Q. My Yorkie has terrible motion sickness. He gets excited about car rides, but throws up repeatedly after about eight miles of driving. He also gets sick when I carry him in a pet carrier or bag. He loves being with me, but gets sick. Is there anything I can give him to calm his stomach?
A. Motion sickness is a problem for some dogs, just as it can be for people, but fortunately there is an effective medication for preventing it.
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that works in dogs just like it works in people. It helps reduce nausea and vomiting, and can have a sedative effect.
If your Yorkie weighs about 8 pounds, you should give about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the liquid form (12.5mg/ml formulation) 30 minutes or so before traveling. For larger dogs, give about 8 mg per pound of body weight (always check the formulation carefully to see how many milligrams are in each tablet or teaspoon).
If this doesn't seem to work, you can also give meclizine, about one hour before traveling. For a small dog like a Yorkie, give 12.5 mg, which is usually one-half tablet (check the dosage on the bottle), and for a larger dog, give 25 mg (usually one tablet).
Hopefully this will help you and your Yorkie enjoy car and carrier rides alike.
Best,
Jon Geller, DVM
- Get More Advice From Dr. Geller -