Many of the experiences that enrich our Dachshund’s lives require a car ride to get there: Hiking trails, quiet parks, training classes, beaches, sniff spots, and other natural spaces often aren’t within walking distance.
For many dogs, the car is the gateway to exercise, enrichment, adventure, and spending quality time with their family.
That’s why it’s so frustrating when your dog struggles during car rides.
Whether they drool, vomit, pant, shake, whine, pace, or desperately try to escape, seeing your dog distressed can make even a short drive stressful for everyone.
Some owners stop taking their dog places altogether because they know the ride there, and back home again, will be miserable.
The good news is that, in many cases, this problem can be improved. The key is figuring out why your dog is uncomfortable in the car.
Many articles lump every dog that is unhappy in the car into the same category and recommend a long list of products, supplements, or medications or protocols to try.
While some of those suggestions can certainly help, they’re much more effective when they are specific to the underlying cause of your dog’s distress.
In this article, I’ll help you narrow down what’s most likely going on, explain how to tell the difference between motion sickness and anxiety, and share practical strategies that may help your dog become more comfortable riding in the car.
Why Dogs Struggle in the Car
When someone says their dog “gets carsick,” they often mean their dog simply doesn’t do well during car rides.
Sometimes that’s because of motion sickness. Other times, it’s because of anxiety.
That’s why identifying the most likely cause is so important. Using a solution for the wrong problem often results in frustration and little or no progress in resolving the issue.
It is true that car issues are often not black and white. They don’t neatly fit in in one category or the other. The truth is that the sympoms for each category overlap.
An anxious dog may drool, pant, or even vomit from stress. A motion sick dog may become restless because they feel nauseous.
It’s also possible for a dog to start out with one of the issues, which then morphs into the other.
For example, a dog that repeatedly becomes motion sick may eventually become anxious because they’ve learned to associate car rides with feeling sick.
Likewise, a dog that is extremely anxious may drool excessively, refuse food, or even vomit from stress.
If you keenly observe what happens right before, during, and after, and “experiment” through process of elimination, you can usually pinpoint the primary cause.
Motion sickness
Motion sickness occurs when the movement of the vehicle causes nausea or dizziness.
It’s especially common in puppies because the vestibular system, the part of the inner ear responsible for balance, hasn’t fully developed yet. Fortunately, many puppies naturally outgrow motion sickness as they mature.
Adult dogs can experience motion sickness too.
In some cases, it may be related to an underlying medical condition that affects balance or the inner ear. If your adult dog suddenly develops motion sickness after previously enjoying car rides, it’s a good idea to discuss it with your veterinarian.
Car anxiety
Some dogs don’t get physically sick at all. They’re emotionally overwhelmed.
Car anxiety can develop for many reasons. A dog may be frightened by the unfamiliar movement of the vehicle, have negative associations because they only ride in the car to visit the veterinarian (aka. “bad” places) , or simply lack enough positive experiences riding in the car.
Anxiety can also have more specific triggers.
Anticipatory anxiety
Your Dachshund may become anxious because they are anticipating something. This anticipation can have a wide range of causes.
Your dog may be nervous because they anticipate they’re going to the vet or groomer where they did not have a pleasant experience last time.
Your Dachshund may be over-excited because every time you drive the same route, or the car slows, it means your dog is getting out for a hike or visit to the dog park – something super fun for them.
Your Dachshund may be experiencing “stranger danger” and worried that someone is going to approach the vehicle.
Whether you consider the reason to be positive or negative, the reaction can be categorized broadly as overstimulation.
Separation distress
The trigger may be you leaving or you staying and someone else in the car getting out, but the person leaving upsets your dog.
We can’t always know exactly what a dog is thinking in this case.
It could be that it’s your Dachshund’s favorite person and he doesn’t understand why he doesn’t get to go with. He could be afraid that you won’t come back. Or she may not feel comfortable being separated from humans in general.
Noise sensitivity
Some dogs may seem perfectly comfortable riding around town but become distressed once the vehicle reaches highway speeds.
In these cases, the trigger may not be the car itself but the increased road noise, vibration, wind noise, or overall sensory stimulation that comes with faster travel.
I’ve experienced this firsthand with my own Dachshund, Otter. He eagerly jumps into the car and enjoys neighborhood drives, but freeway driving is a different story.
Understanding that his anxiety had a specific trigger completely changed how I approached helping him, and I’ll share more about that later in this article.
The important thing to remember is that most dogs don’t struggle in the car simply because they’re “bad travelers.” There’s usually an underlying reason for their behavior.
Once you identify the most likely cause, you can stop guessing and begin choosing solutions that fit your individual dog.
How to Tell What’s Causing Your Dog’s Distress in the Car
Figuring out whether your dog is dealing primarily with motion sickness or anxiety isn’t always easy but it’s important work.
Instead of focusing on one symptom, look at the bigger picture.
Pay attention to when your dog’s behavior starts, how they behave throughout the ride, and whether certain situations consistently make it better or worse. Those clues are often more useful than any single symptom.
