Since owning Tally he has travelled in the car on a number of occasions. Intially fetching him home (2.5 hours), then to the vets (15 mins) and to go on walks (5 mins to 30 mins). He threw up on that first trip home but that was only to be expected. Since then he has only thrown up twice and that was after the car had stopped and we had reached our destination.

Now he dribbles! His mouth starts dripping as soon as he is in the car (before the car has started moving) and that progresses into large amounts of drool haning from his mouth. He can end up have quite a large puddle around him.

Because he starts before the car is moving, to me that suggests anxiety or excitement - does this make sense?

Is this something he will 'grow out' of - Tally is 5 months old.

Any similar experiences/suggestions?

Thanks, Rachel and a sopping wet towel!:)

I think he is travel sick and dribbles B4 you set off as he is anticipating feeling sick. The best thing you can do is take him for short journeys each day to try to get him used to it. my mother in laws dog was the same as yours and eventually grew out of it. Good luck.

Don't worry, this is really common, it just means he is feeling a bit sea sick! Or, anticipating it in Tally's case. I always give my youngsters ginger biscuits, 4 or 5 (for a big breed) just before loading up, & that seems to help a lot. I am sure he will grow out of it, they nearly always do, & if you do lots of short fun trips, then the car will soon be a place of pleasure.

My own Dog Zachariah, is six months and every time I have to take him for a car ride
he starts drooling. This last time the Vet Noticed his mouth very wet and said did you come by car? so yes was the rely, and he said he gets motion sickness which he stills get but not as bad I have the window half open and just sit and hold his lead.

My Ava is exactly the same, she gets really sick in the car, even on short journeys, and dribbles terribly too. I wondered if it was because her first car journey (when she came home with us) was a mega long one. Someone told me to try giving her 1/2 of a travel sickness tablet and I have tried this, I gave her 1/2 of the same tablets that I use for my sons travel sickness but it still didn't seem to help much and the dribbling was every bit as bad. I'm going to try the ginger biscuits next, - I was told that ginger is good for easing sickness when I suffered from bad morning sickness, but I was told to eat crystalised ginger and I couldn't stomach the stuff. ;)

Where are you putting him in the car? I ask this because one of my dogs was car sick and no amount of small journeys to get him used to it worked. Then someone noticed we had an estate car and told us not to put him in the very back of it(where he usually was). so we tried putting him in the back seat with a car harness on and he was fine. No more sick and no more dribbles.

We have tried Tally on the back seat and in the 'boot' - he's the same wherever he is! He went to the vets today and she commented on his wet front legs (where he's dribbled on them) - she assures me he will 'grow out of it'. I have to say I feel really lazy at the moment as I drive about five minutes with him in the car to the start of the walk. As long as it works I don't mind being a bit lazy for a while!:)

With regards to the ginger biscuits - does he eat these before going in the car or whilst he's in the car? (I hope this isn't a daft question!)
Thanks, Rachel

Hi Rachel

When we collected him at 8 weeks, our Westie managed a 2 1/2 hour car journey (with stops) without problem. BUT for the next few weeks, he was sick, or drooled, even on very short journeys. THEN it all stopped! Be patient and sympathetic - don't get cross - and the dog will grow out of it! Best wishes!

Ian and Julie

My dog still gets travel sick if I dont give a "sea legs" tablet, we managed to get to Crufts and back again without being sick, even on a short journey I give a tablet to her, and they dont make the dog drowsy.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I am pleased to say that not a single drop of drool came out of Tally's mouth last night when we drove round the corner to go for a walk. There was a bit on the way back but I think we're finally getting there!:)