So I got a puppy,

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  • who i adore. he is a black german shepherd i named "Vader".
    however - he gets carsick! everytime we get in the car, even for little bits at a time - he pukes! ideas??
  • My experience tells me that he may simply have to get used to the idea that the vehicle moves and his tummy may settle down. If thats not it and you feel it is a real problem your vet may have some sedatives to give him when he must ride in the car
  • My dog tends to do that -- I try to make sure he has no drinks/food for a couple of hours before he has to ride, whenever possible.

    Love German Shepards!!
  • I don't have any advice...my dog loves the car...but I wanted to say congrats on the dog!! Post pics when you can!!
  • Aww German Shepherd! Good luck with him :-)
  • I had a GS one time who did the same thing, she never did get over it. Might want to see if the vet has any kind of anti-motion-sickness medicine suitable for dogs!
  • Do you crack the windows for him? Have you tried just short rides? (real short, to get used to it)

    You could ask the vet or even google for advice on trying to break car sickness.
  • Young puppies often get carsick, and then outgrow it as they mature. This may be related to the maturing of the ear canals, a process that also makes human children more susceptible to motion sickness than human adults.

    You can often help a carsick dog by positioning the dog to see out the front of the vehicle in the direction of movement. This allows the eyes to help orient the confusing sensations from the ears. It also often helps to open one or more windows about three inches, to help equalize the air pressure.

    Stress contributes to carsickness, and a dog who has lost a previous home via a car ride may be stressed by riding in your car at first. The same happens with dogs who have only been driven to the veterinarian's office for treatment, and never to places they enjoyed going.

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    I found that info on some site but pretty much sums up what I was gonna say in the first place lol
  • Good luck with your new puppy. I love German Shepherds and have had several. But my small apartment is only suitable for my 18 pound cockapoo, that's OK he thinks he is a German Shepherd.
  • Quote: But my small apartment is only suitable for my 18 pound cockapoo, that's OK he thinks he is a German Shepherd.
    This is funny! I always ask my cats, yes i talk to them, if they think they're rotties when I get home b/c anytime someone enters the house they haul a** downstairs to meet them at the door and check them out before they can go any further! lol it's a funny sight unless the guest is scared of cats-- 3 cats running at you... wouldn't be too funny to them i suppose...

    CONGRATS on the puppy! When I first got my dog I had to let him sit in the front seat and he had to have his head out the window looking forward or he'd get sick... He finally got over it but still has to have his big head out the window sniffing the air looking forward... drooling all over the side of my car...Until he rolls his head up in the window...(in my old car) Now the window controls are in the middle of the front seats so he can't do that anymore!!
    Hopefully he'll get use to the car so you guys can enjoy some car rides together!!
    Until then it's a great excuse/reason to take a walk... I need a motivator like that to get my behind outside walking...
  • i tried the front seat trick but he is far too big - mind you- this is a 4month old 42lbs boy!

    this morning i got up and put him in the back of the car once the air conditioning had been running and he dug his heels in the closer we got to the car. i sat in the back with him for a while, then just let the car idle with him in it for about 5 minutes. sslloowwllyy drove to the grocery store - left him in there with the car running and sllooowwllyy drove home ...

    NO PUKES!
  • Sorry I don't advice but just to say - congrats, you are sooo lucky! I HEART German Shepherds, best dogs ever. I want another one but don't have the living arrangements. He will be your best friend! xx
  • I definitely suggest taking him on short trips in the car to see if it helps to improve the situation. Also, you can give him small bits of real gingersnap cookies about 30 minutes before the ride.
  • My pup used to do the same thing every time we got in the car! She puked in my purse the night I brought her home. :S

    I did the same thing you did, windows down driving really slowly. Eventually she got used to it and now she loves the car. Good luck!
  • My pup does this, I asked the vet what I could do about it and he recommended giving her a little dose of benedryl about 30 minutes before we leave.