Slobbering/Drooling in the Car

Years ago one of my poodles used to slobber and drool in the car. It was sort of a pre-motion sickness warning. If we traveled more than an hour.....you know what happened! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/frown.gif Lately I have been noticing that Bella slobbers and drools in the car if the trip is longer than 15-30 minutes. So far no tummy upset but I do cover the seat with a towel just in case. Does anyone have this problem? Can it be remedied by taking her on more frequent car rides to help her get used to it and maybe overcome it? I am planning to ask the vet at her next visit but it is several weeks off. Thanks for any help in the meantime.

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My dog Pugsley drools a lot when she is in the car. But she also drools whenever she gets excited about anything, so it could be that your dog is excited about driving.

Pam, when we had our Rottweiler she used to drool white foam at the mouth and then she would vomit, but this was as soon as she started riding. Our Vet said some dogs just get car sick and some don't, I don't know if there is any medication you could give her.
We just stopped taking her, so far we have been very fortunate with Perry and Daisy, they love riding. We have to be careful with Daisy if she gets to upset, like getting shots she gets nerved up and vomits, but we have some medication to calm her and a special diet for a few days too. Good luck I'm sure the Vet can tell you if Bella will get over it with time.
Jackie

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I used to have a GSD/Akita mix that
got terribly car sick. I remember bringing
her home from the shelter at 6 weeks of age and I was soaking wet from her drool.
She never grew out of it, and I would have
to give her a dramamine for trips longer
than 45 minutes. IT was so bad, that
when I got my Rocky, I requested the
breeder make sure I get a pup that
does not get car sick.
Bella does not sound nearly as bad as
my dog was, and my vet told me that most
pups grow out of it.
(IF no medical reasons are causing Bella's neasea)
If I may suggest, taking Bella on short
fun 5-10 minute trips daily. Driving to the park, or other fun stuff. Slowly/eventually expanding the trip a bit longer and longer.

Jackie...I think you may have hit on something. I had Bella in the car Thursday night for about an hour. The towel she was sitting on was soaked. Last night (Friday) she had her grooming session with my hubby. She doesn't get upset outwardly when she is being groomed, but maybe it bothers her emotionally. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/frown.gif This morning she threw up about 7 times (little piles all over) since I started this post. I am wondering if her sickness this morning is because of stress....too much stressful stuff in her life for the past 24-48 hours. We are watching her carefully and she seems to have stopped now. If it continues we'll give the vet a call.

KYS...Thank you for your note. I was thinking that taking her for many short rides might help to sort of "condition" her to the car. I'll try and remember to take her along for those little short trips to the bank, etc. Maybe the vet will suggest Dramamine too.

Almost forgot to mention...she also pooped by the back door during all of this. This is something she hasn't done in weeks and weeks. Now I am wondering because it seems to be a problem at both ends, although it wasn't diarrhea. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by Pam (edited June 24, 2001).]

Your welcome, but after reading your last post, I am wondering if Bella is car sick only because she just isn't feeling well.

Glad your are keeping a close eye out for her.
Poor baby.

Hannah used to get car sick every time we went somewhere. It went on for the longest time, even after she was grown. I was very discouraged. I finally asked the vet what to do and she suggested an over-the-counter medication. I purchased it, but never got around to actually giving it to Hannah. Hannah never threw up again. Mystical powers, that stuff.

My little girl seems to be feeling better. I gave her a small dinner and she ate half, but that's OK. It was something and it's staying down. She is also up to her nawtee dog tricks so I know she is better. She got my rubber glove out of the laundry room again and then snatched a t-shirt off the bed and ran away with it. We'll tackle the slobbering/drooling another day. For now I am happy. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif She said to tell her idol, Hannah, that she will try very hard to conquer this just the way Hannah did! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

Pam, I hope Bella is feeling better now.
I was so worried about Daisy whenever we took her in the car at first she was fine, then all of a sudden she started to get sick and we realized she thought she was going to the groomer or to get shots then she would get sick. We took her to the Vet and he gave us 5 mg of Reglan and also a can of Hill's
Prescription Diet canine i/d food. ( easy on her stomach) After that we took her for rides whenever we did errands, or to the park etc, so she didn't think every time she got in the car it would be bad for her. Now she loves it, because mostly it's fun and she doesn't anticipate a bad experience.


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Thank you Jackie. Now that you mention it her car trips so far have all been to the vet except for two trips to my daughter's. Actually she is afraid to go there because my daughter's next door neighbor has two scotties who bark their heads off at her on the other side of a cyclone fence. I guess she feel outnumbered or something because she doesn't bark back and her little tail goes between her legs and she snuggles up close to me. I will certainly have to take her more places that will have a positive effect! Actually she doesn't seem to mind the vet at all. Her tail wags the whole time. She enjoys sniffing the other dogs in the waiting room too. If they barked at her though she'd probably be hanging onto me for dear life!

Carl used to drool during rides in the car. He didn't seem at all nervous or anxious though, he loves car rides http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/confused.gif He doesn't do that anymore. I suspect because he goes for rides at least 4 nights a week. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

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This is off the topic but is that your daughter(Robyn) in your webshots album, Pam? She's pretty http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

Thank you! Yes, that's her! My son is washing his car and the other person is my son-in-law. I'm going to be a grandmom on or around Sept. 10th for the first time! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

WOW!!!!!!!!!! I'm soooo happy for you!! Your daughter already has the motherly glow. Your son looks a little like your son-in-law. You and your whole family are lovely http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif You'll have to tell us as soon as your daughter has her baby. I'm so excited already.

Daisy doesn't drool in the car but on long, windy rides, she does get sick. Well, not always; we have noticed that if she sits in the front seat and keeps her head up, looking out the window (much like a person with motion sickness), she is okay. Here, I will share our grossest story about car sickness. If you have a weak stomach, stop reading now!

As I have said before, I live in a big field with 6 houses in it, all relatives. Every Sunday, we all go up to my grandparents' house for lunch. One Sunday two years ago, my grandmother cooked a big ham and gave the bone to Daisy. Then we had to drive my friend home; she lives about a half hour from us, and it is a long windy road to her house. On the way, we started smelling something meaty. We thought that it was someone cooking steak on the grill or something. The smell was good, and we were getting hungry! Well then we arrived at my friend's house and she got out of the car. She put her hand down on the seat as she got out... right into a pile of puked up ham! It was the grossest thing ever but we all laughed hystericall for about ten minutes. How disgusting is that!? http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

Try sitting with your dog in the back and don't drive anywhere.

Do this on a cool day or evening. Short times at first - then longer. Hopefully it will become part of the dog's teritory.

Also cool cars are best for dogs. Drink of water before and after is also nice for them.

My 9 month old Rhodesian has been car sick since I got her. Everytime we would go for a drive she would begin drooling and eventually throw up.

I have managed to get her accustomed to short trips, but I am concerned as I may have to drive over 2000 miles this summer. Is there sedatives and anti-nausea meds that they can have? Is there anything over the counter that works?

One thing I am going to try is those straps you sometimes see dangling from the back of cars that touch the ground. Apparantly they discharge excess electricity that builds up from driving, which contributes to car sickness. Another dog owner told me to get one, so I am going to give it a shot. You might want to try that.

Thanks everyone! My dog drools on small car rides and as soon as I'd let him out he'd throw up. I thought something was wrong with him but now I know! Thanks for sharing! :D