Investing in travel sickness tablets for dogs ensures a vomit-free road trip that we all dream of… After all, travels and adventures with our beloved furry friends can be a little stressful. Though a fun experience, if you don't have the right dog travel accessories, you’re in for a hell of a ride. Whether travelling in a car, on a train or jet-setting abroad, we’ve found some anti-sickness solutions.
So, do dogs get travel sickness? Yes – car sickness is a common problem for puppies and dogs, says the PDSA. “Car sickness/motion sickness is thought to be caused when certain types of movement affect the balance centre in the brain, combined with anxiety/stress when travelling,” says the PDSA. Though more common in puppies, your adult and senior pooches can be susceptible to it, also. If you’re looking for short-term solutions, pooch-friendly anti-sickness is your best bet.
Best travel sickness tablets for dogs at a glance:
• Calming spray for transport: ADAPTIL Calm Transport Spray – view on Amazon UK
• Tablets for cats and dogs: Johnsons Travel-Eze Tablets – view on Amazon UK
• Natural, tasty bites: Yappy Calming Supplements – view on Yappy.com
• Multi-pack for journeys: Pets Purest Calming Bundle – view on Pets Purest
Aside from medication and training, what can be done? Well, as a dog’s travel sickness is linked to stress, there are plenty of calming products to help appease your pop and promote an anxiety-free environment. Not only that, there are modifications you can make to the car itself in order to ensure your pooch’s safety and happiness, such as a dog seat belt. This is a space-saving alternative to a car-friendly crate, which can take up a lot of space in the boot.
Overall, the key is making the car a welcoming, safe and comforting space. For example, a car carrier may help them feel secure when travelling. You can even give your pup something that reminds them of home, whether a familiar toy or blanket that’ll help them destress. However, if the constant sick is getting a little too much to bear, check out the best travel sickness tablets for dogs. Below, we will take you through prevention and treatment when approaching dog motion sickness.
Dog-friendly travel sickness remedies
Calming spray for transport
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First, we have the ADAPTIL Calm Transport Spray, which has been clinically proven and is trusted by vets, Though scentless to us, this spray contains a synthetic copy of the 'dog appeasing pheromone', which clams dogs fo all ages. It's very simple to use, just spray on a blanket or travel bed - and the effect may last up to around five hours.
Customer Review: "Our 3-year-old dog is a bit of a diva and has a habit of whining in the car. We're used to it but when he started to go to daycare a few months ago, they asked us to try this, to calm him down. I spray it on a blanket 15 minutes before he's picked up and it's improved how he deals with the van from the second trip! Would 100% recommend it!"
Pros
- Scentless to humans and other pets
- Simple to use: simply spray
- A reassuring and comforting scent
Cons
- Some customers noticed no improvement
Tablets for cats and dogs
Nest, we have some tablets, which reduce the effect of motion sickness using an active ingredient, known as Zingiber officinale. A natural herbal product, these Johnsons Travel-Eze Tablets contain 24 tablets and can help both your cat and dog. Fancy that! How much your pet requires is based on its size and life stage.
Customer Review: "I didn't expect these to work. Have a pup who has quite bad travel sickness. Wasn't expecting these to work given the price and the fact they were over the counter. Gave him 2 tablets before a 3 hours car journey which would usually make him sick. He was fine. Same for the journey back the next day. Really impressed."
Pros
- Natural, herbal product
- Contain an active ingredient
- Suitable for cats and dogs
Cons
- Tricky to give dogs tablets
Homoeopathic remedy
www.viovet.co.uk
The HomeoPet Anxiety Homeopathic Remedy contains a precise blend of natural organic ingredients, which will help your pet out in stressful situations. Choose between Anxiety, Travel and Firework Blends. The Travel Anxiety Blend provides fast, non-sedative relief for motion sickness, and fear of travel in cars, boats, trains, and aeroplanes.
Customer Review: "Seems to work a treat, we had a very travel-sick puppy, who just got more anxious by the minute. Not any more, she's calm and happy to travel."
Pros
- Suitable for cats, dogs, rabbits and budgies
- Precise blend of natural ingredients
- Perfect for tackling symptoms
Cons
- A few customers have not seen any improvement
Natural, tasty bites
www.yappy.com
It's safe to say, we're impressed with the Yappy Calming Supplements. They're easy to administer - because what dog can resist a treat? Grain-free and packed with natural ingredients to support overall health, these soft and tasty chews promote calmness, composure and sleep. They're perfect for travel, fireworks and separation anxiety.
Customer Review: "Bought to help with travel anxiety and sickness. Finn is slightly more relaxed travelling and no longer sick, but still dribbles. The only thing it does seem to make him slightly sleepy, but not a bad thing if it removes the stress."
Pros
- Personalisable tub label
- Treat-like and totally tasty
- Contains natural ingredients
Cons
- One reviewer felt that it could have come with more information on it's usage/effectiveness
Stress-busting supplement
There's no surprise that YuMove has made this list. YuMOVE Calming Care is a great anti-anxiety product for your pet. Containing L-theanine, B vitamins, natural fish protein hydrolysate and lemon balm, these tablets will be sure to soothe your pooch. Plus, there are some supplements available for our sickly and nervous feline friends, too.
