When Lady was young and we first started traveling, she HATED car rides! Every time I put her in the car, she would begin shivering as if I had just placed her inside an icebox, drool excessively (sign of stress in dogs), and worst of all, vomit all over the place.

At first, I thought it would be better to just leave her at home when I traveled, but as my trips grew more and more frequent, leaving her just wasn’t an option anymore. I knew I had to do something to make her more comfortable with riding in the car.

After doing some research and implementing my findings, Lady now looks forward to car rides and all the adventures that come with it. If you want to warm up your own pup up to the idea of traveling without stressing him/her out, here are some of the methods that worked for me! 

Symptoms of Travel Anxiety in Dogs

If your dog suffers from travel anxiety, the symptoms won’t be hard to miss. When you place them in the car, they’ll begin to show signs of stress such:

• Excessive slobbering, yawning, and/or barking
• Shivering
• Whining
• Vomiting

It’s never easy to see your beloved pet under such anxiety. However, they can’t avoid the car forever. Whether you’re taking them to a vet appointment, the local park, or on an adventure to a new dog-friendly destination, traveling with your dog is inevitable.

That’s why I believe it’s so important to do what we can to help relieve travel anxiety in dogs as soon as we recognize the symptoms. It will make daily life with your pet much easier and allows you to travel more often without the guilt of stressing out your pet.

5 Natural Ways to Reduce Travel Anxiety in Dogs

When I was treating Lady’s travel anxiety, I avoided medications and used drug-free methods to get her accustomed to the car. Not only did they help with her travel sickness, but they made her feel happier and safer while we were traveling. Here are some of the methods I used that you can try with your own pup!

1. Practice Getting Into the Car

This is a great place to start! If you force your dog into the car and take off without giving them time to adjust, overcoming their travel anxiety is going to be a lot harder.

With Lady, I wanted her to associate traveling with something she loves, so I started luring her into the car with treats. When she jumped up into the car seat on her own, she would be rewarded.

Try this with your dog and I’m sure they’ll be proactively leaping into the car in no time!

2. Drive to Fun Places

Many dogs develop travel anxiety when they only ride in the car to places that are less than desirable to them, like the vet or grooming appointments.

When you first start the process of overcoming your pet’s anxiety, try making short trips to places they’ll like such as your local dog park! Try avoiding longer car rides as much as possible until your dog’s travel anxiety improves. Slow and steady wins the race! 

3. Calm Your Dog With CBD Oil

The use of CBD oil as a natural remedy for anxiety has boomed in popularity over the past year. I have personally used the cannabidiol supplement for myself and my own dog, and I can’t even begin to explain how impressed I was with the results.

If I noticed that Lady was getting anxious about a car ride, I’d give her a small dose of CBD oil designed for pets, and within minutes, she was completely calm and ready to go.

The natural oil takes action in the endocannabinoid system, which is present in both the animal and human bodies. When this internal system is performing optimally, we feel much more relaxed, balanced, and happy!

If you’re interested in trying the supplement to cure your own pup’s travel anxiety, I highly recommend Prana Pets CBD Oil! Their product is made from organic cannabis grown and compounded in Colorado, completely drug-free, and safe to use with all other medications, food, and supplements.

4. Try Lavender Oil

Lavender is yet another natural and safe way to calm your dog and create a sense of peace while you’re traveling. It’s also a very cost-effective alternative to prescribed medications from your vet.

Before Lady and I get in the car, I’ll rub a drop or two of lavender oil into the blankets I place into her booster seat. It helps her relax during long road trips and was very effective in reducing her anxiety. Plus, it makes your car smell great!

*Quick Note* Lavender oil can also be used to treat separation anxiety! Just use a couple drops on your pup’s pet bed or favorite toy before you leave to help them feel calmer while you’re gone.

5. Use a Car Seat or Restraints

Investing in a car seat for Lady was one of the best things I’ve ever done for her!

Since she is a smaller dog, it’s difficult for her to see out the window of the car. She would instantly get motion sick and start vomiting within the first few minutes of our ride.

I got her the Solvit Jumbo Deluxe Pet Safety Seat, which acts as a booster seat and restraint all in one! Not only does it keep her safe and secure, but it gives her a cozy spot to lay down and gaze out the window while we’re driving. I very highly recommend it if you have a pup 30 pounds or smaller.

If you have a larger dog, no worries! There are several brands of dog seat belts and restraints that will make them feel safer and less anxious while traveling.

I also suggest using a car seat cover to create a more comfortable spot for him/her to lay down. It also protects your seats in case they get sick!

What You Need to Know About Dog Travel Anxiety Medication

Most of the time, vets will recommend that you give your pet medications to relieve stress and sickness in the car.

Human antihistamine pills like Benadryl and Dramamine will make your dog drowsy and less aware of his/her surroundings, therefore reducing anxiety and agitation.

The dosage of these medications depends on your dog’s size and ranges anywhere from 10 milligrams to 50 milligrams, so be sure to do your research and educate yourself about potential side effects.

Zoetis medicines such as Cerenia are also good for blocking the part of your dog’s brain responsible for vomiting. Since it’s not ideal for every dog, a prescription from your vet is required for this medication.

While medications and sedatives work just fine in reducing travel anxiety in dogs, I prefer to use more natural methods with long-term solutions. If you’re unsure of which methods are best for your dog’s health, speak with your vet beforehand and get their opinion.

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Traveling is one of this world’s most enriching experiences, and everyone deserves to enjoy a fantastic adventure every once in a while, even your dog! By putting these effective methods into practice, your once anxiety-filled pup will be ready for any journey that comes their way!

How have these methods worked for you? Interested in even more dog health and safety tips? Let us know what you think in the comments! We love to hear from our fellow travelers.

When your precious pooch overcomes their travel anxiety, here are some great ideas for dog-friendly destinations you can visit together!

Also, don’t forget to claim your FREE copy of our Doggie Packing Checklist to help you prepare for the trip.

Happy Travels!