The table below can help you narrow down the most likely cause.
| Signs More Common with Motion Sickness | Signs More Common with Car Anxiety |
|---|---|
| Excessive drooling or repeated lip licking | Hesitates or refuses to get into the car |
| Nausea or vomiting | Panting, pacing, whining, or trembling before or shortly after the ride begins |
| Appears dizzy or “woozy” | Constant movement, inability to settle, or attempts to escape |
| May become quiet or withdrawn | Hypervigilant or constantly scanning the environment |
| Often feels better after vomiting | May become more anxious in specific situations, such as highway driving, heavy traffic, or trips to the veterinarian |
| Symptoms often worsen as the ride continues | May improve as positive associations with the car are built over time |
Remember that these are general patterns, not hard rules. Every dog is an individual, and some display symptoms from both categories.
Look for patterns, not just symptoms
One of the biggest clues is when your dog’s behavior begins.
A Dachshund with motion sickness often starts the ride feeling relatively normal but becomes more uncomfortable as the trip continues.
An anxious dog, on the other hand, may begin showing signs of stress before the vehicle even moves. They may hesitate to jump into the car, start panting as soon as the doors close, or become restless the moment the engine starts.
It’s also helpful to notice whether your dog’s behavior is consistent or tied to particular situations.
Some dogs become anxious during every car ride. Others are perfectly relaxed around town but become distressed on the freeway. Still others only struggle on trips to the veterinarian or in heavy traffic.
Looking for these patterns can provide important clues about what’s triggering your dog’s anxiety and help you choose the most appropriate solution.
Learn what stress looks like for Your Dachshund
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that every dog expresses stress a little differently.
One dog may lip lick only when they feel nauseous. Another may do it whenever they’re anxious. Some dogs become very still when they’re worried. Others can’t stop moving.
That’s why I think it’s just as important to know your own dog’s normal behavior as it is to memorize a list of stress signals. The better you know your dog, the easier it becomes to recognize when something has changed.
What other Dachshund owners have observed
When I first wrote about this topic, I asked other Dachshund owners how they distinguished motion sickness from anxiety in their own dogs. While everyone’s experiences were a little different, several common themes emerged.
Owners of dogs with motion sickness frequently described excessive drooling, repeated lip licking, nausea, and vomiting. Many also said their dogs became quiet, withdrawn, or simply looked miserable during the ride.
Owners of anxious dogs were much more likely to describe constant movement, panting, whining, trembling, and attempts to climb into the front seat or escape their restraint.
Several people also mentioned something I found particularly interesting: timing.
Dachshunds with motion sickness often didn’t become noticeably uncomfortable until they had been riding for several minutes.
Dachshunds with anxiety tended to react almost immediately, sometimes before the vehicle even left the driveway.
While these observations won’t be true for every dog, they can provide valuable clues when you’re trying to determine what’s making your own dog uncomfortable.
The good news is that you don’t have to know the answer with complete certainty before taking action.
Once you have a reasonable idea whether your dog’s distress is caused primarily by motion sickness, anxiety, or a combination of the two, you can begin trying the solutions most likely to help and adjust your approach based on how your dog responds.
How to Help Your Dog Feel More Comfortable in the Car
Once you have a reasonable idea whether your dog’s distress is caused primarily by motion sickness, anxiety, or a combination of the two, you can begin trying solutions that address the underlying problem instead of guessing.
Remember that every dog is different. What works well for one may do very little for another.
Don’t be discouraged if you need to try several approaches before finding the right combination for your dog.
If your dog has motion sickness
If your dog experiences nausea during car rides, your first goal should be helping them feel physically better.
One of the most effective treatments is prescription medication from your veterinarian. Cerenia® (maropitant citrate) is FDA-approved to prevent vomiting caused by motion sickness in dogs and has helped many dogs travel much more comfortably.
There are also several simple changes that may reduce nausea:
- Avoid feeding a large meal for several hours before traveling (unless your veterinarian recommends otherwise).
- Keep the vehicle cool and well ventilated.
- Open the windows slightly to equalize air pressure and provide fresh air. Be careful not to allow your dog to stick their head outside the window, which can be dangerous.
- Use a secure crate or travel harness to reduce excessive body movement during turns and sudden stops.
- Drive smoothly by avoiding rapid acceleration, hard braking, and sharp turns whenever possible.
If your dog suddenly develops motion sickness as an adult after previously enjoying car rides, schedule a veterinary examination. A new onset of motion sickness can occasionally indicate an underlying medical condition that should be evaluated.
If your dog has general car anxiety
Unlike motion sickness, anxiety isn’t something you can simply medicate away.
Although medication or calming supplements can be extremely helpful for some dogs, long-term improvement usually comes from changing how your dog feels about riding in the car.
The biggest mistake I see owners make is only putting their dog in the car when they have somewhere to go. Instead, spend time creating positive experiences with no destination at all.
That might mean feeding your dog meals in the parked car, letting them hop in for treats and then get right back out, or taking very short drives that end somewhere enjoyable, like a quiet park or hiking trail instead of the veterinarian’s office.
