Why do dogs get car sick? Teach you how to deal with and prevent dogs from getting car sick in season

Jul 26,2025
4Min

Causes of motion sickness in dogs

1. All dog senses are very sensitive, especially the sense of smell. So there is actually a very strong smell of gasoline in the small space of the car. We can't smell it, but for dogs, this is the reason why they get carsick.

2. A car is a relatively closed environment, and the parts on the car make very noisy sounds. There are also many uncertain factors that can cause dogs to feel nervous and uncomfortable, thus making them motion sick.

Symptoms of motion sickness in dogs

Once a dog gets motion sick, the main symptoms are: lying on the ground motionless, nausea and vomiting, poor energy, bowed head, sluggish movements, etc.

Key points for traveling with your dog in the car

1. If you are traveling by car with your dog, even if it is only for a short distance of 1-2 hours, it is best to take a break every 30 minutes. This allows the dog to adjust and relax, reducing the chance of motion sickness.

2. Don’t let your dog alone in the car. When you take your dog out in the car, you must never leave the dog in the car, because the temperature inside the car rises at an alarming rate under direct sunlight (even in sultry weather without sunlight), and it may kill the dog in less than 20 minutes.

3. Dogs with short noses, such as Jingba, need special care because it is more difficult for dogs with short noses to dissipate heat.

4. Puppies are more prone to motion sickness and vomiting than adult dogs. Do not overfeed them two hours before departure, so that the food will have been digested and passed through the stomach two hours later.

5. Let the dog sit in the front row or lie on the floor in the back row, so that it is less likely to get motion sickness. To put it simply, either look ahead or don’t look at all, and the dog will not be dazzled. Slightly

First aid treatment and care for motion sickness

1. Oral administration: dimenhydrinate. The dosage is: for dogs over 20kg, 50mg/time; for dogs over 10-20kg, 25m/time; for dogs under 10kg, 10-20mg/time. If the dog eats it, it will start to appear drowsiness, excitement, dry nose and other phenomena, which is a drug reaction. Don’t worry too much. Symptoms usually disappear on their own after 10 minutes.

2. Prevention: In order to prevent dogs from motion sickness, dog owners can go to the pharmacy to buy some phenobarbital before departure. Giving it orally to the dog 1 hour before riding in the car. The specific dose is 1-2mg/kg, which can also have a good effect.

Take some Huoxiang Zhengqi pills two hours before departure. Note that they are pills, not liquid. Two grams for small dogs and five grams for large dogs can also help prevent motion sickness in dogs.
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