Car sickness in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It is a common problem in dogs called car sickness or motion sickness, with signs including drooling, panting and retching.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet to arrange an appointment.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Keep fresh water available.
  5. Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Car sickness is a common problem for puppies and dogs.[1] Dogs may become nervous about getting in the car, and the problem may get worse if it is not managed properly.[1]

Signs

  • Drooling
  • Panting
  • Swallowing a lot
  • Lip licking
  • Retching
  • Barking or whimpering
  • Shaking before or during travel
  • Peeing or pooing in the car
  • Pulling away from the car or refusing to get inside

How vets treat it

  • Anti-sickness medication

What the experts say

“Drooling ; Panting ; Swallowing a lot ; Lip licking ; Retching ; Barking or whimpering ; Shaking before or during travel ; Peeing/pooing in the car ; Pulling away from the car or refusing to get inside”

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What signs can car sickness cause?

Signs include drooling, panting, swallowing a lot, lip licking, retching, barking or whimpering, shaking, peeing or pooing in the car, and pulling away from the car or refusing to get inside.[1]

Can car sickness affect how my dog behaves around the car?

A dog may become nervous about getting in the car, pull away from it or refuse to get inside.[1]

How can car sickness be prevented?

Travel training is the best way to prevent a car sickness problem developing.[1]

Sources

  1. PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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