Travelling a car sick whippet

[Leo Walker]

My nearly 2 yr old whippet, Dylan is car sick. He clearly starts feeling sick as soon as the car moves, but usually manages to hold on until the car is stopping and then throws up everywhere. I did manage to crack this once before when I had access to a car and he went out in it 3 to 5 times a week. He was then managing 45min journeys no problem. He hasnt done any consistent car travel for a while though and hes back to being sick every time again.

I have to travel him 200 miles at the end of October and its going to be a nightmare for him and me! I dont have a car at the minute and as my OH llives 200 miles away current access to a car is sporadic. I will have my OH and the car for 5 days next week so I'm going to take him out as much as possible for short journeys. Is he better in the back or the boot, or on my knee? He seems to get much less sick on my knee with his head out of the window, but thats obviously not ideal!

I was thinking about getting a boot liner and dog guard, and putting him in there with his duvet etc and having all the windows open. Does anyone use travel crates? Hes crate trained, so would probably be fine in a crate, although not sure from a sickness point of view? Hes almost never sick when hes really tired, eg. if I take him racing on the way home he crashes out and isnt sick.

Is there anything else I can do? Could a vet prescribe something?

edited to add, hes a proper little princess dog, gets himself stressed very easily and is very tuned into to my moods. I'm probably going to be pretty stressed as i'll be moving house, moving the horse and then having to move the dogs. Maybe I should get myself a sedative

 

[splashgirl45]

years ago my whippet cross was car sick and im had to travel her from london to blackpool, a long way with a car sick dog!!!!

i got a sedative from the vet which just made her a bit sleepy and relaxed and she was fine.. oncde we got to blackpool we did a few short journeys without the sedative and she seemed ok. i took a chance and travelled her home a couple of weeks later without using the sedative and she was fine. in her case i think she was sick through fear and once she had done the long journey with the sedative and realised that nothing horrible happened she was happy to travel anywhere in either the car or the lorry...may be worth a try for yours...

 

[Leo Walker]

My OH did suggest taking him to the vets and getting something to knock him out, and realistically I think that might be kinder if I cant fix this. Hes not frightened. He loves the car and leaps in. He knows if hes in the car hes going somewhere fun like racing or to the beach Hes also sick on buses, but not on trains, so theres always the option to pick a quiet day and time and take him on the train I suppose, but its a good 4 hour journey and 2 changes in busy stations, so probably not a great idea!

 

[Chiffy]

I took on a 16week old whippet/greyhound rescue who was terrified of the world and wouldnt even walk past a parked car. She couldnt even travel up to the village shop without being sick. I travelled her every day with my other happy dogs but it made no difference. In every other way her confidence came on in leaps and bounds. Six months later I wanted to take her to Badminton, a 3hour journey. The vet prescribed ACP as a sedative and a drug called Cerenia which stops sickness for 24hours. It worked perfectly but the ACP made her drowsy for the rest of the first day. She then managed the short journeys to the B and B with nothing. Coming home I decided to use just the Cerenia so she wasnt sedated. She was fine and has travelled miles ever since with no drugs.

 

[paisley]

From the owner of a (mostly) whippet and a car that used to be known as 'The Vomit Comet', I tried pretty much everything. We had a song: "The Roundabout of Sick".

What worked best for us was: tired as possible dog, who had recently done wees/poos, no food for at least 4-5 hrs before, and he travelled on the back seat of the car, on a very wide secure bed (made from sofa cushions), so he can lie totally flat. He managed a 6hr trip to Cornwall (with stops), and didn't puke once. Things like twisty roads and very noisy traffic still made him stressed but he's not been travel sick for about 2 years now.

Obviously I have to keep the car as there are permanent stains

 

[Suelin]

Our oldest whippet was desperately sick in the car when we first had her. Couldn't get 200 yards down the road before she threw up. We tried all sorts of stuff from the vet but the thing that worked was Stugeron from the chemists for people. A quarter of a tablet 2 hours before we travelled. This was recommended by several whippet breeders. We also made sure that every journey we had to do started and finished with fun for the dog. A run and a game. In her head she then associated the car with good stuff. We only ever used the Stugeron once and never ever had a problem afterwards. Thoroughly recommend it. If you are travelling and then staying overnight before travelling home I would give another quarter before the trip home to be sure. Good luck, car sickness is dreadful for anyone but especially for pets who don't understand the concept.

 

[Leo Walker]

Its definitely not nerves. For all his dramatic tendencies hes brave as lion and frightened of nothing, in fact we struggle more with his over confidence If I dont or delay feeding him hes sick anyway and throws up bile. I do try and feed him at least 3 hours before we go anywhere though.

I've ordered a huge waterproof plastic cover type thing that covers the entire back seat. I'll cover that with his own duvet and fleeces etc, and make sure all the windows are open a couple of inches. I've just read something on line that says that might help. Something to do with pressure inside the car and inner ears. It cant hurt and hes definitely better with the windows open! I'll get some Stugeron and try that next week while the car is here and take him out as much as I can, to do really, fun tiring things at least 4 hours after feeding time

If that doesnt work I'm going to take him to the vet and see what they can prescribe. Being sedated for the whole day wouldnt necessarily be a bad thing as we are moving house and that will no doubt stress him no end, being dopey for the first 24hours means I'll be better prepared to manage him the next day when he comes round and starts stress humping all the soft furnishings and trying to wee on everything

 

[satinbaze]

Try stugeron (see other thread on car sickness) don't forget that legally dogs need to be restrained whilst travelling in a car, that is behind a dog guard, in a crate or on a harness attached to a seatbelt. The fine is £300 and 3 points on your licence and yes I know people who have been caught.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Try an airline crate, fabric carrying case or a nice expensive custom made box so it will feel a bit more safe/secure and dark.

Agree, it's illegal to carry a dog unsecured in the body of the car and also know people who have been done. I would also be worried about them escaping out of the car in case of emergency stop or accident if you have no way of restraining them.

I'm also iffy with heads out windows - motorcycle helmets have visors for a reason!!

 

[Leo Walker]

I'm going to get them both harnesses, the waterproof sheet thingy has zips so you can attach them to a seatbelt. I think he might feel more secure if hes not sliding about in the back. Do I need to get any special one?? They seem to range from £5 to £50?!

 

[satinbaze]

Any harness will do although the special car ones tend to have padded chest pieces which would b better on a thin skinned whippet. Just make sure it's a good snug fit so if you do stop suddenly the dog won't slip out of it