While many four-legged creatures enjoy traveling by car, some dogs have such intense travel phobias that they make trips to the park, veterinarian, or groomer stressful.
There are ways to get past this obstacle and make your best fur friend’s travel more comfortable. Canine car anxiety can be isolating and difficult to manage.
Dog car anxiety vs. motion sickness
Motion sickness and dog car anxiety symptoms can resemble one another somewhat, and in many cases, motion sickness can actually lead to car anxiety. However, they differ in that motion sickness is typically a physiological illness while car anxiety is typically a behavioral illness.
In other words, motion sickness occurs when your dog’s body actually reacts physically to driving while car anxiety occurs when your dog has a mental fear of driving (which can result in physical symptoms).
“Vomiting can be associated with anxiety or motion sickness,” Dr. Ellen M. Lindell, a veterinary behaviorist and owner of Veterinary Behavior Consultations in Connecticut, told The Dodo. “Once a dog has become ill in the car, there can be anxiety in anticipation of feeling poorly, and differentiating the two can be tricky. In reality, there is not always a true line between physical and behavioral illness.’”
In the end, your veterinarian can assist you in determining whether your dog is experiencing car anxiety, motion sickness, or both.
“Sometimes response to treatment can help with the diagnosis,” Dr. Lindell said. “It is likely that the behavior is primarily related to motion sickness if a dog responds perfectly to a nausea medication,” ”.
For a variety of reasons, including motion sickness, your dog might be reluctant to travel in the car.
The most common cause of anxiety related to driving is motion sickness, which can affect both humans and dogs. According to Dr. Roberts said. “Car anxiety is a double-edged sword — when a dog experiences motion sickness, this heightens their anxiety, which then exacerbates their sickness, and so on and so forth. ”.
If your dog is fearful in general, he may also be anxious during car rides. The fear of being confined in a small space, the fear of the unknown, the fear of the noises your car or the traffic makes, and the feeling of instability or off-balance while moving are some additional causes. ”.
The dog may also “develop an association with the car and the ‘nasty place'” if you only take him to places he dislikes, like the vet, says Dr Roberts said, which can definitely trigger symptoms of anxiety.
Take your dog to the veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment plan, which may include a combination of medication and behavioral modification (also known as training — more on that below) if you suspect your dog has car anxiety and he exhibits some of the symptoms mentioned above.
“Medications that reduce nausea and anxiety are frequently used to treat car anxiety,” Dr. Lindell said.
Dr. According to Roberts, your veterinarian may opt to start with a motion sickness drug to see if the symptoms subside.
“When first treating this type of anxiety, anti-nausea and motion sickness medications are a good place to start,” Dr. Roberts said. Controlling motion sickness and nausea can frequently stop anxiety in its tracks. ”.
If your dog’s symptoms persist, your veterinarian might suggest an anti-anxiety drug. Sedatives are the next step if that doesn’t work, according to Dr Roberts said.
Sedatives can make your dog sleepy and decrease his level of awareness of his surroundings, both of which will help him unwind during a car ride.
Your veterinarian may suggest long-term behavior modification medications, such as antidepressants, if your dog has generalized anxiety and is afraid of things other than just car rides. Certain antidepressants that help to raise serotonin levels in the brain and regulate anxiety-related behavior over the long term can help anxious dogs just like they can help anxious humans, according to Dr Roberts said.
Just keep in mind that you can only obtain these drugs with a prescription from your veterinarian.
Training is a great way to help your dog feel less anxious and is frequently recommended by a veterinarian as part of a dog car anxiety treatment program.
Desensitization and counterconditioning are two behavior modification techniques that can be used to treat anxiety, according to Dr. Lindell said.
Desensitization is defined as “introducing the trigger at a low enough intensity that there is no sign of anxiety,” according to Dr Lindell said. (Or, helping him adjust to the vehicle without actually taking a trip in it. ).
Retraining your dog’s brain to associate the car with pleasure rather than fear is known as counterconditioning, according to Dr. Bring along some toys, treats, and even his favorite blanket, advised Roberts, so that he will associate the car with good things.
Simply spending time in your car with your dog while the engine is off is the first step in desensitization. Don’t actually drive anywhere at first; just put your dog in the car for a few minutes, advises Dr. Roberts said.
After doing this a few times, you’ll probably notice that your dog is less frightened by the situation. Next time, you can try starting the car to gauge his response. You can begin by taking him on very short drives if he seems at ease.
“Behavior therapy often starts with sitting in a quiet car, then building up to taking short, smooth trips, and, finally, longer trips,” Dr. Lindell said.
Instead of taking your dog to the veterinarian during dog car anxiety training, choose routes that will take him to a fun location like a dog park. This will make him look forward to taking car trips rather than dreading them.
Start by taking the dog on brief excursions to locations that are comfortable for canines, advises Dr Lindell said.
The key to successful training is to be patient because it will take some time before your dog enjoys riding in the car. “Don’t give up too quickly,” Dr. Roberts said. Puppies adjust quickly, but even older dogs take time to grow to love or at least tolerate the car. ”.
You can also speak with a behaviorist or trainer to assist with the behavioral modification process if your dog is still anxious despite your best efforts (or if you simply want to leave the task to the professionals). Your veterinarian can provide references.
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When your dog realizes you’re taking him in the car, does he start shaking and panting all of a sudden?
It’s quite common for dogs to fear going for a drive because of car anxiety. Before these dogs can become at ease with riding in a car, they typically need to be treated with medication and undergo special training called desensitization and counterconditioning.
In order to learn more about the signs of car anxiety and how to treat it, including how to keep your dog calm in the car, The Dodo spoke with a number of experts. Now you can travel with your dog!
When your dog displays signs of agitation and distress while traveling in a moving vehicle, that is known as “car anxiety.”
“Most dogs love a trip in the car as this usually leads to exciting places, like a walk, friends or doggy daycare,” Dr. Jonathan Roberts, a veterinarian from Doggie Designer, told The Dodo. “However, some dogs, especially puppies or dogs new to the experience, might suffer with anxiety while traveling in a car.”
Behavioral and physical symptoms of dog car anxiety include:
1 Fit your dog with a calming garment.
Your dog can travel more peacefully if you use a Thundershirt or other compression accessory. Similar to how a weighted blanket calms restless humans with anxiety, these form-fitting clothes apply gentle, continuous pressure to your dog’s body to help her feel more secure.
You can purchase the standard Thundershirt product or attempt a DIY version for a more unique appearance.
FAQ
How can I calm my dogs anxiety in the car?
Some animals might travel more comfortably in the presence of relaxing music or outside air. The best music for dogs to listen to is classical, soft rock, or reggae. You can also try opening the windows a bit. Just keep your dog’s head from sticking out the window.
How do I stop my dog from freaking out in the car?
- Instead of forcing your dog to approach the car, start by luring it there.
- Continue using positive reinforcement to lure the dog inside. …
- Spend some quality time together with your dog inside the vehicle.
- Start your engine. …
- Begin with small trips. …
- Take your dog to fun destinations.
Why does my dog pant and shake when riding in the car?
Other dogs recall being thrown from the seat during an abrupt stop or a collision. Panting, pacing, shaking, hyper-arousal, vocalization, salivation, vomiting, and possibly urinating and defecating are just a few of the mild to severe travel anxiety symptoms.
Will my dog get over car anxiety?
One of the most frequent causes of dog car anxiety is motion sickness in vehicles. This is especially true for puppies whose ears have not yet developed. Underdeveloped ears can throw off their balance and orientation. Thankfully, most puppies grow out of this motion sickness phase.