I know many of you will be hitting the road with your dogs this summer and while some of you are lucky enough to have road dogs, there are plenty of you with queasy pooches as your co-pilots! Instead of dreading that next trip in the car, here are a few natural remedies you can try to make your trip a bit more relaxing for both of you!
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* While it may be common sense to some, avoid feeding your dog any meals 3 hours before you leave for your trip. Let him drink a small amount of water a few times or give him a few ice cubes. Make sure you pack water with you for stops as well. You can give small, bland treats at rest stops during long trips, but don’t feed full meals.
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* Ginger has anti-nausea properties and you can use ginger capsules to help with motion sickness (for you and your dog!). Give 1 100 mg capsule of pure ginger root per 25 lbs about ½ hour before your trip and then every 8 hours after as needed.
* Try rubbing some Rescue Remedy on your dog’s paw pads or administering a few drops directly by mouth before you leave and during your trip. These 5 flower essences are known to alleviate anxiety. In many cases motion sickness in dogs is not due to the actual movement of the vehicle, but more due to the anxiety of the situation.
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* Soothing music and the presence of a familiar toy can help ease your dog into the trip. Many dogs respond well to classical music played at a low level. Try and keep your own stress levels down and your pet will be more likely to relax too.
If your dog is generally an anxious traveler, you may want to consider a canine pressure wrap like the Thundershirt – you can read more about it here.
Remember to cover your seats with a sheet or a few towels, just in case! Bring a plastic bag, paper towels and a pet-safe cleaner. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when you’re on the road. Hopefully you won’t have to use your “emergency kit”, but you’ll feel better knowing you have it!