It’s also important to avoid pushing your dog beyond what they can comfortably handle.
If a 30-minute drive causes panic, start with a trip around the block. As your dog becomes more comfortable, gradually increase the length and difficulty of the rides.
Slow, consistent progress almost always produces better results than trying to force a dog to “get used to it.”
I also like to think about what happens before the car ride.
Many anxious dogs benefit from an opportunity to decompress before traveling. A sniff walk, free exploration on a long line, or another calming enrichment activity can help some dogs arrive at the car in a more relaxed emotional state than they would if they walked straight from the house into the vehicle.
This is the #1 effective preventative for my Dachshund Otter’s car anxiety. While I don’t always have time to do it, if I can set aside time for a 15-20 minute walk before car rides, he is much less anxious when we hit the road.
Finally, don’t hesitate to involve your veterinarian if your dog’s anxiety is severe. For some dogs, anti-anxiety medication isn’t a last resort. It’s a tool that lowers their stress enough that they can begin learning new, positive associations with the car.
If Your Dog Is Only Anxious on the Highway
Some dogs present an interesting pattern: They’re perfectly happy riding through town but become anxious as soon as you merge onto the freeway.
This isn’t something that’s been extensively studied, so we don’t know exactly why it happens. However, many owners, myself included, suspect that some dogs become overwhelmed by the dramatic increase in sound, vibration, wind noise, speed, and other sensory input that comes with highway driving.
My own Dachshund, Otter, is a good example. He eagerly jumps into the car and enjoys local drives. We can spend an hour driving around town with no issues at all.
But once we reach highway speeds, he becomes noticeably restless. He pants, shifts positions repeatedly, and has difficulty settling until we slow down or leave the freeway.
Because his anxiety primarily only occurs in this one specific situation, I stopped thinking of him as a dog that “hates the car.” Instead, I started asking what was different about highway travel.
Although I’m still learning, a few things seem to help him:
- A 15-20 minute sniff walk before leaving
- Driving a little slower when traffic allows (I sometimes get in the right hand lane and drive 5-10 miles under the speed limit)
- Playing calming music during the drive (I made a road trip mixtape for Otter but he also likes Indigo Girls, Brandi Carlile, Tool, and some country)
- Using calming supplements before longer trips (like CBD for dogs)
- Taking breaks during long drives so he has an opportunity to sniff, explore, and decompress.
I’ve been documenting my experience with Otter and the different strategies I’ve tried over the past couple of years. If your dog seems perfectly comfortable around town but becomes anxious on the freeway, you may also find my companion article, Why Is My Dog Fine Around Town but Anxious on the Highway? (coming soon), helpful.
What If Your Dog Vomits During the Ride?
Even if you’re working to address the underlying cause, accidents are going to happen.
If your dog has a history of vomiting in the car, don’t wait until you’re halfway through a road trip to think about cleanup. Keeping a small “car sickness kit” in your vehicle can make an unpleasant situation much easier to manage.
Mine typically includes:
- Paper towels
- Pet-safe cleaning wipes
- Disposable gloves
- A few plastic grocery bags or zip-top bags for soiled items
- An extra towel or blanket
- A bottle of water for rinsing hands or cleaning up if needed
Hopefully you’ll never need most of it, but you’ll be glad it’s there if you do.
Just as importantly, try not to get frustrated with your dog. Whether they’re motion sick or anxious, they’re not making a mess on purpose. They’re having a difficult time.
Staying calm and patient will help both of you recover more quickly from an unpleasant ride.
When to See Your Veterinarian
Occasional car sickness isn’t unusual, especially in puppies.
However, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if:
- Your adult dog suddenly develops motion sickness after previously traveling comfortably
- Your dog vomits frequently, even on short trips
- Your dog appears dizzy, loses their balance, or shows other neurological signs
- Your dog’s anxiety is so severe that they’re at risk of injuring themselves or others
- The strategies you’ve tried aren’t helping enough for your dog to travel comfortably
Your veterinarian can help determine whether an underlying medical condition may be contributing to the problem and discuss medications that may help with motion sickness, anxiety, or both.
Final Thoughts
Watching your dog struggle in the car can be discouraging, especially if you enjoy traveling with our dog or want to take them hiking, camping, to training classes, or simply along on everyday adventures.
The good news is that many dogs improve once you understand why they’re struggling.
Instead of trying every product or supplement you come across, start by asking whether your dog’s distress is more likely caused by motion sickness, anxiety, or a combination of the two. That simple shift in thinking can save you time, money, and frustration while helping your dog feel better faster.
Be patient with the process. Small improvements add up, and every positive experience helps build your dog’s confidence for the next ride.
After all, the goal isn’t just to make car rides easier. It’s to help your dog comfortably reach all of the places where they can enjoy a fuller, richer life.
Whether that’s a hike in the woods, a training class, a quiet beach, or simply joining you on everyday adventures, helping your dog become more comfortable in the car opens the door to a richer life together.
