Motion sickness/nausea remedy or..?

[SheriS]

Hello everyone! We got a new puppy on January 3rd. He's a Havanese/Poodle mix. He's got long red hair and is an absolute delight. He needs some training to keep him safe and us sane. I will add a photo when I can.

We got him from a shelter where he had been rescued from a breeder hoarding situation in N.C. in July 2025.

He's approx 7 months old
Weighs approx 9.2 pds
Clear eyes and skin
Ears are clean/no smell
Teeth great/gums pink (a little tartar from kibble?) but they left his puppy canines
Recently neutered 12-22-25
Micro chipped
All of the vaccines that were "age appropriate"
Heartgard Plus 12/23/25
Frontline Plus 12/19/25
De wormer- 7/31/25

Currently treating for Coccidia with Albon
He also tested positive for Giardia but not treating that yet.

B-He's very sociable, sweet and affectionate. He plays a lot and is very agile! He needs more potty training and other training to keep him safe.
E-Very energetic now but when we broght him home he was pretty mellow.
A-Pretty good. Feeling our way around what he prefers.
M- Playful, clingy, alert

My most immediate question is, what can we do to hopefully prevent motion sickness? He's been sick multiple times in the car and after everything is out of his tummy, he drools a lot.

 

[HA! Support]

Congratulations on your new puppy!
--Kim

 

[Dr. Jeff]

My most immediate question is, what can we do to hopefully prevent motion sickness?

Have you tried any form of ginger? I've seen ginger capsules, candy, ginger ale all help. Along with a gradual introduction to car rides (and homeopathy!).

The majority of times, just by associating the car with happy feelings and not doing giving anything else, puppies grow out of car sickness.

 

[GinnyW]

Can you let him look out? Perhaps holding him sitting in your lap... If he likes, let him chew/nurse on something. Always associate a car ride with a treat. You might go so far as to "reward" (and praise) every time he gets in - even if you carry him or put him in a carrier.

 

[HA! Support]

My pup outgrew that by one year of age. She's 9 now, but I still try to time rides around an empty stomach "just in case" to avoid extraneous doggy baths and car cleaning. More of my issue now than hers!

 

[SheriS]

Have you tried any form of ginger? I've seen ginger capsules, candy, ginger ale all help. Along with a gradual introduction to car rides (and homeopathy!).

The majority of times, just by associating the car with happy feelings and not doing giving anything else, puppies grow out of car sickness.

Thanks for your input Dr. Jeff! I hope he will grow out of it. In the mean time, do you have any rec's for ginger products?

 

[SheriS]

My pup outgrew that by one year of age. She's 9 now, but I still try to time rides around an empty stomach "just in case" to avoid extraneous doggy baths and car cleaning. More of my issue now than hers!

What's an empty stomach to you/community? We had not fed Cooper for for 5 hrs and still lots of vomiting and drooling...

 

[SheriS]

Can you let him look out? Perhaps holding him sitting in your lap... If he likes, let him chew/nurse on something. Always associate a car ride with a treat. You might go so far as to "reward" (and praise) every time he gets in - even if you carry him or put him in a carrier.

Thanks Ginny. I'll try your suggestion of a bone maybe. I hesitate to give him treats until I see he can handle small rides.
I had him on my lap after we left the shelter. I think he had kibble shortly bf we arrived so I will try this again. I did have the window open but it's very cold here currently.

 

[SheriS]

Have you tried any form of ginger? I've seen ginger capsules, candy, ginger ale all help. Along with a gradual introduction to car rides (and homeopathy!).

The majority of times, just by associating the car with happy feelings and not doing giving anything else, puppies grow out of car sickness.

Also, what hoeopathy is typical? I see a lot of suggestions out there.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

We had not fed Cooper for for 5 hrs and still lots of vomiting and drooling...

That's considered to be an empty stomach!

Also, what hoeopathy is typical?

Cocculus is the most often used homeopathic medicine. Bonine (meclizine) is a safe and readily available (OTC) drug to prevent car sickness. They both can work super well while your homeopath addresses the root cause of the car sickness and other symptoms.

Meclizine for Dogs: Solutions for Motion Sickness or Vertigo

Meclizine for dogs works well to reduce nausea from motion sickness or vestibular disease (i.e. vertigo). Get the details from Dr. Buzby.

toegrips.com

 

[SheriS]

That's considered to be an empty stomach!


Cocculus is most often indication. Bonine (meclizine) is a safe and readily available (OTC) drug to prevent car sickness. They both can work super well while your homeopath addresses the root cause of the car sickness and other symptoms.

Meclizine for Dogs: Solutions for Motion Sickness or Vertigo

Meclizine for dogs works well to reduce nausea from motion sickness or vestibular disease (i.e. vertigo). Get the details from Dr. Buzby.

toegrips.com

Okay. Wow...we recently threw out all of Fibi's vestibular meds along with practically everything else, thinking we weren't getting another dog for quite a while. Funny, not funny!

 

[HA! Support]

What's an empty stomach to you/community? We had not fed Cooper for for 5 hrs and still lots of vomiting and drooling...

For us, no food 4 hours before, if possible, but again, as she outgrew it, that may be more of a placebo for the humans than making any difference to the dog

 

[Dr. Christina]

Your puppy is so lucky to have you aiming towards balance and vitality rather than merely stopping symptoms.

From Acu-Dog by Zidonas and Snow (good book with pictures to own, along with FourPaws Five Directions by Schwartz) say Pericardium 6 (Pe6) can help. It is on the back of the front leg above the wrist. This is the point used by people for sea sickness. Pe7 is in the same area and helps with anxiety. Heart 7 is a bit more to the side in the same area and is also good for anxiety. You can rub these points at home when there is no stress, then have someone rub the points for a very short car ride, then longer ones.

Several companies make wrist bands for people and animals that press on these spots. One that seems good is Dog Anxiety Calming Bands – Acupressure Support for Canines and you can read more on his blog about those points.

Dr. Christina

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Great suggestions Christina!

I love the idea of motion sickness bands for pups:

Dog Anxiety Calming Bands – Acupressure Support for Canines

Acupressure wristbands for dogs to support calm, car travel, and stress relief. Multiple sizes for small to large breeds.

acupressurebracelets.com

 

[SheriS]

That's considered to be an empty stomach!


Cocculus is the most often used homeopathic medicine. Bonine (meclizine) is a safe and readily available (OTC) drug to prevent car sickness. They both can work super well while your homeopath addresses the root cause of the car sickness and other symptoms.

Meclizine for Dogs: Solutions for Motion Sickness or Vertigo

Meclizine for dogs works well to reduce nausea from motion sickness or vestibular disease (i.e. vertigo). Get the details from Dr. Buzby.

toegrips.com

Dr. Jeff, Is the Meclizine better gotten through a vet bc maybe it's a cleaner product or is OTC just as good?

 

[Dr. Jeff]

is OTC just as good?

Great question Sheri!

The vet may have a dog-approved version like NausX.

Meclizine (NausX®) for Dogs and Cats

Meclizine is commonly prescribed by veterinarians to treat and prevent motion sickness in dogs. Learn how meclizine works in dogs, including side effects, directions, and more.

www.petmd.com

Only by reading the packages can you find find he cleanest.

Or our friends over at Blend Labs Rx may be able to formulate it into a liquid with your choice of base vehicle.

Compounded drugs are often quite a bit less costly than those you purchase through vets.

There are thousands of vets who prescribe directly to BlendLabs.