Can dogs get carsick?

• Motion sickness in dogs is caused by unpredictable movements and sensory confusion, leading to nausea and vomiting.
• Travel anxiety can appear like car sickness but is treated differently. Talk to a veterinarian to determine why your dog is getting sick in the car and how best to treat it.
• There are a variety of treatment and prevention methods for carsick dogs, including medication, desensitization training, and adjusting the car’s environment.

Unfortunately, car sickness in dogs is incredibly common. On the bright side, there are several steps you can take to prevent and treat motion sickness in dogs. As a pet parent, it’s important to know:

• What is motion sickness in dogs
• What causes a dog to get carsick
• The difference between motion sickness and travel anxiety for dogs
• The signs of car sickness in dogs
• Does your dog need medication for their car sickness
• How you can prevent car sickness in your dog

Treatments for motion sickness in dogs vary between individuals, but they may include anxiety or anti-nausea medications. It’s best to speak to a veterinarian before giving your dog over-the-counter medications to make sure your dog has motion sickness instead of another underlying health issue, and ensure you are giving them the proper medication and dosage. A virtual veterinary visit is a convenient way to talk to a veterinary professional about your dog’s car sickness symptoms, even while on the road.

Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals about movement, usually from the inner ear and the eyes. This mismatch can cause nausea, excessive drooling and panting, lip licking, restlessness, and sometimes vomiting. Although many dogs experience symptoms during car rides, motion sickness can occur in any situation where the dog is being moved.

Most dogs feel better quickly once the motion stops, and many outgrow motion sickness as they mature. For dogs who continue to struggle, there are effective strategies and medications that can reduce nausea and help make travel more comfortable and enjoyable.

Car sickness occurs when your canine is subjected to unfamiliar or unpredictable movements. Rapid motions can disrupt your dog's sense of balance, causing them to feel unwell.

"Your dog's inner ear is responsible for regulating balance and sending messages to the brain about how their body is moving through space," explains Dr. Jo Myers, a Vetster veterinarian. "When movement is unpredictable, it’s hard for the brain to process those signals, and nausea results.”

Physical factors inside the car can also make nausea more likely. Dogs who struggle to keep their footing, such as on slippery seats or when standing unrestrained, work harder to stay balanced. This can worsen the mismatch between what their body feels and what their eyes see. Larger dogs may have more difficulty stabilizing themselves during turns, stops, and winding roads simply because of their size and shifting center of gravity. Heat and direct sun through the windows can also contribute to discomfort, making motion sickness symptoms more pronounced.

This condition is most common in puppies, as their underdeveloped sensory systems may make them more susceptible to rapid motion. Puppies may grow out of this as they get older, but motion sickness can be a lifelong condition.

Motion sickness and travel anxiety are two different issues, though they can look similar and sometimes occur at the same time. Motion sickness is caused by a physical mismatch between the inner ear and visual input, which leads to nausea and related symptoms. Travel anxiety, on the other hand, is a behavioral response. Dogs may become anxious about car rides because of past nausea, unfamiliar environments, previous negative experiences, or general stress about leaving home. Over time, some dogs develop anxiety simply because they anticipate discomfort when traveling.

How do I know whether my dog has motion sickness or travel anxiety?

It can be tricky to tell the difference between car sickness and travel anxiety in dogs, but the timing of symptoms can offer clues. If your dog shows symptoms as soon as it gets into the car, but the vehicle hasn't begun moving yet, travel anxiety is likely to be playing a primary part in your dog's sickness.

Similarly, dogs with anxiety may take longer to recover when the car stops moving. In contrast, if your dog's illness results from motion sickness, symptoms are expected to resolve shortly after the car stops moving.

If you're struggling to determine the root cause of your dog's symptoms, a vet visit can help. Your veterinarian can assess the cause of your canine's illness and suggest next steps for effective treatment.

Symptoms of motion sickness vary from dog to dog. Common signs that your pet is carsick may include:

• Excessive drooling (ptyalism)
• Panting
• Lip licking
• Yawning
• Whining
• Trembling/shaking
• Vomiting (not always)

Your dog's car sickness could begin as soon as the vehicle starts to move, or it may take time for symptoms to show. Some dogs only experience motion sickness after hours of continuous driving.

Note that changing road surfaces, weather conditions, atmospheric pressure, and humidity can each cause your dog to develop car sickness, even if they don’t usually struggle with motion sickness. For example, a dog on a winding, bumpy road on a hot day is more likely to develop motion sickness than a canine traveling on a straight, well-surfaced freeway on a mild morning.

