Prevention & Treatment Of Pet Car Sickness

Motion sickness is common in both dogs and cats, however most
pet owners will readily agree that cats are the most prone to
becoming violently ill while in a vehicle. Most cats will have
some reaction to travel that can include howling, meowing,
foaming at the mouth, vomiting and turning into nervous wrecks
at the sight of the carrier and the car. Dogs, as a whole, tend
to be more accepting of car travel and typically learn to adjust
very well to traveling, even learning what the jingle of keys
means. It is possible that cats can learn to enjoy being in a
car, however most cat owners don't usually worry if the cat
doesn't travel well as they typically are only in the vehicle
when they are on the way to the vets.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that puppies
and kittens are the easiest to desensitize to being in a car, so
the earlier you start and the more positive you make the first
few car trips the more likely your pet will accept and even look
forward to those outings. Get your pet, either puppy or kitten,
used to getting into the car. With the car parked safely, hold
the little one on your lap in the passenger seat or back seat,
give a few treats and lots of praise and attention. Don't even
have the car going at first, just get them used to the physical
aspects of the vehicle. When they are comfortable with that,
take very short trips, even just around the block, providing
lots of treats and praise for just getting into the vehicle and
remaining in it while you go around the block. Always have
someone in the vehicle with you to hold and manage the puppy or
kitten while you are driving, don't try to do it on your own.
With puppies or dogs you can also make the park, beach or
countryside a short stop on the trip, building in some exercise
and a reward the dog is sure to enjoy.

Always make sure that before you put a puppy or a kitten in the
vehicle they have had a chance to go to the bathroom. If you are
scheduling the car rides, make sure they are at least one hour
after eating and after the dog or kitten has eliminated. In
addition don't allow the puppy or kitten to drink immediately
before getting into the car, rather try to have them on an empty
stomach to prevent any messes.

The puppy, kitten or adult dog or cat should always be in some
type of a safety restraint while in the vehicle. This means a
crate or seat belt, but never just loose in the vehicle. Dogs or
cats that are motion sick or anxious will naturally try to crawl
under the driver's legs or get up on their lap, posing a serious
distraction and a potential accident in the making.

If you have tried everything discussed above and your dog or cat
is still really stressed in the vehicle or seems to be sick
while traveling, talk to your vet. There are some prescriptions
medications that will help to relieve the anxiety by sedating
the pet, which can help them overcome their fear. In addition
herbal remedies are now available on the market if you don't
want to use medications. Like all non-prescription treatments
they are largely unregulated and may or may not be effective for
your pet.

About the author:
Haley Thomas is an animal lover and communicator and an editor
for www.TravelingPetGear.com - a resource for stylish gear and
information for pets on-the-go, including pet strollers, car
seats, totes, and ramps.