Introduction
Cats:
Most cats do not
like car travel. If right
personality is introduced early and
often to car rides that are neutral
or positive, some cats might enjoy
it. However most cats don't like
the change in routine, the
confinement, and often an
appointment with a vaccination as
the destination.
For most cats,
the key is getting them used to the
carrier, which is best done by
feeding them near, then in the
carrier and leaving it out with a
comfy bed inside when there is no
food inside.
Also,
try spraying the calming pheromone "Feliway" inside
several minutes before the cat goes
in side to allow the alcohol
solution to evaporate, leaving the
pheromone behind.
Dogs
There are at
least 3 reasons dogs might vomit
related to car travel: Anxiety,
Excitement, and Motion sickness.
Video
Segment
View, Dr. Tripp on Animal Planet
television program,
Good Dog U, speaking about
"Canine
Car Sickness and Fear of Riding in
the Car" For lower resolution (56K)
viewing, click
HERE
Three Reasons Why Dogs Vomit
Anxiety:
If the pet is
anxious, it is clear from their body
language. They exhibit fear and
don't want to get into the car. The
treatment plan for these pets is to
feed the pet in the car every day
until they are relaxed. If the dog
won't go inside, measure how far
away from the car it is necessary to
put the food bowl, and try for a
foot closer every day. Once ok
eating on the floorboard of a still
car, try feeding with the engine
going. If relaxed, drive 1 MPH up
and down the driveway. If a meal
takes too long, do this with treats,
giving commands as close to the car
as the dog will perform and be
relaxed. Time passing helps. Once
the dog will get into the car
readily, then every walk time, get
in the car, drive 1 house away, then
continue the walk. If the dog
associates the car with Veterinary
Phobia, then look for short trips to
positive places. If this program is
insufficient for the level of fear,
then consider using medication from
your veterinarian like Xanax, then
decreasing the dose each visit.
Excitement:
This pet is the
other extreme where getting in the
car is the most fun possible, and
once inside is nonstop activity.
This pet gets so worked up, it
vomits. the first thing to try is
to take the dog on short, boring
trips as often as possible. The
next solution here is to first act
calm yourself, and pull over and be
boring to see if that will calm the
pet. If not, try using a Gentle
Leader while in the car. It has a
calming effect and may be
sufficient. If not, hook a long
leash or line and thread it under
the car seat, so you can keep the
dog in the back seat, and one hand
on the wheel. If needed pull the
line which pulls the dog's head down
below the level of the window, and
then release when calm again. Last
resort is medication, and Xanax
works for this as well.
Motion
Sickness:
Vomiting due to
motion sickness can occur in any
individual, and has to do with the
interaction of the inner ear
equilibrium, and brain emesis
center. It is possible to have this
in combination with either of the
other types of poor travelers. The
most important tricks are to fast
the pet before going anywhere, drive
slowly and short distances. It may
help to have the pet travel inside a
portable kennel if it will fit
inside the car. The goal is to not
be able to see the world going by
outside. Also, try lots of air with
the windows down if the weather will
permit. The old medication used
was Acepromazine, but this has
sedative side effects.
Diphenhydramine (Benedryl) may be
helpful in mild cases. For more
severe cases there is a new Pfizer
medication available by
prescription from veterinarians that
can reduce vomiting called
Cerenia(TM) (maropitant citrate).
