Guest killdawabbit Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Has anyone been successful in getting their grey to not be nervous in the car? My stagy drools like crazy even when its not moving. We're talking snot bubble drool! I was thinking about when it got warmer to put him to bed in the car at night instead of his crate for a few weeks. The idea behind this is that eventually he'll start thinking of the car as his territory. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greytluv Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 None from me, but I'm sure someone can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 We haven't dealt with this with a greyhound but we did with Jilly Bean. She would get sick and throw up within 15 minutes of being in the car. Since the only time she went in the car with her previous owner was to go to the vet or to be boarded, she associated riding in the car with totally negative things. We started taking her in the car for just 5 minutes at a time, usually to the fast food restaurant down the road, they give out dog treats. We would get her cookie and then back home. She was treated the minute she got out of the car. We did this for a week and then the next week we extended the time to 10 minute rides, again stopping at the same place, getting a cookie and back home. We kept extending the time until we reached an hour. We made sure we took her out at least once a week after that for about a month. She was great by then and now can take cross country trips without getting sick, shaking or pacing. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 You can also give Meclazine (Bonine), about an hour prior to traveling. It helps with nausea and relaxes them as well. I'd start with 1/2. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest killdawabbit Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 it's not car sickness its definatley anxiety, hence even when the car is not turned on or moving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scfilby Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Cy does this. We use dramamine, which helps a lot. He has still thrown up even with the dramamine, but the drooling has stopped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inugrey Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 I honestly don't think spending the night in the car without you in the car at the same time will reduce his anxiety, it may even increase car anxiety. However, I do like the concept. Take JillysFullHouse idea but slow it up a bit. Pop him in the car and sit there with him in the back or in the seat, where ever his usual travel position will be. Hang out pet him and give him treats. After 10 minutes end the session and go back home. Get up to a point where he is excited to go in the car and hang out with you. Then progress to hanging out in the car getting treats while you sit in your usual driving position etc. etc. to the point where you can hang out in the car not moving with you in the drivers seat and him in his spot with no anxiety. Then start driving and follow JillysFullHouse plan. You have the right idea. Quote Colleen with Covey (Admirals Cove) and Rally (greyhound puppy)Missing my beloved boy INU (CJ Whistlindixie) my sweetest princess SALEM (CJ Little Dixie) and my baby girl ZOE (LR's Tara) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytkidsmom Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 There are lots of OTC and herbal med choices for travel anxiety. Desensitization in the way JillysFullHouse describes should help too. These methods work most of the time for most dogs but if they don't, don't be discouraged. With one of our boys we tried a multitude of meds as well as desensitization but to no avail. Our vet prescribed xanax which has been the only thing that have helped calm our boy down for car rides. He rides in his crate in the car when we travel so he has "safe space" and can't compromise our safety by busting up into the front seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Agreed with Judy's advice. Short frequent trips with positive outcomes. A comfy bed might encourage them to lay down. Teagan also liked highway driving better than backroads (less turning). The more trips we took the better he got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest karma98104 Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Jilly has some great advice! My boy was terrified of the car too... on or off. I do think motion sickness was at the heart of it. He associated the car with nausea, so he hated the car, I can't really blame him- I get sick too when I'm a passenger. So it was a two fold thing- finding a way to end the car sickness ( I bought a truck, it solved it- I think being higher up or having more room did it) and then desensitizing him. I agree that leaving him alone in the car overnight would more than likely make it worse- but another suggestion would be to feed him his meals in there, with the engine off, so he comes to associate car = delicious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kydie Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 (edited) some people get car sick if they don't drive, so maybe he should drive no seriously, I would not leave him alone in the car all night, but I would put him in and out a few times, and give him a treat, each time you place him in, then start with the above suggestions of short rides with cookies given through out and in the beginning and the end I would do it 3 to 4 times a week Good Luck Edited December 27, 2009 by kydie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 The positive reinforcement methods above worked well with my first grey. I gave her a biscuit when she got in the car (it seemed counter-intuitive to give a dog who gakked up in the car a biscuit, but it worked!) and we took very short drives to fun places, like parks for walks and friends's houses, where she was made much over. Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest killdawabbit Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 There are lots of OTC and herbal med choices for travel anxiety. Desensitization in the way JillysFullHouse describes should help too. These methods work most of the time for most dogs but if they don't, don't be discouraged. With one of our boys we tried a multitude of meds as well as desensitization but to no avail. Our vet prescribed xanax which has been the only thing that have helped calm our boy down for car rides. He rides in his crate in the car when we travel so he has "safe space" and can't compromise our safety by busting up into the front seat. Interestingly enough, motion sickness is associated with low serotonin levels. Running and exercise increase serotonin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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