Many medical issues cause similar symptoms to motion sickness, such as nausea and vomiting. It’s important to talk to a veterinarian any time your dog has a bout of vomiting, whether they have been in the car or not. Noting when and where the vomiting occurred can help a veterinarian determine if the symptoms are associated with dog car sickness or a different underlying condition. If your dog frequently exhibits symptoms of motion sickness, or you'd simply like more information about your pet's condition, an online vet can answer your questions any time, even when traveling.

Having a carsick canine is an unpleasant experience. Fortunately, there are several ways to treat the problem.

Address physical stressors

Physical discomfort inside the car can worsen motion sickness, even in dogs who are otherwise comfortable traveling. Creating a stable, comfortable, and temperature-controlled space can significantly improve a dog’s ability to tolerate motion.

Providing secure footing is one of the most effective changes. Hammock-style rear seat covers with non-slip, hard-bottomed surfaces help dogs maintain a steady stance. A well-fitted harness attached to a seatbelt, crash-tested restraint, or a secure travel crate can also reduce sliding and shifting, which makes movement more predictable for the dog’s vestibular system. For dogs that travel in crates, placing the crate on a flat, stable surface with a padded bed helps absorb some of the motion and prevents sliding.

Managing the environment can also reduce nausea. Window shades or tinted windows help block direct sun and reduce heat buildup, which can aggravate motion sickness. Good airflow, either through air conditioning or partially open windows, may also help some dogs feel more comfortable. For large dogs in particular, making sure they have enough room to shift position without constantly bracing themselves can reduce the physical effort of staying balanced.

Medications for your dog's motion sickness or car anxiety

Understanding whether a dog’s symptoms stem from motion sickness, travel-related anxiety, or a combination of both is important because each condition responds to different types of medication. Since the signs can overlap, veterinary guidance is helpful for identifying the underlying cause and choosing the most effective starting point. For nausea-based motion sickness, veterinarians commonly prescribe maropitant (Cerenia®), an effective anti-nausea medication. Some dogs may benefit from certain antihistamines, although these medications are less predictable and may cause sedation.

If anxiety plays a major role, your veterinarian may recommend behavior-modifying medications such as trazodone or gabapentin, or occasionally a short-acting sedative when other options are not appropriate. These medications must be chosen carefully for each dog, so it’s important not to give over-the-counter or human medications without veterinary guidance. Your vet may suggest trying the chosen medication on a quiet day at home first so you can observe how your dog responds before you travel.

Are there any natural remedies for my dog’s car sickness?

Some owners explore natural or over-the-counter products, but scientific evidence supporting these options is limited. Items such as anxiety wraps or garments, ginger, pheromone products, acupuncture, or certain calming supplements may help some dogs with travel-related stress, but results may vary. Products like lavender oils or CBD require caution because formulations vary widely, and some ingredients may be unsafe or unregulated.

Because “natural” does not always mean “safe” or effective, it’s best to talk with your veterinarian before trying any home or alternative remedies. They can help you choose options that are safe for your dog and advise you on what to avoid.

Medication isn’t always necessary for dogs with car sickness. Many puppies outgrow motion sensitivity as their vestibular system matures, and some adult dogs improve with practice and gentle, positive exposure to car travel. If your dog is new to car rides or is young, starting with shorter, calm trips and gradually increasing the duration often helps them adjust.

Every dog responds differently, so finding the right approach may take time. A few simple adjustments can reduce nausea or stress during travel:

• Offer a small, easily digestible meal several hours before the ride. A completely empty stomach can worsen nausea in some dogs.
• Make the car environment stable and secure. Use a crash-tested harness, booster seat, or secured crate so your dog isn’t sliding or struggling to keep their balance.
• Provide a firm, non-slip surface (such as a platform or seat cover with a rigid base) to help steady larger dogs whose balance is challenged by turns and stops.
• Ensure good airflow by using air conditioning or slightly open windows, which can help reduce nausea for some dogs.
• Experiment safely with seating position. Many dogs feel better when they can face forward or see out the window, while others do better with reduced visual motion — both are normal. Try each approach while your dog is safely restrained.
• Choose smoother routes when possible. Winding or bumpy roads can worsen nausea in dogs who are sensitive to motion.
• Keep the car cool and shaded. Heat and direct sun can intensify nausea and discomfort.
• Gradually build up travel time. Very short trips that end in something positive can help dogs learn to tolerate longer rides.

