car sickness.... please help

[nancy2394]

my puppy is 5 months old now and she recently decided she didn't like other people, or other animals... she's scared of them and gets all in a tizzy. And now we are having to deal with her getting car sick... and I mean sick.

We did real good to socialize her in the beginning when we first brought her home... but with my other dog dying and a lot going on we've slacked off on socializing her and now it's causing problems. She isn't nipping at anyone... but her fur stands up and she barks and growls and occasionally lunges toward the person or just completely runs and hides. I've been trying to take her with us as often as possible on errands, etc.... but that is becoming more and more difficult now that she is car sick.

When we used to take her out for rides the first month or two when we got her she never got car sick at all. But she literally just hurled 3 times on a short trip to a friends house that was only about 6 miles each way. I managed to catch it in a cooler we had in the truck rather than in my lap... but ewwww the little lunch cooler will never be the same... peewwww.

I'm not sure quite what to do. I know in order to get her to not be afraid of people and not be so hateful when she meets strangers is to keep socializing her like we did in the beginning. I'm quite confident she will do okay with that part because once she has a few minutes to feel comfortable with who ever she comes in contact with she ends up being fine.... just a bit timid until she really gets to know them.

But what can I do about the puking thing..... I thought of just keep taking her on small trips.. maybe just a few miles at a time on a regular basis. Will she overcome this car sickness or do you think she'll always be a puker in the vehicle?

 

[frenchboxer]

Sorry I can't help with the problem of her not liking other people or animals, but I can sure relate to the car sickness.

When our dog (who is now 4) was a puppy she was constantly puking in the car. At one point is was SO bad that I had only driven out the garage into the drive way when she puked her guts out and we had to go back inside. I got a motion sickness pill from the vet and gave her a VERY small amount, and took her on a VERY short trip to the forest, which she loves, just to let her know that at the end of the car trip there was something to look forward to. I did this a few times, then eliminated the car sickness pill and it worked! Also, make sure that your pup has not had anything, and I mean not even one iddy-biddy piece of kibble at least 2 hours prior to a car ride.

I'm sure your pup will outgrow her car sickness, as most of them do. Start with very short trips and gradually lengthen them.

 

[MyDogsLoveMe]

Yes that or even benedryl (call the vet for the appropriate dosage. Nalla was that way also and after giving her the benedryl she does great.

 

[GSDMom]

your puppy may be just going through a fear stage, hormones are kicking in now
I have a 7 month old who is usually a social butterfly - last week at class he decided he didn't like certain people

I have had this go on with a few of my others and they outgrew it
a few months after the fact

I gave my puppies childrens gravol when I went on long trips

 

[Fran27]

I think going to see your vet and asking for meds is the way to go. Boris is 11 months now and still gets sick in the car. Last week we had to drive one hour with him (usually it's 20 mins max), and he puked all his breakfast, so Tips got a snack. It was gross!

Tips got sick in the car once, it was after going through the vet, and I think it was stress.

 

[BlackDog]

We did real good to socialize her in the beginning when we first brought her home... but with my other dog dying and a lot going on we've slacked off on socializing her and now it's causing problems. She isn't nipping at anyone... but her fur stands up and she barks and growls and occasionally lunges toward the person or just completely runs and hides. I've been trying to take her with us as often as possible on errands, etc.... but that is becoming more and more difficult now that she is car sick.

I applaude the fact you are trying so hard to socialize your dog. Dogs that aren't socialized in this society can be dangerous. Don't give up just because of her puking. You don't always have to drive her somewhere to get her socialized. Take her for a walk in your neighborhood. Your sure to come across other people walking their dogs. If you think, at any time, that she might bite someone tell the people not to pet her. If there aren't many people or dogs in your neighborhood and you think you have to drive her start off slow. Go to some place close where you know there will people. Gradually increase your driving time as you go. The idea is to see how long she can be in the car without puking. If she pukes you had her in the car to long. If, no matter how short a time she's in the car, she still pukes just try putting her in the car when it's not moving. See how that goes. Then if everything is fine drive to the end of your street and back. If she can't handle that maybe go see your vet for advice. At the age of 5 months your puppy should still be being socialized alot at this point. I think the crutial part of the socialization period ends at about a year maybe a year and a half of age. Good luck!

 

[aurorab]

we have 2 rescues and a puppy. all 3 are now getting sick in the car. 1st thing don't feed b4 trips. we actually don't feed them anything that day (well atleast until we get there). then we give them benedryl. I sit with them in the back while my husband drives. Last- puppy pads!!!! we cover the back seat under the blanket (then the seat doesn't get messed up and a few for if I can catch it. I try to rub their backs and talk to them. It's gotten better but it's still a problem. We are going to try a new med for the chi. She started to do it in her pack-n-play and after I come home (inside and out). She is usually just bile (yellow and frothey), but still gross. It's called Tagamet (Cumetidine) it's a liquid. We'll see how that works.