Dog Travel Sickness : Causes, Symptoms and How to Help Your Dog (UK 2026)

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You’re driving to the park for a relaxing dog walk when suddenly your dog isn’t looking so good. Before you know it, those treats you gave earlier are now all over your car seats!

Dog car sickness is real, and it can make even the shortest trips extremely stressful for you and your dog. If it’s not managed properly, car sickness tends to get worse over time, so if your dog is showing signs of a problem, it’s best to tackle the issue before things escalate.

We take a closer look at the causes of car sickness and ways in which you can help your dog overcome their car anxiety.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Is It Car Sickness or Car Anxiety? Understanding the Difference

2. Dog Travel Sickness : How You Can Help

Dealing with the Car

Dealing with the Motion

Have Fun at the Destination

3. Dog Car Sickness : Products That Can Help

4. FAQs - Dog Sickness Questions Answered

5. 🐾More from Smart Bark's Dog Travel Essentials

As human children are more affected by travel sickness than adults, the same goes for younger dogs and puppies. Young puppies experience travel sickness because the ear structure responsible for balance hasn’t fully developed. Some dogs outgrow it, but unfortunately others don’t.

If your dog was sick during their first car ride, then vomiting may become associated with travel itself and could be the reason why your furry friend hasn’t outgrown their car sickness.

1. Is It Car Sickness or Car Anxiety?

Before diving into symptoms and solutions, it's worth taking a moment to understand whether your dog is experiencing physical car sickness, car anxiety, or as is very common, a combination of both. Getting this right will help you choose the most effective approach.

Car sickness is a physical response to motion. The inner ear, which is responsible for balance, sends conflicting signals to the brain during travel, particularly on winding roads or in stop-start traffic. This is the same mechanism that causes travel sickness in humans and is especially common in puppies whose inner ear structures haven't fully developed yet.

Car anxiety is an emotional response. Your dog may have developed a negative association with the car, perhaps from early stressful experiences like trips to the vet, being separated from their mother, or a previous bad journey. Dogs with car anxiety are often distressed before the car even moves, which is the key difference.

A simple way to tell them apart:

🤢 Mostly car sickness - your dog seems reasonably calm getting into the car but becomes increasingly unsettled once moving. Drooling, lip licking, yawning and vomiting are the main signs.

😰 Mostly car anxiety - your dog shows signs of distress before the journey even begins. Refusing to get in the car, trembling, whining, panting or pacing are the giveaways.

🔄 Both - very common, particularly in dogs who have been travel sick before. Physical sickness creates emotional dread, which in turn makes the physical symptoms worse. The good news is that the desensitisation plan and products featured below address both.

If you're unsure which is the primary issue for your dog, your vet is always the best first port of call.

For most puppies, the first car rides usually consist of leaving their mother and the inevitable visits to the vets. In both cases these will be stressful trips for your puppy.

Most car sickness episodes in dogs are brought on by the stress and not the motion itself. Your puppy might well be associating the car with these stressful experiences. Mental, emotional, and even physical trauma may be related to the car ride.

2. Dog Travel Sickness : How You Can Help

Desensitisation can really help your dog and it isn't as complicated as it sounds.

The goal of a desensitising training plan is to alter your dog’s behaviour patterns by changing the way they feel about a specific situation.

This is more than just getting familiar with riding in the car – it’s about creating a situation where the dog can associate car travel with something really positive.

Think of the finished behaviour - calmly riding in the car, as a series of behavioural puzzle pieces that must each be tackled separately. Your job is to help your dog become comfortable with one puzzle piece before progressing to the next.

So, you need to take on the role of canine behaviourist but don't worry, it doesn’t need to be a daunting task. First divide the problem into three distinct puzzle pieces then work on them in order.

Dealing with the Car

The first puzzle piece is dealing with anxiety caused by the car itself. Begin by helping your dog to develop a positive association with your car. Make their experience of a car a truly enjoyable one. Follow these guidelines over the space of a couple of weeks, and remember, don’t rush it.

Spend time in your car without going anywhere at all. Allow your dog to explore the car and maybe add in some positive reinforcement with a few of their favourite dog treats. Continue this stage until you’re confident that the car itself is seen in a positive light.

