Preventing/treating "car sickness" in cats

[admin]

Per, very good advice! My vet suggested bringing Zuri to petco, to his office for playtime with vet assistants, etc., to calm her down from crying continuously while driving to a show...desensitizing..it works! Now I can take her in the car and no problem...

As for taj...he must remain stress-free because of IBD and he is given a small sedative prior to going to the vet. I do not take him inn the car at all...if I had a way to put him in a car seat like we put children, with his leash and harness, though, i would do that as he loves to be out and about.

 

[waitingforgeorge]

I'm not sure if this is applicable here but I read years ago about a treatment for motion sickness car related, it has worked remarkably well over the years for both pets and children, as well as a few grownups. Sometimes car sickness is from a build up of static electricity in and around the vechicle. Taking a piece of leather, like from a broken leash and attatching it to the frame via a loop in the leather, not metal snap, near the center rear of car. Let it drag a small amount on the ground. This acts as a ground to dissipate static. Won't help the mental patients but may help the real motion sickness.

 

[admin]

Now that is an interesting theory...

 

[Patti]

Per, very good advice! My vet suggested bringing Zuri to petco, to his office for playtime with vet assistants, etc., to calm her down from crying continuously while driving to a show...desensitizing..it works! Now I can take her in the car and no problem...

As for taj...he must remain stress-free because of IBD and he is given a small sedative prior to going to the vet. I do not take him inn the car at all...if I had a way to put him in a car seat like we put children, with his leash and harness, though, i would do that as he loves to be out and about.

You can get a seatbelt attachment that can hook to a harness so that your cat can ride in the seat with you. I have one that I use for some of my cats that I feel safe taking outside on a leash.

 

[Dr. Cris Bird]

[quote="Using Pepcid may be an attempt at reducing the secretion of acid which also comes with a stress reaction.
[/quote]

Thank you, Per. So, as far as you see, there is no purpose in giving a cat Pepcid before a ride in the car -- other than to reduce the discomfort of vomiting by neutralizing some of the stomach acid? That is, Pepcid does *nothing* to prevent vertigo or vomiting or anything in these situations? It only neutralizes some of the acid?

I want to be clear on this because I know people who are under the impression that their vets prescribed Pepcid to prevent one or more causes of car sickness.

Thanks.

 

[Per Lausund]

[quote="Using Pepcid may be an attempt at reducing the secretion of acid which also comes with a stress reaction.

Thank you, Per. So, as far as you see, there is no purpose in giving a cat Pepcid before a ride in the car -- other than to reduce the discomfort of vomiting by neutralizing some of the stomach acid? That is, Pepcid does *nothing* to prevent vertigo or vomiting or anything in these situations? It only neutralizes some of the acid?

I want to be clear on this because I know people who are under the impression that their vets prescribed Pepcid to prevent one or more causes of car sickness.

Thanks.[/quote]
Sorry!
I may have been a bit imprecise here: Pepcid will reduce the acidity in the stomach, an acidity that may help provoke vomiting, so there may be sense in using Pepcid. But that is curing a symptom, not working on the cause: STRESS!

P

 

[Breheart]

Per, thanks so much! Your advice got put to the test today. I think Keljin being so young, that it was not quite habit yet. We had a great experience at the vet today, he did meow and cry on the car ride. But he got lots of love and playtime at the vet and he had a great time! No accidents either.

 

[Per Lausund]

Per, thanks so much! Your advice got put to the test today. I think Keljin being so young, that it was not quite habit yet. We had a great experience at the vet today, he did meow and cry on the car ride. But he got lots of love and playtime at the vet and he had a great time! No accidents either.

Great! Keep it up!

P