Causes of motion sickness in dogs

For dogs, motion sickness is a very common phenomenon. The reason why dogs get motion sickness is largely due to a problem with their balance receptors. The dog's balance receptor is located in the inner ear. When it is stimulated by excessive movement (bumps, turns), excessive bioelectricity will be generated, affecting the normal function of the nerve center, causing the dog to get motion sickness. Generally speaking, puppies under one year old are more susceptible to motion sickness because some of the structures in their inner ears are not fully developed, so they are less able to tolerate motion stimulation. In addition, nervousness is also an important factor leading to motion sickness.

Symptoms of motion sickness in dogs

When people are motion sick, they will look pale and feel nauseous. The symptoms of dogs and people are not exactly the same. When they get carsick, they often have the following symptoms: yawning, vomiting, shaking, lack of energy, drooling, retching, restlessness, whining, frequent licking of nose and lips, and heavy breathing. . If a dog has one or more of the above symptoms every time he or she drives, the dog is almost certainly carsick or afraid of driving.

Methods to deal with motion sickness in dogs

To solve the problem of motion sickness in dogs, you need to let the dog get used to riding in the car and at the same time improve the environment in the car to make the dog sit more comfortably. On the one hand, the owner must train the dog. Before taking your dog on a long trip, it’s a good idea to take him somewhere close to home. At the beginning, you only need to open the car door, take the dog in, and let him sit in the car for a few minutes to gradually become familiar with the environment inside the car. The next day, you can try driving him to a nearby pet store to buy his favorite dog food. Then try taking it somewhere further away such as a park. If it behaves well, reward it. In this way, the dog will gradually get used to riding in the car, and by combining riding in the car with delicious food and fun, the fear of riding in the car will naturally be eliminated.
On the other hand, the owner also needs to make the dog sit more comfortably. First of all, it can be equipped with a dog-specific seat and a special safety belt, which makes the dog feel more secure. Secondly, turn off the music in the car to create a relatively quiet environment for the dog. If you must listen to music, please choose soothing and soft music. Next, if the journey is long, you can stop a few times in the middle. While the person rests, the dog also has a chance to breathe, which can reduce the dog's fatigue. Finally, if you have a companion traveling with you, try to let him play with the dog. The dog will focus on playing and the possibility of motion sickness will be greatly reduced.