Car Sickness in Dogs: Why It Happens and How To Help
If your dog drools, whines or throws up on every car journey, you're far from alone, and it's something owners mention to me quite often. The good news is that it's usually very manageable, and a bit of patience and some gradual practice makes a big difference. Here's what causes it, what to look for, how to help, and how to keep your dog safe and legal in the car.
- Common in puppies
- Travel training works
- Dogs must be restrained
TL;DR — key points
- Car sickness is common in dogs, especially puppies, and is thought to come from movement affecting the balance centre plus anxiety
- Drooling, panting, lots of swallowing, lip licking and retching are all signs, not just vomiting
- The best long-term fix is gradual travel training, starting with very short journeys
- Feeding 2–3 hours before a journey and walking your dog first can help
- Your vet can prescribe licensed anti-sickness medicine for severe cases, but human travel tablets are often ineffective
- The Highway Code says dogs must be suitably restrained in the car
Quick reference only — this is a shortened summary, not medical advice. For anything urgent, read the full guide below and contact your vet.
Why do some dogs get car sick?
Car sickness is thought to happen when certain types of movement affect the balance centre in the brain, combined with the stress or anxiety of travelling. It's common in puppies but can affect older dogs too, and your dog is more likely to have it if they aren't used to travelling or weren't slowly introduced to the car as a puppy.
What are the signs?
Vomiting is the obvious one, but a dog who feels sick may also show drooling, panting, swallowing a lot, lip licking and retching. It can also work the other way round, because dogs who have felt sick in the car often become afraid of it, which makes the symptoms worse. Signs your dog might be anxious about travelling include:
- Barking or whimpering
- Shaking before or during the journey
- Weeing or pooing in the car
- Pulling away from the car or refusing to get in
It tends to get worse over time if it isn't managed, so it's best to deal with it as soon as you notice a problem rather than hoping it passes.
How to help: travel training
Medication can be a useful short-term fix, but PDSA says the best long-term solution is to help your dog relearn that the car is nothing to worry about. If your dog is already struggling, stop travelling for a short while and start again from the beginning. Go through the steps below, ideally spending two to three days on each, and only move on once your dog is happy. If they get anxious at any stage, take a break and go back a step, and reward them with a treat or toy throughout.
- Take your dog to the car at times they don't need to travel, and reward them for being near it.
- Once they're happy beside it, encourage them in with the doors open and the engine off.
- When they're happy inside, try closing the doors, then switching the engine on.
- Get them used to their restraint. If they already have one, trying a different type (a harness instead of a crate, or the other way round) can help.
- Once they're relaxed with the engine on, drive for a minute or two, and stop and head home if they get worked up.
- Build journeys up a few minutes at a time, taking regular breaks and watching for signs of sickness or worry.
If you're starting a puppy, or you simply want to prevent the problem, the same approach works, with short journeys of no more than five minutes to begin with.
Other things that can help
- Feed your dog at least two to three hours before travelling, and walk them before you set off.
- Give them something comfortable to sit on that they won't slip around on when the car moves.
- Keep the car cool, and make sure the cool air actually reaches your dog in the back or the boot.
- Take regular breaks on longer journeys.
Human travel sickness tablets work fine for dogs.
PDSA says non-prescription and human medicines for car sickness are often not effective and can have side effects. If your dog has very severe car sickness, your vet can prescribe licensed anti-sickness medicine, which is often used short term while you work on training.
Ginger or mint remedies will settle a dog’s tummy.
Herbal and natural products are widely sold, but PDSA says there is no evidence to show they work. Anti-anxiety products such as pheromone collars, calming supplements and compression coats are available too, and your vet can help you choose.
Keeping dogs safe and legal in the car
The Highway Code says drivers must make sure dogs and other animals are suitably restrained, so they can't distract you or hurt themselves or you if you have to brake hard. PDSA lists pet seat belts, harnesses, crates and carriers, and boot guards, though it points out that a boot guard protects the people in the car and won't protect your dog in an accident. A loose dog could also affect your car insurance if you have an accident.
It's tempting to let a dog put their head out of the window, but they could be hurt by stones thrown up from the road, knock their head, or distract other drivers, so it's best avoided. And never leave a dog in a parked car on a warm day, my hot weather guide explains how quickly it becomes dangerous.
How dogs travel in my car
When dogs travel in my car, they're either behind a guard at the back, in a harness clipped to a seatbelt, or in a crate if one is needed. I use the air conditioning or open windows in warm weather, and the heater and blankets in cold weather, and there's always water and bowls in the car. Dogs get a toilet break before and after any journey, and I keep journeys short.
If your dog is prone to car sickness and is coming to stay with me, let me know beforehand so I'm aware, and try to give them their breakfast a few hours before the journey.
Not veterinary advice: this guide is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. If your dog's car sickness is severe, or getting worse, please speak to your vet.
Car sickness can feel very discouraging, but most dogs improve a great deal with patient, positive practice. If your dog also gets anxious in other situations, you might find my guide to nervous and anxious dogs helpful, and if you'd like to talk anything through, message me.
Where this advice comes from
If you'd like to read the vets' own advice in full:
- PDSA on car sickness and motion sickness in dogs
- PDSA on safe car travel for pets
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