Does your dog throw up during or after car rides? Do they seem unsettled in vehicles? You may think your dog has travel anxiety when it’s actually motion sickness. In fact, 48% of dogs show signs of motion sickness.¹

These symptoms can make every trip stressful for both you and your dog. The good news? Once you recognize the signs, you can take steps to manage it with the help of your veterinarian.

Travel Anxiety or Motion Sickness?

It’s easy to mistake motion sickness for anxiety.² That may mean you’re focused on behavior modification to ease anxiety (if you think that's the primary issue), instead of consulting with your veterinarian about the true underlying problem — motion sickness.

Since anxiety isn’t the root of motion sickness, your dog may continue feeling sick in the car with anxiety treatment. Ironically, this can lead to actual anxiety. The more trips your nauseous dog takes, the more anxious they get about future trips.

Signs of Motion Sickness in Dogs

Here are the common signs of motion sickness in dogs.

• Defecation
• Excessive drooling
• Not wanting to move/lethargy
• Restlessness
• Lip licking
• Panting
• Pacing
• Shaking or trembling
• Vomiting
• Whining

Even one of these signs can point to motion sickness in dogs, so try to take note of when your dog exhibits any of these behaviors and which ones you notice. This will help your veterinarian guide diagnosis and treatment.

Why Dogs Get Motion Sickness

Motion sickness happens when there’s a conflict between what the body’s inner ear (which controls balance) senses and what the eyes see. This sensory mismatch sends confusing signals to the brain, resulting in nausea and discomfort. While dogs of any age can have motion sickness, it's more common in younger dogs and some of these puppies will outgrow it.

If your puppy shows signs of motion sickness, it's still worth talking to your vet so your pet receives treatment. Negative experiences in puppyhood can lead to anxiety on car trips as they get older and into adulthood.

Why It’s Important to Treat Your Dog’s Motion Sickness

If you’ve ever experienced motion sickness yourself, you know how miserable it can be. Dogs feel the same way—and they rely on us to help ease their discomfort.

Treating motion sickness not only improves your dog’s quality of life but also:

• Prevents travel-related anxiety from developing
• Makes routine trips, like vet visits, less stressful
• Encourages more frequent travel and bonding opportunities
• Helps you avoid the guilt of leaving your dog behind

When your dog feels good on the road, everyone enjoys the journey more.

Treatment for Motion Sickness in Dogs

Treating motion sickness generally involves medication. There are also changes you can make before and during the drive that can help.

Medical Management

Veterinarians also may prescribe medications specifically designed to prevent nausea and vomiting in dogs due to motion sickness. Even better, some of these medications do not cause drowsiness. Your vet may recommend behavior modification (like desensitizing your dog to car rides) and prescribe mild sedatives or anti-anxiety medications if they also think anxiety is contributing to your dog's symptoms.

If you notice signs of motion sickness in dogs, talk with your veterinarian before starting any medication. Your vet will perform a physical examination and ask questions to determine the best treatment plan, which may include medications, your dog should receive to address their underlying medical condition.

Lastly, be patient. It may take some trial and error to find the ideal medications to support your dog’s motion sickness.

Travel can be a wonderful bonding opportunity with your dog if they’re feeling good and able to enjoy the trip. Whether you’re going by car, truck, bus, or boat, talk to your veterinarian about motion sickness treatment options so you can both get back to enjoying the ride.