Source
r/dogs•
kingtipop

[help] puppy started throwing up in car

Help!

Hi everyone, wanted some help/advice.

My puppy golden retriever is 6 months old, fantastically wel behaved and while she doesn’t like to get in the car she’s never had problems.

Recently she’s been desexed, and I noticed one time she had thrown up in the car on the way back from somewhere.

Today is the third time she’s done this. I opened the back and she’s literally heaving and throws up as I’m watching. This has never happened before she was desexed.

She sits in the boot (it’s a hatch) I’ve got a dog mat thing that covers the whole area so it’s clean and I’ve hosed down the thing each time. Seems like I might just have to give up on driving her around after meals? Any help or pointers appreciated.

Posted Aug 3, 2018, 9:05 AM UTC

26
lemikon•

Depending on how big she is try putting her in the back footwell instead, so she can’t see out the window, might reduce the motion sickness.

2
OnExtendedWingsdisc dogs: Aussie | Aussie/Kelpie mix (CGC)•

With each of the four dogs we've had, the sweet spot for developing motion sickness has been approximately 6 months old, and they all outgrew it by approximately 1 year old. I've heard the same from other owners.

I suspect it's related to their becoming more spatially aware and learning how to orient their bodies to motion. Until she outgrows it, try not feeding before drives, keeping drives as short as possible, and (as the other poster suggests) not letting her look out the windows.

2
kingtipopOP•

Interesting to hear, glad it’s nothing unusual I’d just assumed it was something to do with the surgery. Did you find it made your dogs dislike the car? I had to spend a bit of time conditioning her to tolerate being in the back but I can tell it’s not something g she wants to do at the moment

1
lovingitinthe51•

Yes, same with my dogs. Motion sickness that goes away when they are older. Pay attention to when you feed her, so you don't have to clean up a full stomach. When I got my first dog, I used treats to coerce him into the car, but that backfired when he started throwing them up.

2
OnExtendedWingsdisc dogs: Aussie | Aussie/Kelpie mix (CGC)•

We've been cursed with having nothing but car-crazy dogs -- their motion sickness has never deterred them from wanting to go for rides! If yours is starting to associate the car with unhappiness, maybe try some of these tricks:

  • let her sit in the car when it's parked at home while you wash it, putter about in the garage, etc (nothing too exciting and nothing scary)

  • give very tiny nibbles of soft treats as she gets in and sits calmly (one thumbnail sized treat broken into ten tinier ones -- not enough to throw up but enough to be yummy and pleasurable)

  • take her on very short drives to fun places, or at the very least just round the block and back -- don't let a car ride get associated with only vet visits! talk in a happy voice, don't let her move around much, and watch for signs she's sick (like tight lips and a weird stare)

It'll get better, I'm sure. :)

1
tracymayolabrador/beagle mix and Husky/basenji mix•

Most dogs get car sick actually.

You could speak to your vet about something like Gravol (anti-nausea meds) that you could give her when you need to drive with her - but if the vomiting is only after meals - then I would hold off on feeding her until the driving is done to avoid the issue.

1