Now build on this experience by starting the engine but still not moving the car. Remember each puzzle piece must be completed before moving on.

Dealing with the Motion

The next part of the puzzle is tackling the motion of the car moving. First drive a very short distance (maybe a short 5 minute journey) to gradually start reducing any anxiety associated with the car’s motion.

It’s important that your dog is restrained and not just for safety reasons. Being restrained via a dog seatbelt tether, inside a soft crate or car seat, ensures that your dog is facing forward.

Why is this important? Facing forwards helps your dog’s brain make sense of what is going on, which can lessen the chance of motion sickness. Basically, we’re providing input through the eyes that helps the dog know which way is up. Allowing your dog to ride unrestrained doesn’t help with motion sickness.

Dogs suffering from car sickness ride better when they can see out of the windows. Adjust their seats or use a dog car seat, so they can look out the window while staying secure. Focusing on scenery can prevent motion sickness.

We have researched and reviewed dog car seats which are designed to give your dog an elevated view so that they can relax and watch the world go by.

Have Fun at the Destination

The final part of the puzzle is to change your dog’s association with car travel. Choose a relaxing, peaceful place like a park, that’s about ten minutes from home. Bring someone who can calm your dog as you drive to your destination. Once you reach the park, play with your dog and just make the park visit enjoyable.

During the ride home, have your passenger calm your dog again. When you arrive home, play with your dog as enthusiastically as you did at the park. Doing this repeatedly will make your dog realise the car ride should not be a reason to get anxious or sick.

Planning several short rides to fun places can help teach your dog that riding in the car is a good thing.

If a UK cottage break is on the horizon, our guide to choosing the best dog-friendly cottage covers exactly what to look for. From enclosed gardens to hard floors, so you and your dog arrive to a place that's genuinely set up for you.

3. Dog Car Sickness : Products That Can Help

If you are working through the desensitisation plan above but need something to help in the meantime, or if your dog's car sickness is severe enough to need more immediate support, there are several tried and tested products worth considering. Here are our recommendations based on our own testing:

Spray, Collar or Diffuser

Adaptil is one of the most trusted and clinically proven calming brands on the market, and it's particularly well suited to travel anxiety. Their products use synthetic versions of the naturally occurring pheromones that mother dogs produce to comfort their puppies, completely odourless and safe for use around other pets and humans.

For car travel specifically, the Adaptil Spray is the most practical option. Simply spray it onto your dog's bedding or inside the car around 15 minutes before travel and allow it to dry before your dog gets in.

The Pawd Dog Calming Collar is another excellent choice for dogs whose anxiety extends beyond the car, it works continuously throughout the day and is particularly useful during periods of increased travel.

This innovative calming collar works by releasing soothing pheromones, alongside gentle scents of lavender and chamomile, both known for their anti-anxiety benefits.

View Adaptil on Pets at Home

View Calming Collar on Pawd Drinks

ThunderShirt - Anxiety Coat

The ThunderShirt is specifically designed to help dogs that are anxious during car travel. These close-fitting jackets apply gentle, constant pressure to your dog's body, working on a similar principle to swaddling a baby.

The effect is a calming, reassuring sensation that can significantly reduce trembling, whining and restlessness during journeys.

It won't help with the physical motion sickness element, but for dogs whose car sickness is primarily anxiety-driven it can make a real difference. We've tested it and found it works best when introduced at home first so your dog associates it with calm and safety before putting it on in the car.

View Thundershirt on Pets at Home

Calming Tablets and Supplements

For dogs who need additional support beyond behavioural training and anxiety aids, calming tablets and supplements are worth exploring. From our testing, YuMOVE Calm (containing L-theanine and L-tryptophan) and Buddy & Lola Calming Treats are both popular and well-regarded options that can be given ahead of travel.

They won't work instantly (most supplements need to be given consistently for a few days to build up), so they are better suited to dogs who travel regularly rather than as a one-off fix.

Key ingredients to look out for are L-theanine, L-tryptophan, chamomile, valerian root and passionflower - all of which are known for their calming properties.

