Callia has hated the car with a vengence since we picked her up 4 weeks ago :(

The journey was very long for her when we bought her home from breeders, we did stop several times but she foams at the mouth, literally

I've been taking her out on very short journeys about 3/4 times a week and if anything, the problem has got worse :( She started off in the front footwell of the car so she could be near us (always with OH to control/soothe her) but the pooing, weeing and sickness is getting out of control. So she now goes into estate boot in her crate. Within minutes of setting off the familiar smell hits us, regardless of how recently she has gone to the toilet. Her mouth drips and she is just so unhappy :(

When I get her out the other end, she tries to leap out of the car (understandably) and of course I have to take 15 minutes out to clear up the crate before I can walk her.

It's quite common for my breed to dislike the car, and I have met many that still foam at the mouth, despite years of travelling. Murf doesn't love the car but he knows its a necessary evil to get to the woods/beach/fields. I have never had a dog that looses control of all of its bodily functions before, normally they are just a bit sick.

I know that she's very young still, but because this happens everytime it's a habit that I want to break. I'm worried that it will become "normal". I have been feeding her in it, to get her used to the surroundings and I have put her in it with me in the back making lots of soothing noises and giving snacks with the engine running.

We're going to Scotland over Easter and taking her with us (8 hr journey with breaks) and at the moment I don't think either her or I can face or deal with the stress it's going to cause. Also, as Murf throws a hissy fit whenever she messes, the look of contempt on his face is hilarious :D it's not going to be ideal for him stuck in the back with her.

I have spoken to my friend about this, who also bred her and he has said to keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully she will be become desensitised to it, I'm not holding my breath though :(

Any other suggestions would be very gratefully received :)

A rescue Beardie I had was like this in the car I found that giving her a ginger capsule helped. I got the Hoeffels(sp) one a day from Boots I'm not sure about the dose for a pup. Cassie got used to car in time and all was well

Anne

Your Dog magazine shows using Tellington Touch to stop car sickness this month. We have a car phobic dog too, but now Echo has his own harness he loves sitting in passenger seat. In fact hes become a connossieur of cars lately and enjoys inspecting other cars inside and out :) Before this we fed him in the car so hed jump in, then closed the door, then drove to the road end etc. Apologies if you know all this stuff already, but we had to make the car a good place before he would get in. I think Echo's first car journey was in the dog catchers van.

It may be worth trying a DAP (dog appeasing pheramone(?)) spray which you can get from your vet or probably from the internet.  I haven't used one myself but know a couple of people who have tried one for various reasons with quite a bit of success.  I think you spray the car about 15 minutes before a journey.
Best wishes, this is not a nice problem to deal with.
Alex

Thanks guys :)

I am trying to convince her that the car isn't such a bad place, but at the moment she only has to see it and the "foaming" at the mouth starts, yet she will eat her biscuits in there with the engine running, so I have come to the conclusion that it's complete fear that causes the sickness, loss of bowel/bladder control and not the car movement making her lose control, if that makes any sense :)

I will give the DAP a go, I will try anything :P as the mess and smell is starting to make my wuss of a daughter feel queasy when she is with me :P and because I take my dogs out regularly in the car, it's vital that I cure it. I suppose the more she's like this in the car, the worse it's going to get, almost like a phobia.

Murf still won't jump in the car everytime, I have to get help putting him in. I had to ask a man in a carpark the other day if he would help me lift my 8 stone dog in, I won't repeat what he told me to go and do :D Yet, when I took him to the groomers yesterday, he couldn't wait to jump in, he was nudging the tail gate up so he could get in rapidly :P  a dog with a sense of humour I love, but his is sometimes perverse :P

Hairypooch, I have just spoken to someone I know who is a homeopathic vet and mentioned your problem.  He said for the actual sickness they have a lot of success with 'Kwells' (spelling may be wrong) which apparently are a herbal remedy for travel sickness for children and available from the chemist.  Might be worth a try.
Best wishes
Alex

Jo,

When Barney started foaming at the mouth and vomiting (really obnoxious wind too :-o), I rang his breeder who recommended Bach Rescue Remedy which I immediately bought, and he has not been sick since. Also she suggested the homeopathic remedy Cocculus Indicus which she gave him before his journey home with us. Hope this helps, and I will get round to PM'ing you.

