Carsick? Not me.

With the tight economy, people are taking shorter and more localized vacations - or the ever popular Stay-cation. Sticking around the house and short trips while saving money, also allows you to include every member of the family, even your dog. But what if your dog gets carsick? Is there anything a pet-parent can do?

According to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University we should first of all, understand what car sicknesses is: A type of motion sickness, it occurs when the inner ear balance conflicts with what the eye sees - in other words the ear tells the brain something completely different than the eye. This "disagreement" can result in anxiety, poor coordination, drooling, nausea and vomiting for your poor pet.

Puppies seem particularly vulnerable to carsickness, but often grow out of it after their sensory systems mature. But about 15% of adult dogs suffer from carsickness. Anxiety can play a major roll in this, particularly if the dog has gotten sick in the past or is unaccustomed to car travel.

Here are some things you can do to make your dog more comfortable and the trip a little easier for you as well.

Safety First: Put your dog in a carrier or crate. Before the trip, get your dog used to the carrier and present it as a cozy den rather than a cage. Adding a favorite toy, familiar bedding and even a piece of your clothing will help your dog relax. While the crate is still in the house, feedings can also be done inside the carrier which will increase your dogs love of their crate. However, do not include food of any kind on the actual trip.

Desensitize: Get your dog used to the car to decrease their anxiety. Walk by it when it is not running. Feed and play with your dog near the car.  Repeat in the car. Then repeat while the car is running in idle. Reward your pet with treats and ear scratches repeatedly. Teach your dog to associate the car with fun.

Road Trip Food: Your dog will be more comfortable and less likely to vomit if their stomach isn't full. A small snack or treat may not cause a problem - in fact giving them one or two ginger cookies before traveling may even help prevent carsickness as ginger is a natural antiemetic. Wait until the trip is over to offer a full meal.

Be Happy: This may sound obvious but your dog is very sensitive to your mood. If you always act happy, even excited about riding in the car, your dog will pick up on this as well and this may help elevate anxiety. If your dog does get sick the last thing you want to do is overreact by getting angry and screaming. On the other hand, don't overdo the sympathy either. Adopting a "no big deal" attitude will go much farther in helping your dog to overcome carsickness.

Start Small: Take short trips at first, even if it's just a block or two. Avoid bumps, hills and frequent turns as they can exacerbate the imbalanced feeling.  Gradually lengthen the trips while adding turns and different routes. Hopefully as your trips lengthen, the carsickness will dissipate.
 

The Destination is the Reward: Travel to fun places you know your pet would enjoy -- the dog park, the beach, a friend's house or favorite restaurant, the pet store for a treat. Anywhere that allows your dog to associate a car ride with a pleasant experience.

Last Resort: If none of the above suggestions help over time and we can't stress enough that this is the last resort - ask your vet about medications such as Cerenia or a concentrated form of ginger to medically alleviate the carsickness. Do not medicate your dog yourself but only through your veterinarian.

Remember your dog wants to be with you and go with you in the car. With a little time and determination most dogs are able to conquer carsickness.