Motion Sickness in Dogs and Cats

We love taking our pets with us on adventures with us, but the feeling isn’t always mutual. Dogs and cats can become sick while riding in the car and this can cause anxiety and fear about traveling. This can be particularly stressful, especially when we need to travel with our pets.

This is typically more common in younger animals compared to older, presumably because the ear structures used for balance aren’t fully developed. However, the cause is not fully understood. While most of the pets that have motion sickness when they are young will outgrow it, some will not. Sometimes the pet can begin to equate travelling with the sensation of nausea even after they mature. Or, they equate travelling with going to the veterinarian, which causes stress resulting in the same outcomes of vomiting, drooling, pacing and panting.

If you suspect your pet may be feeling sick from the motion of the car, there are several things you can to do to prevent this from becoming a chronic issue:

• Do not feed your pet for 2-4 hours prior to a car ride. Some pets require longer fasting but consult your veterinarian to make sure it is safe.
• Start slow – allow your pet to be in the car with the engine off for a few occasions. Once they seem comfortable with that, turn the car on for a few minutes but don’t move. Once that seems okay, start going short distances (i.e. 30 seconds at 5 mph.) and work up to longer trips “around the block” and then full car rides to your destinations.
• Have your pet face forward or in a carrier with coverings on the sides so they must look forward to see out of the carrier
• Consider a seatbelt for keeping your pet secure if you don’t use a carrier. Some states require seatbelts or carriers for pets while in the car.
• Keep the vehicle cool.
• If it seems like anxiety is playing a role, give a treat with praise when they get into the car and before they get out, (this is assuming putting food in their stomach doesn’t trigger vomiting).
• Consider medications to help prevent the sensation of feeling sick. If pets are less likely to vomit or feel nauseous, they will feel more at ease in the car the next time they travel because they did not have that previous negative experience.

There are some successful remedies used in humans such as acupuncture/acupressure, ginger, and other herbs. These have not been confirmed to be helpful in dogs and cats and, unfortunately, there is no safety data for their use in animals.

If anxiety is also playing a role, consider pheromones such as Adaptil in dogs or Feliway in cats. Spray it on a towel where your pet will be and allow at least 10 minutes before you put your pet in the car. Ensure all cats are in a carrier (whenever possible) as this will provide a safe space for them to hide if they prefer. Consider anti-anxiety supplements and medications if your pet continues to pace, pant, vomiting, or have diarrhea. Cats tend to develop these signs from anxiety rather than true motion sickness, so a lot of managing cat “car sickness” is targeted at managing anxiety. Discuss these tips, supplements, and medication with your veterinarian to help make your pet comfortable so they enjoy taking the trip with you.