Anyone have problems with their pooch puking in the car? Every since we've had our little Abby she's always thrown up in our cars. First it happened in my police car. Not once, not twice but everytime she gets in it. If we make it to a location, she's going to puke on the return trip. She's got my wifes new Honda Civic EX and she's got my Element too. The day we went to participate in the Walk to fight ALS, she puke in the Element. That was the last time she rode in it and that was Oct.8th. When we went to DC during the July 4th holiday we had the vet give us a sedative to put her out but we don't want to have to do this everytime we take her somewhere. We love her to death and she's a good puppy (9mo's) we like taking her everywhere we go but to clean up puke is not worth it. We've been leaving her behind for the past two months. She just got spayed and she hasn't been formerly trained but she does everything we tell her to do just by talking to her. One of the smartest dogs we've ever had. Oh yea, she's a Yorkie if that makes any difference.

E-Shen, you have a Yorkie that likes to drive, any answers for us?

could just be your driving... every time my girlfriend drives,,, i sh*t.....

chozn4service, I've dealt with that in the past. ;-)

Here's what worked for us: hold back on feeding the little puke monster at least one 'meal' before you go for any rides. I had one that we actually had to hold back for 24 hrs before we were leaving. :???:

Don't get me wrong, :-? I'm not saying starve the bugger. Because in every instance we've dealt with after that first "puke free" ride, we were able to slowly able to bring the food back to normal. In a matter of just a few trips, the pup were eating normaly, and best of all - "puke free". :-P

We even get to stop at the Chick-Fil-A and get the boys an 8 pack of chicken nuggets now. :razz::razz:

Car sickness might be similar between humans and animals.

Try a static strap. When we were kids my brother always got car sick until dad tried a length of chain hanging from the frame and touching the raod occasionally. Theory was that the static created by motion of the car was grounded out. And it worked for my brother AND for a dog we had at the time. Now you can buy static strips - metallised plastic strips that do the same.

With my own kids I found that opening windows did the job. I made a big deal about getting the AC working properly in my first Accord because I was road-tripping my 12 yr old (at the time) daughter and niece. Turned on the AC and they got sick inside 10 miles!!! Turned off the AC and opened widows/sunroof they were fine. So much for AC!

YMMV

As with bh241 I withhold a meal at least 12 hours before travel as well as water. For the really tough heaver's 1cc per pound of Pepto Bismal half hour before travel helps to keep stomach settled. Frequent short trips (groceries) help get them to be better travelers quicker. MJ

Thanks for the serious info givers! We did do the short trips to the store and park or just around the block which is a mile and she would do OK on that but going anywhere serious and I'm talking like better than 10 miles and she starts to heave. It's not my driving because I'm cognizant of what can happen so I'm extra careful. You know when she's getting ready to do it to because she'll start to heaving and then, there she blows! I may have to hold back 24hrs since food can stay on their bellys for that length of time. The bad thing is that keeps you from taking her on the run to pick up our daughter from school, you know, those last minute, split second jaunts you think you would like for her to go with you on. I'll try some Pepto though and see how she responds to that.

Someone else posted this same issue within the last week - oh, wait a minute, that was a puking infant.

I have no suggestions but it sure make me feel blessed to have a dog like Rio

http://www.perfectiondata.com/images/riocroppedweb.jpg

who tells us when he has to lose his lunch. If in the car he barks to get out (hasn't happened in years), if when he's in the house goes to the door and tells us to let him out NOW!

I wonder if they have Dramamine (sp) for dogs?

On the other hand, we have two cats who puke to wake me up in the morning and then several more times a day. We started giving them something called Slippery Elm, I think it's helping but it's only been a few days.

PM me and I'll send you to a gal I met in a football discussion group that has forgotten more about animals than I will ever know, she always has a suggestion or two.