Julia

Thank you Alex, I'm going out to buy some Kwells tomorrow ;)

Hi HP,

I've had success with a *very* poor traveller by using Valerian Compound - although I gave it half an hour before travelling because it's quite strong smelling/tasting and could cause a bit of nausea I'd imagine.   Rescue Remedy used in conjunction with this is vg but drip that onto her nose leather rather than into her mouth - less chance of a soured tummy ;)

Another thing I did to avoid soiling was to never take the puppy in the car when there was *any* food in it's tummy - I think that may just help break the cycle with Callia.  I know what you're doing re treats, feeds in the car is text book stuff for overcoming fear of it but if she is now getting herself in an increasingly worse state and unable to stop soiling herself then perhaps it is fear/distress of the mess that is causing the problem?  Why not try taking her a short car trip to somewhere pleasant immediately after she has just emptied her bowels and bladder - say first thing in the morning if that's practical?  Just a thought.  Teri :)

Todays success so far.........or failure :P

We decided that we weren't going to let it beat her or us, so it was down to the coast we went, about 10 miles down and the same back.

OH got into the estate part of the car, theory being reassurance & love.....bless :D. Very dribbly,slimey mouth on the way down apparently. She ate at 7.30am and this was 1.00pm.

Did the walk on the beach, wanted people to stroke her for socialising, forget it........black,scruffy,foamy mouthed puppy......it's not sweet, only a face a mother would love :rolleyes:

I've been putting Bach flower remedy on her nose, as my H/pathic vet has suggested and will keep up with it.

Teri, I think you're right, the stress of soiling herself is not helping. But today proved something, she hates being in the back of the car on her own!!! Hence, she only spewed (sorry for the description) instead of emptying herself out. In saying that, at the moment, she is on a liver/kidney detox from my H/pathic vet and Trisha, my vet, said to expect more waste than normal while she was clearing the junk out of her system. Monsterman did this when he had a problem  2 yrs ago, albeit he didn't choose to use the car as a waste bin :D

I'm obviously taking her for walks, which at the moment she doesn't find that pleasurable. Looking at it from her point of view, you get in a car that has a laxative effect on you, get to the other end and then your trusted one and only, tethers you and when you pull,  you get called, treated and then corrected and then treated again, you're not allowed to wander, you won't relieve yourself cos your're too scared, but are dying to go, and every dog that comes along is huge You just want to be a puppy and investigate but they won't let you and then they go and put you in the big bad car again!!!

Teri, it looks like all of our trips, for now, are going to be first thing in the morning. Of course, now that I'm on the Schnaaps it won't be a problem with hangovers :D :D

Oh, poor puppy :(   You're both having a hard time -  for your own sanity (serious tip coming up :D ) don't try and overcome too many obstacles at once!

Look at it this way :   She's only - what, 10/11 weeks? - still recovering from all manner of discomfort following on from her vacs problems, already learnt quite a lot of new things for a baby, and of course is having to deal with an alcohol dependent Mum

Maybe just *miss* the car rides entirely for a week (you'd probably never pass the breathaliser anyway :P )

Teri ;)  

Teri, *HIC* whadaya mean I'd never pass the breathaliser test????? :D

Do scooters count? of course Cally would have a custom made helmet......*wry smile* And as my defence in court, I could say that I was driven to it!!!

Yeah, I know, very, very, very bad. Time to give up me thinks and go to bed. :P

I'd suggest the DAP spray - this is formulated especially for travelling - haven't used it myself, but have had great success with the DAP diffuser.
I tend to agree with Teri, maybe give the car journeys a rest for a week or so :) Afterwards, I would try taking her on short journeys on an empty stomach with the window open and a fab walk at the end of it.

What fun you are having! <g>

Lindsay
x

I was a poor traveller when i was younger so i know how you feel. I suggest that you leave the car journeys for a few days then take her for a very small drive of no more than 3-5 mins get out and have a game. Have someone else with you to clear any mess up so your pup has fun straight away once the car stops. As for cuddling i would advise against this as it only reinforces the behaviour more. Instead i would praise for journeys which are mess free and just clean up on other occasions. Act as normal as possible and thats its no big deal. Have someone sit in the back seat so shes not alone or even harness her on the back seat with plenty of towels prasing for no mess and stop and just clean up if it happens. A normal routine needs to be established so its just another part of the day when it comes to the car. Build up slowly and hopefully she will get there.

I agree with Sonny, I would recommend that you go for very frequent VERY short car episodes...maybe even just popping her in the car, starting the engine, letting it run for a minute, then taking her out.  start with just a minute or 2 then vary the times, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. My affies were both like Callia in the beginning but they are fine now.