Actually I originally moved him out of the back seat since he seemed to get do better in the front (I think it's the fact that' I'll occasionally scratch his ears during red lights...but he does do better overall, he tends to pace when he's in the back)


I tried it out today he starts panting as soon as the car is put into reverse or drive (I have an automatic) and in a manual it's as soon as it moves.


I should have clarified. My vet does not sell the food (or any food or products actually). I love this vet because he doesn't try to sell you crap and won't make you feel like a horrible person if you don't get something he mentions like some vets do (because clearly you're a horrible person if you don't vaccinate for every disease under the sun). He and I sat down to look at the readily available pet foods our local stores had and settled on an all meat canned food (which is currently being replaced with fresh raw meat now I have a fridge) and a medium quality (http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ has no reviews on this one yet, only the lower quality version which has 3 stars). He's doing very well on both.

 Quote: Jamie Craig

... currently being replaced with fresh raw meat now I have a fridge) and a medium quality (http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ has no reviews on this one yet, only the lower quality version which has 3 stars). He's doing very well on both.

I know this is a hijack, but it's such a crucial red flag that I have to ask: You don't mean all-meat-no-bones, do you? And you don't mean raw meat fed with kibble, right? (All-meat-no-bones is a nutritional disaster, and feeding raw with kibble is not something I'd recommend.)

If it is not anxiety, and purely motion sickness, I have had super results with Cerenia. It even helped the worst case of car sickness I have ever seen. I sometimes give it to youngsters to help get them past those early times of car nausea so anxiety does not develop.

The panting is stress. As you stated, he will sleep in the car but starts to pant, not when you start the car but the moment that you put the car in reverse. He is stressed as soon as he knows that he is going to 'ride' in the car. You don't get immediately car sick it takes at least a couple of minutes of motion to present symptoms. A desensitizing plan (very short trips on smooth, flat roads) plus maturing should all help. Pieces of ginger root dropped in hot water & brewed to make tea, is often used to treat nausia for many years. Maybe you might get him to lap up a couple of spoonfulls of this cooled tea before a ride. I would be careful feeding lots of ginger cookies due to the high sugar content. Many car sick pups eventually grow up to be able to 'car ride' without problems. Good luck with you pup.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I know this is a hijack, but it's such a crucial red flag that I have to ask: You don't mean all-meat-no-bones, do you? And you don't mean raw meat fed with kibble, right? (All-meat-no-bones is a nutritional disaster, and feeding raw with kibble is not something I'd recommend.)

*headdesk* I fail miserably at typing today...I meant, he is currently on wet and medium quality dry food and he is being switched over to the raw diet now that I have the storage for fresh meat

This really sounds like anxiety to me.

I would start making the car a really fun place, but while it is running. Do as much playing and training around the car while it is sitting in your driveway with the engine running.

Try hiding treats around the car for him to sniff out and find. Or get a nice raw recreational bone and let him lay on the floor in the back and gnaw on it while the car is running.

If he won't do it at first, teach him the games with the car turned off, then when he has figured out how fun they are turn it on. He may just start to ignore the engine running just to get to play the game if you make them fun enough.

Then, when he is doing great with that, drive the car literally 2 feet down the driveway with him in it, after a play session. Stop, get out and have another play session.

Do this until he is comfortable, then just build it up from there. It may take a while but in the end, you want a dog that is excited that he is going somewhere but indifferent to the vehicle on the way.

Updates!


We've been doing a lot of driving the past week (I'm back in school so as soon as I'm out of class I pick him up to run errands with me). When I go into a store I've been leaving him in the car with something to play with. We also make a point to stop at the pet store or the "dog park" (it's actually a very long series of dog friendly trails with this great little river that runs though it he can swim in, not to mention all sorts of friends to play with and steal sticks from), all destinations are postive. He's still panting but he has been laying down between stops and turns. I tried moving him into the back seat again but we had a little bit of vomiting so he's back in the front for now. I've found moving the front seat up as far as it will go works really well, that way if there is a quick stop he doesn't really have the room to move around and pace. Window cracked is also a must, I can see him start to get a bit queezy, stick his nose out the window for some air, then be fine again. Still no sleeping while driving but the lying down is a step in the right direction.

Glad things are improving.