Be careful with the Pepto - it has salicylates (asprin-like) in it and believe it or not, it can be really hard on a small dog's empty stomach - try baby Maalox instead. Even better is a 1/8 of an imodium - it works better on the heaving - slows down the stomach. My PIL used that on their Pom and it worked great - and it has only a slight sedative effect at the lowest dose. The vet can also give you something for car sickness that is NOT so sedative if you have a good vet. Dogs CAN be prescribed Tagamet (Cimetidine) which helps again slow the stomach and help prevent a rush of acid from the excitement from making her stomach upset - she is so small that a vet should give you the proper dose tho - in fact you should check before giving her ANY people drugs (except Maalox) becuase Yorkies are notorious for having bad reactions to some drugs you can give other dogs safely.

As for natural stuff you don't have to worry about giving her try a bit of slippery elm bark powder mixed in just a spoonful of food 1/2 hour before traveling - you can buy it at any natural food store in "bulk" - our Whole Foods has it. Works GREAT on some dogs and no chemicals so you can give more if the bigger dose helps. I have given cats a 1/4 teaspoon dose 3X a day with good results. Something else I have heard is that if you can get the dog at window height or above the car sickness stops - some people use the higher dog booster seat which is a basically a padded box suspended from the seat back or on a raised platform. You can also try transporting her in a small soft crate or bag - sometimes no view outside does the trick for some dogs the same as MORE view outside works for others. You should try both to see if there is a no-drug fix that works before moving on to giving the dog something.

AN IMPORTANT FYI- you should avoid witholding food or water for more than 4 - 6 hours with a Yorkie unless you are giving her a 1/2- 1 teaspoonful of honey and 1/4 - 1/2 cup of pedialyte every 4 hours. While a normal dog is FINE with 24 hours of fasting - it can KILL a Yorkie - their little body and metabolism just cannot take it and prolonged fasting results in seizures and even death. Their blood sugar can drop dangerously low in a short time without food and their potassium level can drop to a level as to cause heart arrythmia as well. ALL small dogs can have this but Yorkies and Poms, tiny Terriers, Chihuahaus and any Toy breed of less than 5 lbs adult weight are particularly at risk.

Good luck and let us know if you find a cure for her

I have never had any problem with pepto bismal but check with your vet first don't want your pooch in trouble.:-) MJ

Our previous dog, a sheltie, would puke in any car for any length drive. When we HAD to take him somewhere we we give him a half a "doggie downer" that we got from our vet. But that did require planning ahead and he would be wobbly after taking it, so basically he was a stay at home dog.

Our current dog, a Chihuahua, has no problem with the car. We just strap down his den and he just cruises along in there, although he prefers the Jazz station to be on the radio. ANY other station and he gets a bit riled up.

Try different tunes in the car? :-)

yea, always keep the little buggers well hidrated. ive found a smoke or 3 will help the belly as well.:D

My dogs never thew up in my jeep wrangler - not in 10 years...when I got the Element they threw up, and one of them twice, in the first 2 weeks. The worse thing is, not simply that I had a new car for the first time in all those years, but that the Element is designed for the liquid to run under the mats on the sides and back of the seats...you can never clean it out! I was furious about this. I could n't believe my bad luck first with the vomiting in my new baby, and then wondering why = was it the way it moved on the road, the bumps, the dirt roads, as I could see it the ride was gentler and smoother, not as many fun bumps, but that you are stuck with vomit under your seats forever. Try taking the corners slower perhaps, no food before travel or during.....good luck!

Yea, the Vet suggested a little Pepto before travel and to hold back on foods. Like I said, the bad thing on this is the spare of the moment trip. Also it doesn't matter what car Abby is in, the E, the Civic or the Crown Vic, she pukes. And because we were aware of it from the start, we don't drive fast or careless. We're on city streets and someone is holding her all the time. She's not being jostled. I don't if it's like a seasickness or what, but I'll take precautions even if it means having a throw-away towel for her to be on. In my Element she puked on my daughte and it rolled off of her jeans onto the seat, cup holder in the center of the seats and the floor. I didn't have a problem with it getting where I couldn't get to. When I got home a little warm water and a mild soap took care of it.

Hi All! I'm a new Element owner (less than a week). One of the main reasons I bought it was because my beloved Beagle Daisy, gets car sick- NO CARPET. I like to take her with me alot. It doesn't matter if it has been all day since she has eaten, she still pukes. She is not nervous in the car, she likes it-sticks her head out the window, etc. The only time she doesn't is when she is really tired and she lays down.