Prescription Medication

If your dog's travel sickness is severe and the above options aren't providing sufficient relief, speak to your vet.

Your vet may recommend prescription options depending on whether your dog's primary issue is physical motion sickness or anxiety. Never give human travel sickness tablets to your dog without veterinary guidance as some ingredients commonly found in human medications can be harmful or toxic to dogs.

For a full round-up of every calming product we've tested - from diffusers and dental sticks to calming beds and sprays, take a look at our comprehensive guide: Best Calming Solutions for Dogs

4. FAQs - Dog Sickness Questions Answered

Why does my dog get sick in the car?

There are two main reasons. The first is motion sickness, exactly the same as human travel sickness, where the inner ear sends conflicting signals to the brain about movement and balance. This is particularly common in puppies whose ear structures haven't fully developed yet.

The second is anxiety. Your dog may have developed a negative association with the car, perhaps from early trips to the vet or being separated from their mother. The two often go hand in hand, which is why tackling both the physical and emotional aspects of car travel is so important.

Will my puppy grow out of car sickness?

Many puppies do grow out of it naturally as their inner ear develops and matures, usually by around one year old. However this isn't guaranteed, and if car sickness isn't addressed early it can actually get worse over time as your dog begins to associate the car with feeling unwell.

Starting desensitisation training early, even before your puppy shows strong signs of sickness, gives them the best chance of becoming a happy, confident traveller.

What can I give my dog for car sickness?

There are several options depending on the severity of your dog's symptoms. For mild cases, natural remedies like ginger can help settle the stomach, small amounts of plain ginger biscuit or ginger capsules are widely used by dog owners.

Adaptil spray or a calming collar can help reduce the anxiety element of travel sickness. For more severe cases, your vet may prescribe anti-sickness medication.

Always check with your vet before giving your dog any medication or supplement. Never give human travel sickness tablets without veterinary guidance as some contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs.

Should I feed my dog before a car journey?

Generally no. Withholding food for 2-3 hours before travelling can significantly reduce the likelihood of vomiting.

An empty stomach is much less likely to cause problems than a full one. Fresh water should still be available, but avoid large drinks immediately before travel.

On longer journeys, plan rest stops where your dog can have a small amount of food and water rather than feeding a full meal before you set off.

Is it car sickness or car anxiety - how can I tell?

This is a really important distinction as the two need slightly different approaches.

Car sickness tends to show up as drooling, lip licking, yawning and vomiting - physical symptoms linked to the motion itself.

Car anxiety tends to show itself as whining, panting, pacing, trembling or refusing to get into the car - emotional responses linked to fear or a negative association with travel.

In practice many dogs experience both, but if your dog seems distressed before the car even moves, anxiety is likely the primary issue. The desensitisation plan outlined above works well for both, but anxious dogs may additionally benefit from calming products or a chat with your vet about behavioural support.

How long does dog car sickness last?

Most episodes resolve quickly once the journey ends and your dog is out of the car. However the unpleasant experience can linger emotionally, reinforcing negative associations with travel.

This is why it's so important to end every journey on a positive note - arriving somewhere fun, getting plenty of praise and having a good time at the destination all help to change your dog's emotional response to car travel over time.

Does the position my dog sits in affect car sickness?

Yes, significantly. Dogs facing forward in the direction of travel experience far less motion sickness than those facing sideways or backwards - the same principle applies to humans.

Keeping your dog restrained in a forward-facing position using a dog car seat or harness tether also allows them to see out of the window, which helps the brain reconcile the visual and physical sensations of movement. Unrestrained dogs that slide around the car or face sideways are much more likely to feel unwell.

My older dog has suddenly started getting car sick - should I be worried?

If a dog that has previously been a comfortable traveller suddenly develops travel sickness, it's worth a vet visit to rule out any underlying health issues.

New onset travel sickness in an adult dog can sometimes be linked to ear infections, vestibular disease or other conditions affecting balance. It can also develop after a particularly stressful journey or a gap in regular car travel. Your vet is the best person to advise on next steps.

We hope that this article has given you some insight and ideas to help you tackle your dog's car sickness.

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Happy travelling from the Smart Bark Team