These strategies can be effective for mild motion sickness or for dogs adjusting to car rides. However, if your dog continues to show signs of nausea or distress despite these changes, or if the problem is severe, medication may be an important part of their treatment plan. A veterinarian can help determine when it's appropriate to add medication and which one to start with.

What is desensitization, and how can it help my dog's car sickness?

Desensitization is a behavioral technique used to treat travel-related anxiety, not the physical component of true motion sickness. Since many dogs experience both problems at the same time, and anxiety can make nausea worse, desensitization may help dogs feel calmer and more confident during car travel. Dogs with true vestibular motion sickness often benefit most when desensitization is combined with medical management for nausea.

Desensitization works by helping dogs become comfortable with each part of the car-travel experience in small and controlled, slowly progressive steps that they can handle without becoming stressed. The goal is to teach your dog that the car is predictable and safe, not to expose them repeatedly to stressful rides.

A typical plan starts with walking near the parked car, hopping inside briefly, or sitting in the back seat with the engine off while enjoying treats, praise, or another reward. The initial step must be something the dog enjoys and tolerates without showing signs of stress. As long as the dog consistently remains relaxed during those activities, small changes such as closing doors, turning the engine on, or taking very short drives can be gradually added.

For desensitization to be effective, the experience must stay positive and below the dog’s stress threshold. Signs such as panting, trembling, refusing food, whining, turning away, or trying to escape mean the session is too difficult. When this happens, the best approach is to pause and return to an earlier step where your dog appeared relaxed, then progress more slowly. Repeated exposure to anxiety or nausea can reinforce fear rather than reduce it, and instead of “getting over it,” repeated stressful rides usually make the dog more fearful of the car over time.

Desensitization can greatly improve confidence and comfort for dogs with travel-related anxiety and is most effective when tailored to the individual dog. A veterinarian or qualified trainer can help you design a step-by-step plan and decide whether medical support for nausea should be added alongside training.

Preventing car sickness depends on understanding whether your dog is dealing with true motion-induced nausea, travel-related anxiety, or both. Positive early experiences with car travel can help reduce anxiety later in life, but they do not prevent the physical component of motion sickness. For dogs prone to nausea, managing physical triggers such as unstable footing, heat, or strong visual motion, and using anti-nausea medication when appropriate are often more effective than exposure alone.

Because repeated episodes of nausea or fear can create negative associations with the car, addressing symptoms early is important. A dog who feels sick or scared during rides is more likely to develop escalating anxiety over time, which makes future trips more difficult and slows desensitization efforts.

If you’re unsure whether your dog’s symptoms are caused by motion sickness, anxiety, or both, an online veterinarian can help assess the situation and guide you toward the most appropriate combination of medication, environmental adjustments, and training.

How do I know if my dog is motion sick?

Dogs with motion sickness often show signs of nausea during travel, such as excessive drooling, lip licking, yawning, quietness or restlessness, and sometimes vomiting. These signs usually appear or worsen once the vehicle is in motion and may improve shortly after the movement stops. Some dogs also pant, whine, or tremble, which can be caused by nausea, travel-related anxiety, or a combination of both. If your dog consistently shows these signs during car rides or other types of travel, especially when they don’t occur at other times, it’s a good idea to talk with a veterinarian so they can rule out other medical problems and help determine whether motion sickness, anxiety, or both are to blame.

Why do dogs throw up in the car?

Dogs vomit in the car most often because of motion sickness, which occurs when the brain receives conflicting information from the inner ear and the eyes about how the body is moving. This sensory mismatch can cause nausea, and in some dogs, vomiting. Some dogs also develop anxiety about car travel, especially if they have felt sick in the past. That stress can intensify nausea and make vomiting more likely. If your dog regularly vomits during car rides, a veterinarian can help determine whether motion sickness, anxiety, or another medical issue is contributing and recommend the best approach to treatment.

Do dogs outgrow car sickness?

Some puppies outgrow motion sickness as their inner ear and balance systems mature, which usually happens during adolescence. However, many dogs continue to experience nausea or develop travel-related anxiety if early rides were uncomfortable. Simply taking more car trips does not reliably solve the problem and may actually make anxiety or nausea worse if the experiences are stressful. If your dog still shows signs of car sickness as they grow older, it's a good idea to speak with a veterinarian. They can determine whether the symptoms are caused by motion sickness, anxiety, or both, and recommend the right combination of management, training, and medication to help.