I’ve tried everything: a medication prescribed by my veterinarian specifically for dogs with motion sickness, over-the-counter antihistamines, a human nausea medication usually given to patients on chemotherapy, homeopathy, and Chinese herbs. Nothing worked. I always arrived at my destination with a nauseous dog and a pile of soggy, smelly towels.
With summer approaching, many people are planning vacations to pet-friendly and drive-able locations. But for humans whose dogs (or cats) get motion sickness, these excursions can become an unpleasant ordeal.
“It’s really sad, even traumatic, to see your pet go through this, especially since they can’t express what’s going on,” said Matthew Lechner, an internal medicine specialist at Veterinary Referral Associates in Gaithersburg, in Maryland. “It can be visceral.” and emotional for humans and their pets.
What causes car sickness in dogs?
Motion sickness in dogs—as in humans—results from a disruption in the body’s vestibular system, a complex set of structures and neural pathways in the center of the inner ear that regulate balance and physical orientation. When there’s a conflict between certain stimuli—what the eyes see, for example, and what the body feels—balance is disrupted, and the vestibular system sends a distress signal to the brain, including its vomiting center.
“A driver almost never gets motion sickness from looking out the window,” says Trisha Dowling, professor of veterinary clinical pharmacology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. “He focuses on the outside and how the world moves in relation to the car, which helps him. But a dog’s field of vision is limited to what he sees while sitting in the car seat. At the same time, his body feels the movement. There is a dissonance that triggers the phenomenon. »
Motion sickness in dogs most often occurs in puppies because their inner ear structures are not yet fully developed. Many young dogs recover from it. But some, like Raylan, never make it. Additionally, dogs of any age can become anxious in cars, which can lead to car sickness.
Can cats also get motion sickness?
Yes. Cats also get anxious during car rides. In addition to vomiting, this can lead to urination, defecation and screaming. “Cats spend 99 percent of their lives in a home, so a car ride — a trip to the veterinarian, for example — is extremely stressful,” Lechner said. “You take them out of their world. »
However, cats usually travel in carriers. These contain vomit and other substances that prevent the car seat from getting dirty. But you will still have to clean your cat and its carrier, which can be unpleasant for both you and your cat. (Small dogs can also ride in carriers.)
How is motion sickness treated in pets?
Do not give anything to your pet without consulting your veterinarian. Even over-the-counter medications can cause side effects. These recommendations should only be used as a guide for your conversations:
Maropitant citrate, brand Cerenia, is the gold standard for the treatment of motion sickness in dogs. This is a prescription tablet for dogs suffering from motion sickness that research has shown to be safe and effective. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007, and a generic version has been available since last year.
Cerenia injection is approved for use in dogs and cats and is often used for chronic vomiting or nausea due to surgery or chemotherapy. It can also be administered by a veterinarian before travel.
The tablets are not approved for cats, although veterinarians prescribe them “off label.” While Cerenia is effective for cats, other drugs used in dogs generally are not, Lechner said.
Maropitant citrate works by blocking a neurotransmitter – or chemical messenger – called substance P, which is involved in nausea and vomiting, thereby reducing their risk.
“Nothing will be as powerful as Cerenia,” Dowling said. “It’s the best thing we have. »
Other options include human medications that can be used for dogs, but you should check with your veterinarian about dosage and other requirements:
- Dimenhydrinatebrand names Dramamine, Benadryl, Gravol, Travtabs, Driminate, Triptone. This is an antihistamine used to prevent motion sickness and can help dogs, especially those with vestibular disease. However, these can cause drowsiness.
- Meclizine hydrochloride. He is another antihistamine and the active ingredient in the less drowsy version of Dramamine. Antihistamines target the balancing center of the inner ear.
- Ondansetron, Zofran brand. This medication helps prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery. It also works by blocking certain substances in the body involved in vomiting.
Consult your veterinarian about what to give your cat. For example, the veterinarian may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to relieve your cat’s stress.
Most medications need to be given several hours before departure. Follow the directions on the label or from your veterinarian. Some veterinarians recommend skipping meals, but others suggest a small meal or snack. “Having some food in your stomach helps move things along, so I think a small meal before you leave is better than a complete fast,” Lechner said.
Some people give their dogs ginger biscuits because ginger is known to relieve nausea, but there are no studies showing that it helps, Lechner said. He added that other ingredients in ginger biscuits and products, such as sugar substitutes, could be quite risky.
There are other steps you can take to help your pet:
- Keep the car coolDogs often pant when they experience motion sickness. Air conditioning and ventilation can therefore help them. But don’t let your dog stick his head out the window. Flying debris can injure sensitive eyes and the dog could jump over them.
- Keep a dog in a crate or tethered in the back seat. It’s the safest place for them, experts say.
What happens when Cerenia or other medications alone don’t work?
Talk to your vet about a combination approach. When individual medications failed to help Raylan, my vet suggested using Cerenia with the less drowsy version of Dramamine. The solution worked.
While Cerenia is generally effective, motion sickness in dogs is complicated by different pathways and mechanisms of action, which “is why sometimes a single medication isn’t enough,” said Kate Illing, a veterinarian and researcher at the Dog Aging Project. “Dogs have multiple receptors, neurotransmitters, and nerves that affect nausea and vomiting. To treat them, we try to target one or more of them.”
While Cerenia affects the vomiting center of the brain, antihistamines work on the balance function of the inner ear, a strategy that ultimately proved effective for Raylan. “When Cerenia wasn’t enough, adding an antihistamine provided the synergy it needed,” Dowling said.
Bottom line: don’t give up. “This can be a complicated and often frustrating problem,” Illing said. “But persevere. And be patient. »