Hi,
    My six month old newfoundland is really not getting on well with car travelling and i dont know what to do. He used to be ok getting in the car,but was always sick, now he is scared to get in the car,he refuses to move,head and tail down,when he is in the car,he is sick and as soon as he gets out he has diarehoa for up to 12 hours. I really do not know what to do and why.I only take him in the car if he is going somewhere nice,there is nothing in the car that could be doing it,and i always wait at least two hours after food before going in the car. Is there medication i can give him to stop it,or anyother way around it.I am finding it very upsetting to see him so upset,but i need to do something as else i wont be able to go anywhere with him
any advice would be really good
cheers
jo

I have had this with a puppy - we began a process of desensitisation.

First of all we fed her in the back of the car, every meal, every day and left the back open.   The car did not have the engine running.   When she would get in without fear and would eat happily and sit in the back without wanting to get out, we then started the engine but still left the car stationary - all meals were fed here with the engine running, when she was completely happy with that we took her for a very short ride, all of 2 minutes, 4 times a day we did this and then gradually lengthened the time of the journey.

Some months later she would happily get into the car (always a treat in there for her) and eventually she would travel all over the country without sickness or diarrhoea - but by this time feeding of meals was done after the car journey.

It is the stress that causes the diarrhoea and the motion of a car upsets the balance of the inner ear and can cause the sickness.  So he needs to associate the drive with something pleasant, somewhere nice at the end of the journey.

wow,looks like its going to take time,its soo upsetting to see him like it,i will give him time today to get over yesterday and maybe try what you suggest,
thankyou
jo

> wow,looks like its going to take time,its soo upsetting to see him like it,i will give him time today to get over yesterday and maybe try what you suggest

Do not take it quickly though, if at the beginning he will not get in the car to eat, i.e. if you have to fight him, for the first few attempts just put the food in a bowl near the car and gradually progress closer until the food is in the car.   The worse thing to do would be to stress him any further.  Be happy, positive and never, ever, let him know that you are also stressed, easier said than done

Best of luck.

thankyou for the advice,i will try it,i have to try something as he needs to go in the car for trips to the beach,woods etc as well as vet trips!!
i will take it slowly,poor little big stan
jo