogs and don’t come with side effects. Of course, always talk to your vet before giving your dog any supplements or alternative treatments.
Ginger
Ginger root is well known for its ability to soothe the stomach. This herb helps relieve motion sickness by regulating stomach activity and lowering vasopressin levels in the bloodstream. This effectively reduces feelings of nausea and helps prevent vomiting.
The easiest way to administer ginger to dogs before travel is to use a ginger tincture. Give your dog one drop per 5 pounds of body weight.
Diffused Lavender Oil
Diffusing lavender essential oil in the car during travel has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of motion sickness in dogs. This is likely related to lavender’s ability to lower stress hormone levels, including those activated when vestibular and visual signals conflict.
Use a battery-operated or vent-propelled diffuser and 100% natural therapeutic-grade lavender oil whenever your dog is in the car to help them find relief.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint is another antiemetic herb that can help relieve symptoms of car sickness in canines. It helps the stomach relax to prevent digestive upset and nausea.
Use peppermint oil in a diffuser as outlined above, or make a peppermint infusion using tea leaves. Steep two tablespoons of dried peppermint leaves in one cup of boiling water for about 30 minutes, then offer your dog 1 tsp to 2 tbsp, depending on size.
Chamomile Calming Treats
Chamomile is well known as an effective calming herb. Research into its use for reducing nausea in patients post-inner-ear surgery has also shown that it can be effective in reducing vestibular-related nausea. Personally, I have found calming treats with chamomile and L-tryptophan (another compound that reduces nausea) to be the most effective option for reducing my dog’s travel sickness.
Give calming treats containing chamomile according to package dosage at least one hour before travel for best results.
CBD
Cannabinoids, including CBD and THC, have long been used to help chemo patients control nausea symptoms. CBD, specifically, helps reduce nausea by activating serotonin receptors in the brain to reduce free serotonin levels.
Since an excess of this hormone is associated with increased nausea and vomiting, CBD is considered a safe and effective motion sickness treatment for dogs. It is an especially good option for adult dogs who continue to struggle with car sickness since it affects brain chemistry and associated symptoms.
Give 1 to 3mg of CBD per 10 pounds of body weight about 30 minutes before getting in the car.
Dog Car Sickness Medication
When natural remedies fail to address your dog’s car sickness symptoms, you may be tempted to try medication. While there are some effective options out there, none of them come without side effects, so it is worth trying our natural and alternative car sickness remedies first.
Benadryl is a lower-risk option for occasional car trips.
When the brain senses a conflict between the inner ear and visual input, it activates the histaminergic neuron system to stimulate the stomach to empty. Antihistamines like Benadryl suppress this system.
Give 1mg of Benadryl per 1 pound of body weight before travel. But, be aware, this drug will cause drowsiness in most dogs, and agitation in some cases.
Dramamine, another antihistamine, is used specifically for motion sickness in humans. It is also a fairly safe option for dogs. Give about 3mg per pound of body weight at least one hour before travel. Side effects are similar to those seen with Benedryl.
For extreme cases of car sickness, maropitant (brand name Cerenia®) can be effective in reducing symptoms. This drug, one of the only veterinary pharmaceuticals licensed for treating motion sickness in dogs, prevents vomiting by blocking stimuli to the final common pathway in the emetic center of the brain.
Maropitant, while reported to be safe, does have many known side effects, including sedation, loss of appetite, diarrhea, incoordination, tremors, and, ironically, vomiting. This prescription drug is only available through your veterinarian.
Other Ways to Address Canine Motion Sickness
Sometimes, the key to helping your dog overcome motion sickness lies in your car setup.
Many small dogs and puppies suffer from car sickness because their visual signals indicate the world is not moving even though their body feels the movements of the car. By propping them up so they can see the world outside, especially the calmer motions through the front window, you can help reduce this conflict of input.
One of the best dog car accessories for motion sickness I’ve found is a booster dog car seat. These raised car seats help boost your dog up so they can see out the windows.
Another good option that can ease conflicting signals, especially for larger dogs, is a crate. By placing your dog in a kennel in the middle seat, you can help force them to look out the windshield rather than the world flying by out the side windows. Placing a blanket over the sides of the kennel can further help focus your dog’s attention out the front of the car.
Another simple thing that might help is to only travel when your dog has an empty stomach. An empty stomach is less likely to experience nausea and will have less material to puke up.
A Note On Anxiety
While motion sickness is largely a physiological process, it can be made worse by anxiety.
If your dog gets stressed in the car, try addressing this issue along with the physical causes of their car sickness.
One way to do this is to create a positive association with the car. You can accomplish this by feeding treats or meals in the car when it is not in motion.
If your dog only ever gets in the car to do negative things (think vet and groomer), try switching up their expectations. Take short car trips through the neighborhood that end with a fun walk. Or take the car to the park or dog park or go hiking.
For homebody dogs, short trips in the car that simply end back at home can help reduce their travel anxiety.
Help Your Dog Find Relief
Addressing your dog’s car sickness will require a holistic approach.
Start with natural remedies such as ginger, calming treats, or CBD anytime your dog gets in the car. Combine this with changes in how they travel, including adding a travel booster or kennel, while addressing their anxiety and expectations surrounding car trips.
This combination approach will help your dog become more comfortable with car travel, which will help both their brains and bodies relax during these dizzying adventures.
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Sara Seitz worked in the pet industry for over a decade. In addition to being a certified dog trainer, Sara gained experience working as the general manager of a dog daycare and boarding facility, as the creator and manager of a pet sitting company, as a groomer, and as a dog behavior evaluator. She also has a bachelors in animal behavior from CSU. Currently, Sara works as a freelance writer specializing in blog, article and content writing.
