My dog gets car sick. Can I give him Dramamine for long trips?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Debi Matlack

  Veterinary Technician

  Published on November 9th, 2020

  Dramamine can be used to treat motion sickness in dogs, but you should consult with your veterinarian to make sure you get the correct formulation as some can be unsafe for dogs. Generally, veterinarians recommend a dosage of 2 to 4 mg per pound of the dog’s body weight, not to be administered more than once every eight hours. It’s best to give dogs the medicine at least half an hour before traveling. If your dog gets motion sick because of anxiety, Dramamine won't treat his anxiety, but you can work with your dog to help him become accustomed to travel and ultimately not need to be medicated. Using lavender on his bedding or a calming pheromone like Adaptil can be very helpful. The best way to help calm your dog's nervousness regarding travel is to take several short trips before going on a long trip. Put him in the car and start it, but don't go anywhere, just sit there with the car idling. The next day do the same thing, then back down the driveway and then return. Be sure to praise and reward him with a treat. Work up to driving around the block, then maybe a short drive around town, increasing up to 20-30 minutes of riding comfortably. Always remain calm and don't scold him if he starts crying or howling. Riding in a car in a confined space can be frightening to a dog. If he is visibly anxious, it's time to stop the training session will only cause him to further associate the car with being scary and will further set back his training.

  

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  Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

  Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

  Published on May 24th, 2017

  No, the Dramamine shouldn't affect him badly at all - this medication is an antihistamine that is considered to be very safe in dogs, and I have personally never seen any problems with using it. If it works well for him, great! There should be no problem with using it when you need to :)

  

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