Q: My dog gets sick every time we ride in the car. Is there anything we can do?

-Rose Saranson, San Jose, California

A: Many dogs that become carsick bring about their episodes from a past experience or stress, so I generally opt for replacing the traumatic association with a fun, new activity. I’ve been successful by teaching basic obstacle equipment, focusing on the jump command. Once the dog has learned the word association, I have them jump up, down, and over everything I can find, including the tailgate or backseat of a car. When they expectantly jump into the car, we make a game out of opening and closing the door. By taking small steps, we slowly proceed until we are driving up and down the driveway and then eventually to a nearby park. Always maintain the trigger of a fun environment where the dog has a certain level of control. - Kevin Simpson, CPDT Director, Animal Behavior & Training, The Washington Humane Society, Washington, D.C.


A: The first thing to realize is that in most cases, carsickness is stress related, not motion related. You can use veterinary medicines to calm the dog or ease nausea or try holistic medicines such as herbs, oils, vitamins, or Rescue Remedy. But I recommend you first determine on average how long your dog can go in car before getting overly anxious. Next, find a pleasurable destination that is reachable in under that time limit. Have someone else in the car to soothe or distract the dog on the trip to the park. Get out at the destination and make it as fun as possible. When you get back in your car, keep soothing her all the way home. Repeat a few times a day. Once the dog is looking forward to riding in the car, extend the trips slowly. - Rachel Resk, Animal Behaviorist, host of radio show “Paws and Effect” Naperville, Illinois

A: This is quite common. Some dogs become sick from the motion and others because bad things happen when they get in the car. If your pooch only goes for a ride to get his temperature taken—that’s not much fun! A ride with an empty stomach and a slightly open window may help. Drive a few houses up, park, go for a walk, then hop back in the car and drive home. Gradually increase the length of each trip as long as he hasn’t gotten sick. - Sam Kabbel, CPDT and Dr. Kathleen Hoffman, DVM, Arizona Animal Welfare League

Q: I really want to travel with my cat. Any tips?

-Allen Schmitz, West Bloomfield, Michigan

A: For most cats, venturing from the house is a highly stressful situation. Stress can weaken immune systems and for a cat that means a much greater risk for developing URI, UTI, or loss of appetite. If you do travel with your cat I advise planning ahead by making litter box and sleeping arrangements far in advance. Bring along familiar items (bedding, scratching posts, scented items) to help her become acclimated to the new environment. If you’re traveling to a multi-room space, limit your cat’s freedom to one room until she feels more secure. Make sure to closely monitor hydration and food consumption during your trip. - Kevin Simpson, CPDT Director, Animal Behavior & Training, The Washington Humane Society, Washington, D.C.

A: Our cats can enjoy travel just like dogs. But cats do not travel as often, so I recommend the use of natural calming agents to help with any anxiety on the trip rather than acclimating the cats to frequent car rides with desensitization methods. Bring a collar, tag, and have a microchip implanted before the trip. Want to take your cat outside? Please bring a leash and harness, and put it on tight. Obtain a sturdy carrier that encourages airflow. The carrier should not break open if jostled. Bring a little toy for your friend too. On long car rides, make stops every 4 hours and let your cat out of the carrier (inside the car) to relax and use the litter box. Cats can enjoy being brushed on this break as well. Never leave your pet in the car on a warm day. - Rachel Resk, Animal Behaviorist, host of radio show “Paws and Effect” Naperville, Illinois

A: The best thing you can do is ensure that the cat carrier is not a scary box that she gets stuffed into just to go to the vet! Help her get used to the carrier before it ever goes in the car. Start with a trip around the block and gradually work up to longer trips to make it less scary. - Sam Kabbel, CPDT and Dr. Kathleen Hoffman, DVM, Arizona Animal Welfare League

Q: I have a very active 13-year old Shitzu that has the beginnings of kidney disease. We are feeding her special food prescribed by our vet food as well as fruits and veggies. She misses her bones & doggie snacks though—is there anything else I can feed her?

-Jen Casperson, Cincinnati, Ohio

A: Try using her prescription food as a treat. Much like horses, dogs perceive little tidbit snacks as bigger rewards than sizeable items of the same substance. Your Shitzu may be very well entertained with individual kibbles when given as a treat. Since she is so spry, consider teaching her some new tricks which could then be used as a distraction when she’s missing her old snacks. Otherwise she’ll do best to adhere to the nutritional guidelines set forth by a veterinarian you trust. I also recommend remaining very sensitive to any changes in her personality during this time of illness. - Kevin Simpson, CPDT Director, Animal Behavior & Training, The Washington Humane Society, Washington, D.C.

A: As your vet may have recommended, dogs with kidney disease need lower phosphorus diets, generally some modification in protein amounts, and more carbohydrates. They also benefit from canned vs. dry food and from more frequent meals. What they do not benefit from are byproducts or chemicals or excessive fillers in their foods. For that reason I actually recommend natural foods. There are many that meet the recommendations for low phosphorus, low salt, and lower protein requirements. Many of these foods have “matching” treats. One excellent website with a lot of good information, including specific ingredients, phosphorus levels etc. is DogAware.com. - Rachel Resk, Animal Behaviorist, host of radio show “Paws and Effect” Naperville, Illinois

A: The doctor prescribed diet is very important. Canned food is especially good because of the water content, which helps flush out the toxins that accumulate in the body with kidney failure. Other things that help increase water consumption are recommended as well. Freezing low sodium broth (chicken, beef, or veggie) in an ice cube tray and feeding these as treats is popular with many dogs, especially in the summer. Adding water or broth to their food is also good. Fruits and vegetables are good healthy snacks, too, since they have a very high water content. Keep in mind that many pet food manufacturers (Hills, Iams, Nutro) make diets specifically formulated for kidney disease, so you can always try different brands to see what your pet likes best. - Sam Kabbel, CPDT and Dr. Kathleen Hoffman, DVM, Arizona Animal Welfare League