Customer Review: "He sleeps deeper and for longer. He - mostly - ignores door knocking and visitors now. He is so much less jumpy we can finally relax when walking him. He has also found his playful-ness again; often found playing, digging, burying, shredding, rolling and wriggling around, calling out his "play" bark. This contains no synthetic drugs, just natural ingredients (think of human vitamin tablets or Omega oil supplements).”
Pros
- Life-changing testimonials
- Suitable to use short and long term
- Eases anxiety and helps reduce stress
Cons
- Only dog-friendly
- The taste isn't nice
Calming collar
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If you struggle to get your pooch to take anything, consider the Adaptil Dog Appeasing Pheromone Collar. Similar to our travel sickness bracelets, this anti-sickness remedy is great for travel, containing a copy of the natural dog-appeasing pheromone, this collar will have a claiming effect on your pooch. The effect can last up to 4 weeks, too.
Customer Review: "Over the years I've tried everything. This year it was the turn of the collar, wow I was very happy, she was still aware but not panting and shaking as she normally does. Going to get one tomorrow and get her ready for New Year's Eve. I guess it's a process of elimination until you find what works for you."
Pros
- Suitable for adult dogs and puppies
- Help reduce stress and support training
- The effect of the collar lasts up to 4 weeks
Cons
- May be suited best to puppy training
- Only comes in medium or large sizes
Multi-pack for journeys
www.petspurest.com
Perfect for the first aid kit, the Pets Purest Calming Bundle comes equipped to help calm your nervous pet. The Calming Aid Drops are packed with botanical herbs, acting fast and lasting long when it comes to calming down your pet. As for the treats, they contain fresh protein, active ingredients and botanicals for stress, anxiety and digestion.
Customer Review: "This product kept my dogs safe and stress-free. I even gave the neighbour's dog some to as she was really stressed. Highly recommended."
Pros
- Helps reduce stress and anxiety
- Two preparations for food and travel
- Prevents destructive behaviour
Cons
- A few customers did not see any improvements
Verdict: What are the best travel sickness tablets for dogs?
Our favourite travel sickness remedy for your pooch is the Yappy Calming Supplement. They're tasty, packed with ingredients that support your pooch's health and soothe your dog through stressful situations. Whether during a firework display, travelling in the car or when you have to pop out, these easy-to-administer treats will go down well.
Travel sickness tablets for dogs FAQs
What are the symptoms of travel sickness in dogs?
With help from the PDSA, we can answer some questions you may have about travel sickness. What are the symptoms of travel sickness in dogs? Apart from vomiting, which is never a treat to clean.
Aside from nausea/vomiting, the PDSA says there are other symptoms: drooling, panting, swallowing a lot, lip licking and retching. Plus, some dogs may be afraid to travel due to car sickness. So, if your pup tends to shake before being going inside, pee or poops during travel, barks or whimpers or refuses to get inside, these could all be signs that your dog is concerned about being sick.
If not managed properly, the PDSA advises consulting your vet – as it worsens over time.
How to stop travel sickness in dogs
For this, there are preventive measures you can take, as well as treatments for travel sickness.
Prevention
How can we prevent car sickness? Well, it’s to get your dog used to car travel, says the PDSA:
Start with short journeys – which are no more than five minutes. Then, gradually build with time.
Use a crate or harness – as these travel accessories will help your pooch feel safe and secure.
Give them comfort – for example, this could be a dog travel bed, so they don’t slip around.
Taking regular breaks – on your journeys will help travel train your dog.
Walk and feed them in advance – the latter of which should be at least 2-3 hours before travel.
Keep them cool – by popping the air-conditioning on or grabbing a comfy cooling mat.
Treatment
So, what we do to help with symptoms in the meantime?
Restart travel training – as mentioned above, is the best long-term solution for happy car rides.
Anti-anxiety products – are a good way of helping your dog feel less anxious about travel.
Medications – are a short-term solution. Don’t give your pooch any human medication.
Home remedies – typically are herbal products but haven’t got much evidence to show they work.
Make your own travel sickness dog biscuits
Of all the home remedies we came across in our research, this was by far our favourite. Can you believe that owners homemade ginger biscuits for dogs suffering from travel sickness? We’ve found a fabulous recipe from Bishopton Dog Walking Services, which may remedy your poor pooch.
Ingredients:
170g self-raising flour
85g peanut butter
Some hot water
2 tsp ginger paste
½ tsp cinnamon
Method:
1. Add 85g of peanut butter and four tablespoons of hot water to a bowl – give it a good mix.
2. Then, add 170g of self-raising flour, two teaspoons of ginger paste, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a little water – just enough for a dough – and mix. Remember to roll your sleeves up.
3. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick and preheat oven to 200°C. Cut out biscuits and place them on a baking tray.
4. Cook for 15-20 mins until golden brown. These make a perfect car-sick treat for your pooch.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Take a Break, specialising in pet health. When she’s not barking about dog supplements, she’s online devouring cat content.