My puppy drools and pants in the car. How can I stop car anxiety?

Keesha is adorable! Thanks for posting a picture. There was recently a study that revealed that a significant number of cases of what we thought was anxiety in the car may actually be nausea and the clinical signs resolved with anti-nausea medication given before car rides. So, it would be worth discussing anti-nausea options with your vet. There is a prescription medication called Cerenia that works very well, but there are also some other options. If that doesn't help, then I would discuss anti-anxiety medications with your veterinarian to help break the cycle of her anxiety. Finally, some dogs will pant and shake from excitement, so that would also be an option. It might take some trial and error, but hopefully you can get Keesha back to enjoying her car rides. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Ginger is experiencing anxiety with a bit of nausea in the car. I would recommend using a medication that is geared more towards preventing nausea. Benadryl is a hit or miss and most of the time, I find, does not help with motion sickness. I would have a veterinarian examine Ginger and write a prescription for Cerenia. This is an anti-nausea medication but at higher doses, works well at preventing motion sickness. I hope this helps!

It sounds like she has some anxiety about certain places. I would talk to your vet about starting her on a daily anti-anxiety medicine like fluoxetine. This may take the edge off so she can continue to go with you everywhere. I hope this helps

You can try a natural calming supplement like Composure Pro or Zylkene - both of these can be used on an "as needed" basis for stressful events like car trips. Spraying a blanket with DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) spray for them to sleep on in the car may also help. If they're still anxious, you can always talk to your vet about a stronger prescription medication such as alprazolam or trazodone to use on car rides.

I would recommend trying NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin. I have had several clients use this product, which can be found online or at your local PetCo, and it has worked great for these dogs. I would also recommend using the Adaptil collar to see if this helps calm Dozer. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Many dogs suffer from anxiety when travelling, acclimatizing them to a safe crate now before the journey home, which can be used in the car can help as can calming supplements, pheromone sprays and magnetic collars. In severe cases, a vet may prescribe mild tranquilizer medications but these are not without risks outside of the supervision of trained veterinary staff, especially on a long journey and with an older pug. Keep safe and good luck

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tiffany. I would recommend starting very slow with her. If she does not get car sick, you can offer treats. Start by driving her around the block. Do this until she seems more comfortable. Then gradually increase the distance. You can give her a special treat or toy that she only gets in the car to create a positive association. You can also drive her somewhere she likes such as a park for her to play. Most puppies will adjust with time. Just be consistent with her and do short trips daily. I hope this information helps!