Anyway, I have ordered a dog car seat for her (silly, i know), and i am hoping this does the trick. She will be able to lay down or sit in it, but not stand up. I am waiting for it to arrive. I'll let you know how it works.

Here's Miss Daisy:
http://flowergirl.zoto.com/img/640x480x1/e348503c28684eafbfadd6bfa8855966-.jpg

Hi All! I'm a new Element owner (less than a week). One of the main reasons I bought it was because my beloved Beagle Daisy, gets car sick- NO CARPET. I like to take her with me alot. It doesn't matter if it has been all day since she has eaten, she still pukes. She is not nervous in the car, she likes it-sticks her head out the window, etc. The only time she doesn't is when she is really tired and she lays down.

Anyway, I have ordered a dog car seat for her (silly, i know), and i am hoping this does the trick. She will be able to lay down or sit in it, but not stand up. I am waiting for it to arrive. I'll let you know how it works.

Here's Miss Daisy:
http://flowergirl.zoto.com/img/640x480x1/e348503c28684eafbfadd6bfa8855966-.jpg



Very cute dog. Congratulations on your new E.

Thanks, ann54. Here is my other baby, Penny Lane, she's a jack russell beagle mix. She doesn't get sick (thank god) but she isn't comfortable in the car. If i let her, she will ride on my lap with her head buried. For safety, i don't often let her. So she lays there, head tucked where ever possible, and shakes. I feel so bad. I got her a seat, too. I'm hoping that it makes her feel secure. I'm gonna look so funny driving around with 2 dog car seats! lol

Penny Lane:
http://flowergirl.zoto.com/img/45/64aea6a67cd28289577e205787ebdfb1-.jpg

So you are driving Ms. Daisy down Penny Lane. :-) But in seriousness, our Abby has been put into her crate for transP to the Vet and by the time I get there (3mi's) she has puked in her crate. I don't realize it until well after the fact because she stays out of it and there is no ill smell. Anyway, I'm hoping this is something she grows out of. The only time she hasn't puked was the day we got her from the breeder and brought her home. We left her house which is roughly 5mi's from our house, drove to the pet store and then came home and she was cool! Don't know what the deal is now but we haven't taken her out since she came home from being spayed and she didn't throw up on that return home either but she was still some what sedated. Only dog that I've had to do this in my 49yrs.

So you are driving Ms. Daisy down Penny Lane. :-)
I love it!

Penny got sick as a pup, but grew out of it. I was hoping Daisy would, but she is over 1 yr at this point, so it's not looking good.

I haven't tried to crate Daisy in the car. She freaked when i tried to crate train her at home, so I don't think she will just lay in the crate in the car. I keep her in the front seat and can tell when she is about to do her business. I can get it in a plastic grocery bag about 90% of the time!:wink:

chozn4service, paws crossed Abby grows out of it! How old is she, do you have any pics?

Ugh... I don't even want to think about this.

These all sound like great plans for short trips, but my doggie is a puker, and we're moving from Nebraska to California in less than two months. 1800 miles, in the winter (no open windows), with a dog who once puked such copious quantities of biley goo in the cab of my pickup that I had to use oatmeal to soak it up before scooping it out.

:confused:

Well, here's the latest report. I've been on vacation since the first of the month and I decided to take the pup with my to our local blockbuster Video store last week and she did OK. I mean she sat there in the front passenger seat, looked out the window as best she could for her height, waited in the car while I went inside to make my selections, and once I got back, she wanted out but only to use the bath room. She marked her little piece of property and we were ready to head back home. I took here again the next day which would have been Thursday and same deal. She was cool and calm and only wanted to get out when I came back so she could water the lawn in the same exact place as the day before. I'm not saying she's cured but she done could for two days in the car and I didn't take any chances, I let her ride in the squad car. :-P Might as well let it be in the state issue if she's going to let it go. I don't have to report back to work until Jan. 2nd so I have plenty more days to take her out and see how she does. I had a U-Haul today moving some things to storage and she was ready to roll in that but the Mrs. didn't want to take her with us, but I'm hopeful she's got a handle on her innerts.:wink: