Dog Carsickness

Dog carsickness seems to be very common as it is in the human family. Apparently it is caused by excessive nervous­ness or involves a peculiar sensitivity to riding in moving vehicles, such as cars, trains, or buses, but occurs most com­monly in cars. It manifests itself, while riding, in a stomach upset with symptoms of nausea and vomiting, which quickly disappear when the animal is removed from the vehicle.

Possibly the simplest way to control carsickness is by not feeding the animal before taking it for a drive and also by giving it a mild sedative such as an aspirin tablet. Along with this, the animal should be petted and spoken to softly in an effort to subdue its nervousness. Sometimes it even helps to let the animal play with a favorite toy so that it can get its mind off the fact that it is riding. At best, however, the effec­tiveness of these procedures is uncertain and variable.

In recent years a new sedative drug has been developed which seems to work quite well in a large percentage of cases suffering from dog carsickness. It comes in tablet form and is called dramamine. The animal should be given the proper dose before taking it for a drive. Dog owners whose pets are afflicted with carsickness are advised to contact their veterinarian to inquire about this drug and its use. Dramamine can be purchased at most phar­macies on a veterinarian's prescription. Bonamine is another drug that has achieved popularity. Many of the newer forms of tranquillizers are also very effective against dog carsickness.

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