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Carsickness
Carsickness seems to be as common
in the dog as it is in the human
family. Apparently it is caused by excessive nervousness or involves a
peculiar sensitivity to riding in moving vehicles, such as cars,
trains, or buses, but occurs most commonly in cars. It manifests
itself, while riding, in a stomach upset with symptoms of nausea and
vomiting, which quickly disappear when the animal is removed from the
vehicle.
Possibly the simplest way to control carsickness is by not feeding the
animal before taking it for a drive and also by giving it a mild
sedative such as an aspirin tablet. Along with this, the animal should
be petted and spoken to softly in an effort to subdue its nervousness.
Sometimes it even helps to let the animal play with a favorite toy so
that it can get its mind off the fact that it is riding. At best,
however, the effectiveness of these procedures is uncertain and
variable.
In recent years a new sedative drug has been developed which seems to
work quite well in a large percentage of these cases. It comes in
tablet form and is called dramamine. The animal should be given the
proper dose before taking it for a drive. Dog owners whose pets are
afflicted with carsickness are advised to contact their veterinarian to
inquire about this drug and its use. Dramamine can be purchased at most
pharmacies on a veterinarian's prescription. Bonamine is another drug
that has achieved popularity. Many of the newer forms of tranquillizers
are also very effective against carsickness.
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