How To Stop Your Dog From Drooling In The Car
Is your dog unusually or excessively drooling or slobbering every time you take them for a drive?
If the answer is yes, then I suspect that you already realise that drooling, particularly excessive and unusual drooling (for your breed of dog) is a common sign that your dog is not comfortable and/or is anxious or stressed in the car. You’ll likely have noticed other indicators of this too in their body language and general demeanour either prior to getting them in the car or whilst travelling. You might even find that your dog ends up being car sick. It is so stressful for both of you when you are facing this and really limiting on where you can take your dog. I completely understand it because my dog had the worst travel stress I have ever seen when we first rescued her. But we got through it and so can you. Here are some effective strategies to help make car travel a more pleasant experience for you and your dog.
Understanding Why Your Dog Drools in the Car
Before addressing how to stop your dog from drooling in the car, it’s essential to understand the root cause. Dogs typically drool in the car due to motion sickness, anxiety/fear or a combination of both. Identifying the underlying issue is the first step in finding the right solution. Some dogs do drool more than others naturally and this is not what we are talking about here. Neither are we talking about any drool they produce if you feed them whilst travelling. We are talking about excessive drooling which isn’t the norm for your dog and isn’t the result of food being present when they travel in the car.
Motion Sickness: Just like humans, some dogs experience motion sickness. The movement of the car can upset their stomach which physically makes them drool (think about when you feel like you might be sick and you have to keep swallowing excess saliva that is created in your mouth). If you see them drooling, it is highly likely that they are also feeling nauseous (sick) and sometimes this might result in them vomiting.
Anxiety or Stress: Car rides can be overwhelming for some dogs, especially if they associate the car with unpleasant experiences like trips to the vet, have had a bad experience in the car in the past (like my dog has) or perhaps weren’t introduced to the car properly before they were ready to be able to support themselves fully. This can manifest as shaking, drooling, whining, restlessness, stiffness (doesn’t want to move) or sickness.
Knowing why your dog might be struggling with car travel is extremely helpful so that you can start to put the right measures in place for them.
Tips to Prevent Your Dog from Drooling in the Car
If your dog is finding car travel extremely stressful then you are likely going to need to take a step back for a while and reduce the amount and length of car travel that you do with them. Similarly, if your dog is suffering from motion sickness, you are likely best building car travel back up in much smaller steps for them until they habituate.
So, let’s suspend big car journeys for the time being and gradually desensitise them to the car by:
Begin by letting your dog explore the car while it’s stationary. Allow them to sniff around and get comfortable without any pressure. If your dog is worried about approaching the car, you might need a different approach here, so please do get in touch for help. If your dog will enter your car, pop something really tasty and yummy inside for them. A chew they don’t get very often that they love, a sprinkle of treats or perhaps some lovely food in a Kong. Do this once per day. As soon as they finish their food, let them get out straight away. If they won’t eat inside the car, this is a sign that they are too stressed. Again, contact me for help if you find this happening.
Once your dog is comfortable inside the car, start the engine without driving. This helps your dog get used to the sound and vibration of the car. Turn the engine on when they are having their tasty treat for the day, but don’t drive anywhere.
Once they are comfortable with this, start by driving the car short distances at first. Don’t go from sitting on the drive to driving for miles. By short, I mean literally a cars length at first. Increase this distance each day, as long as your dog is comfortable with the car moving.
Provide a Comfortable and Secure Environment
The Highway Code states that your dog must be suitably restrained by a pet carrier, seat belt harness, dog cage or dog guard so that they don’t distract or harm you or themselves if your car is to suddenly stop.
Crash tested car crates are by far the safest way to travel with your dog, however not all cars are able to fit them in. Lots of people travel with their dogs clipped just into the back seat of the car and this is quite often where I see problems occurring. If you think about car travel for a dog, it is unpredictable. There are turns, stops and accelerations and all of this requires your dog to be able to stabilise themselves, balance and re-centre throughout a journey. It’s quite a lot for a dog to have to deal with.
One of the best things to do if your dog is travelling on the car seat is to provide them with proper support in the car. A bed with high sides is brilliant, but some pillows/cushions or even blankets around them can be enough to provide them with support all around their body and make car travel feel a lot more secure for them. The back seat car hammocks are OK, but I find that even these don’t provide dogs with enough support and security. Quite often, once dogs feel more supported in the car, they find travelling much easier. Make sure you do still use a seat belt clip too.
You can also try and pop a favourite toy or blanket in the car to make them feel more ‘at home’.
Ensure that your car has fresh air but not so much that it is blowing a gale on your dog and don’t let them hang their heads out of the window.
Reduce Motion
No, I don’t mean to drive at 20mph everywhere, although not driving like Lewis Hamilton is always recommended as that won’t help how your dog feels about travelling (and neither is it safe!). What I mean here is to reduce the amount of motion that your dog can visibly see from inside the car as, sometimes, motion sickness in dogs is the cause of their car issues. If your dog travels in a crate, covering the sides so that they can only see out of the front can be really helpful. If they travel on the back seats, using child car blackout blinds on the rear windows can be really helpful too.
Feeding Before Car Rides
For some dogs, eating a meal before car rides makes them feel nauseous when travelling so it can be a good idea to try and not feed them directly before a journey to see if this helps.
Natural Remedies For Dogs
If your dog is prone to motion sickness, you might want to consider using natural remedies to help, although you need to ensure that your dog is able to tolerate anything that you give them. Discussing this with your Vet beforehand is always a good idea.
Ginger is known for its anti-nausea properties. You can give your dog ginger in the form of treats or supplements designed for dogs.
Some pet owners find that CBD oil helps reduce anxiety and motion sickness in dogs. Consult with your veterinarian to ensure it’s safe for your dog.
Talk To A Professional
If your dog’s drooling persists despite trying these tips, it’s a good idea to consult with your Vet. They may recommend anti-nausea medication or anxiety-reducing supplements to help your dog cope with car rides. Some dogs require a full behavioural plan to help them with car travel and so getting help from a professional trainer may be something that you and your dog need.
Excessive drooling in the car can be a challenge and it is often associated with bigger things going on for your dog. The great news is that it is possible to overcome your dog’s car travel issues and help your dog feel more comfortable when travelling. Whether your dog’s drooling is due to anxiety/stress, motion sickness or both, these tips are a great starting point to changing how they feel.
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