BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Aug 01 - 03:32 PM

Giner Ale and Canada Dry do well because in addition to the ginger, the carbon dioxide helps alter the acidity ballance in the stomach.
I carry crystallised ginger in my car because when I get a headache it is often accompanied by nausea - but nausea is all it is - usually. Drinks wouldn't last a week!
I have to say that ginger is not a wonder cure but it certainly raises the threshold and helps in moderate cases.
In my experience.

Placebo? What's a placebo?

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Aug 01 - 02:34 AM

Round the block? Gees you don't know how lucky you are - little white farting cat who is no more would barf before I got him out the front gate!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Deni
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 05:10 AM

Thanks for all this really interesting stuff. It makes no odds whther he can see out, is in front or back and he always sits on my lap. But I will try some of these things, grounding as I seemed to remember worked for my neices, I'd forgotten that... I'll even try the drugs etc...as a last resort.

Les B. How on earth did you know that Angus had had the postman's leg, (and the day after, the electricity man.) Interestingly he never does that when I or the kids answer the door, only when my husband does. It must be a male bonding thing. I must cure him. He came from a rescue and is just two years old, and he's only just started showing off his considerable bravery. Usually against large black dogs that look like they could swallow him whole.

Cheers and thanks again for the advice.

Deni

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Gypsy
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 10:54 PM

We are blessed, the girls have never gotten carsick. but i agree, if you can get out and walk every hour or so, will be good for all of you. I can't drive for longer than that without my back SCREAMING!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 07:45 PM

Judging by my own experience, not my dogs', dramamine works but I and some friends experience a great deal of grogginess for a long time; I don't get that with Bonine, which works just as well. I agree with the "let him see" suggestion; supposedly what causes motion sickness is that your eyes are registering motion in relation to nearby objects. Looking at distant objects decreases the sensation of motion. Besides, if he can see out, maybe he can also get fresh air from a window? The only folk remedy I ever heard of is soda crackers, as a preventive.

None of this is guaranteed.

CC

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: JenEllen
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 07:30 PM

We always recommend just generic benadryl. The diphenhydramine is what you want, so avoid anything that has added drugs. Go light on food before hand, and give frequent stops too. Talk to your doc regarding appropriate doseage for Angus' weight, and you can also work by taking small trips frequently to acclimatize him to riding in the car. Best of luck,
Jen (owned by another Angus...*bg*)

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Gareth
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 07:12 PM

regular breaks help - Guto my Welsh Terrier insisted upon a stop and walk about every hour or so in his younger days.

I recall on trip with him from Caerphilly to see relatives in Taunton. This was in the days before the second Severn Bridge. There was a hold up on the bridge, and it was left foot - right foot all the way over.

In the middle of the bridge (1.5 miles) the traffic stopped completley ( presumably whilst the wreckers removed the culprits. Stopped completly the Dog wanted out. Fine, traffic not moving, out he goes on the lead (leash)

I can happilly say that Guto is one of the few , if not the only Dog to urinate on the "fast" lane of the M4 motorway (freeway) and live to tell the tale.

But joking apart a break now and again seems to do the job.

Anyway I'am about to have my usual nightly battle to reclaim my bed !!!

(Sounds of Growling and snarling off screen.)

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 03:43 PM

My dog Belle used to get sick when she was smaller. My vet said to use regular Dramamine from the drugstore - it's nothing but an antihistamine and makes people/animals sleepy. Thankfully she doesn't get sick in the car anymore - once we are on the highway, she goes to sleep.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Mudlark
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 03:30 PM

If Angus is young he may grow out of this....lots of dogs do at about 1 yr. Being scrupulous about not feeding B4 trip, and going light on water, worked the best for my dogs. Also A/C if it's very hot where he is riding, or lots of air. I've never tried dram. for dogs, but a vet once did give me canine tranqs that turned an easy-going basset into a she-bitch from hell...they sometimes cause more trouble than they cure.

Good luck, Angus!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 03:10 PM

Also try not feeding him for a few hours before your trip and keep teh water to a minimum, rewarding him when you get to your destination with fresh food and water.

I would be careful on the amounts of ginger, at least for ingestion.

I had a girlfriend once who gave her dog tea whenever his tummy was upset. Some mint tea would probably help, or even chamomile, instead of water for a few hours before leaving. I think the being able to see out is probably really important. Is he in the camper alone, with you up front in the car/truck? If so, maybe he just doesn't want to be alone?

The other thing is, does he eat his food fast? Get super excited when you get ready to go? Both can cause an upset. To make him slow down while eating, put some stones in his dish, so that he has to work around them to get his food. This works for cats who eat too fast, too.

Our old dog was huge and ungainly, could never seem to get comfy whilst riding, talked the whole time, if not outright barked. Sounded as htough he was cussing the whole time. We figured he looked like a drunken sailor, so probably had motion sickness, but he never did hurl.:-) Eventually we left him at home most times.

Hope some of this helps your litte guy. Good luck!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 02:32 PM

I'm not too sure about stetching the legs of a Yorkshire Terrier. It's bad enough that they can reach your ankles!

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: MMario
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 02:29 PM

Is it accumulative? Can you take a break after 50 minutes and then he's good for another hour? Getting out and stretching your (and Angus's) legs every 45 minutes to an hours isn't a bad thing anyway if on long trips.

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 02:22 PM

Sometimes motion sickness is caused by not being able to see outside. If Angus can look out of the window he may not become so sick.

Ginger is a good idea as well for calming the stomach. He might be able to eat crystallised ginger (you might have to tie it to a postperson's leg to encourage him). You can get a device that fits into the lighter socket to heat up aromatherapy oils, and ginger there might help too.

Incidentally, Angus is not a Yorkshire name. He might respond better to Amos (Yorkshire joke!).

Les

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Giac
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 01:55 PM

I don't know if this works for dogs, but it works for kids. "Ground" the vehicle.

As a youngster, in the 40s and 50s, I suffered terribly from motion sickness, often passing up long trips with friends because I knew I'd have to ride in the back seat.

A friend of my mother's told her to ground the car, by attaching a chain or metal strap to the frame of the car and letting it bounce on the pavement. This was the same means employed, at that time, by tanker trucks to keep road static from causing an explosion or fire. It worked. When I started driving I realized I never got motion sickness while I was at the wheel. I was "grounded" by contact with steering column and thus the roadway. I still get motion sick unless I drive.

The problem is worsened by riding low in a vehicle, such as a pup might ride on the floor (fumes are worse there, too).

As Sorcha said, there is motion sickness preventative available from a veterinarian. Some friends have a dog who is guaranteed to barf before they are a block from home. They give her the medication about 30-45 minutes before leaving and she sleeps for most of the trip.

Good luck. Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 01:32 PM

See a vet. Dogs do get motion sickness; there is Drammamine for dogs.

Subject: Travel-sick folk pups. Any cures?
From: Deni
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 01:30 PM

To all Mudcatters with dogs...

Angus the Yorkie (who is just hitting the summer festival scene with great enjoyment) can travel for an hour in the camper without throwing up. An hour and five minutes and thar he blows. What is this strange phenomena? He can't tell the time can he?

Is he a bit small for travel-sick pills? Any folk cures? Please help. Deni