Help with car sickness in dogs

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

So, it appears the puppy gets car sick. And not just a little bit-- he threw up 7 times driving from MA to CT (about 2 hours). He seems okay once we're on the freeway but driving around town/getting to the freeway makes him sick almost instantly. Now even just getting in the car triggers some pavlovian response that turns him into a slobbery, watery-eyed mess.

Someone recommended using a small dose of dramamine but I'd like to avoid using meds on him if at all possible. Does anyone have any good tips to deal with this? When it's me and someone else I can generally keep him on the floor between my feet and he seems okay but if I'm alone driving him that doesn't work because he tries to get onto the seat. I put him in his crate in the back, too, and that doesn't seem to help at all, even when I cover the crate, etc.

It sucks because there're no dog parks within walking distance of my house and he's active/needs to run a lot.. not taking him in the car just isn't an option.

[Sylvan Dreams]

This will sound corny, but get him a doggie car seat. It will elevate him so that he can look out the window- the fresh air may help. it will also clip to his collar or harness so he is secured and won't crawl all over or get thrown if you wreck. I have one for my little weiner dog and she loves it.

[4a6c1]

Anxiety it sounds like. I'd give him some doggie prozac and make his next 5 car rides all about fun, food and toys. Make them short rides though, always to somewhere fun (got a petsmart close to you?). Take his favorite stuff so he associates the car with AWESOME. Sounds like you might have already tried this though. You can stop the meds when he stops having the anxiety attacks. You are doing him a favor by the meds. If he was a person you could just be all like 'Its ok, we are going somewhere awesome.'. Unfortunately he cant speak English yet and he has to figure that our for himself.

Most dogs love cars. If he doesnt like being in the car he might be afraid of tight spaces. If there is a chance this is the case, I have a few other ideas.

[The Ponzzz]

This will sound corny, but get him a doggie car seat. It will elevate him so that he can look out the window- the fresh air may help. it will also clip to his collar or harness so he is secured and won't crawl all over or get thrown if you wreck. I have one for my little weiner dog and she loves it.

Yeah, car seat, or strapped into the buckle and have the window down for him. The stop/go is what is doing it. My maltese gets anxiety in the car, and that helps him.

[kookiegod]

I wish I could help, but my lab loves the Porsche. She styles and profiles around town, but doesn't stick her head out the window, but when i'm doing short errands, she runs right outside to the passenger door and is ready to go. Just sits and watches the world.

Funny enough, while this puppy can EAT, she won't at all when we're out, and she drools on the console. Same thing with barking, she is a huge barker, and doesn't when out. Go figure.

~Paul