Car Sickness Question - Page 1

We have a four month old GSD. We we take him in the VW Golf, he drools like mad. We we take him in the van or the SUV...there is never an issue. In all vehicles we use the same seatbelt restraint and he lies down on the seats. Anyone want to venture why the golf causes him to drool while the other vehicles he is fine.

Probably more bouncing and the landscape is closer, more motion visually. he'll get over it as he gets accustomed to the motion.
Jmo

Hi.  Several possibilities:

There may be a difference in the suspension / vibration
of your 3 vehicles.  Have you tried riding in the back where
your dog sits, to see if you can feel any difference  ?

Or maybe its the amount of visual stimulation your dog
gets in the VW ?  If the pup can see much more because
the windows are at a better height for him to see out;  or
if there are less windows by where he sits in your van or
the SUV,  he may be getting over-stimulated visually in
the car and that can make them feel motion-sick.

Another thing is there may be different air-flow in the VW,
so he is perhaps getting less oxygen  ?  Do you have
air con. in all 3 vehicles ?

Or he is maybe sensitive to having less headroom in the
Golf,  maybe it makes him feel what in humans we recognize
as claustrohobia ?
These are all just guesses;  but it is certainly unusual for
dogs to get car-sick in only one of an owners vehicles.

"...he may be getting over-stimulated visually in the car and that can make them feel motion-sick."

Not sure if it works the same way with dogs but it's the exact opposite of this with people.  Motion sickness is typically caused by the difference in the motion detected by the fluid in the middle ear and what the eyes see which is why it is more common in children who can't see out of the car windows (or couldn't before the advent of car seats).

Has anyone ever used "dramamine" for the car sickness?  My lab gets sick almost everytime he travels.  My mom said to use it.... I want to get someone elses input first though.

I've never needed to use dramamine for a dog but you can.  Ask your vet about the correct dosage beforehand.

Thanks.

I thought the op was talking about a golf cart.. :-/ oops.

I've used Dramamine for car sickness for dogs. No problem and it worked.

Could try the old 1/2 a ginger biscuit / cookie method.
OP's sounds like the kind of mild case that may work on.
(Dunno abt your Lab, Fawn.)

Keith - I believe there's some connection to dogs'
different, movement oriented vision (prey).  I have
seen it suggested that a dog crate be covered over
with a blanket, for this reason.

Joan you must have posh golf carts where you are;
seat belts ??