Anxiety, excitability, nervousness or simply apprehension are the most common cause of travel sickness in dogs and cats rather than true motion sickness, which is relatively rare. This nervousness and anxiety can especially affect young dogs and cats for whom travelling is a strange new experience. Positioning the dog or cat so that it can see out of the window can be very helpful, as can accustoming it to the car by first getting used to being in a stationary car, then a car with the engine running and finally being driven for short journeys to build up confidence.

To enable a dog to accept that the car as part of its normal environment it can also be helpful if it is encouraged to sleep and also be fed in a stationary car occasionally during the day. All these methods have proved useful and are certainly worth adopting from an early age.

It is advisable not to give food before a journey, instead give Scullcap & Valerian tablets to relieve anxiety, help relaxation and reduce excessive salivation while undertaking the above familiarisation techniques. Two doses should be given at about 12 hours and 2 hours before a journey using the dosage rate of 2 tablets per 5kgs bodyweight. Use the same regime for subsequent car journeys until the dog or cat becomes more accustomed to travelling.

For unexpected trips where time does not allow two doses of tablets to be given, use liquid Organic Valerian Compound as an alternative and for cats try putting a few drops on the bedding to calm them during the journey. For travel problems that don’t appear to be due to apprehension or anxiety, but where sickness is purely due to the vehicle‘s motion, give Digestive Supplement tablets about two hours before a journey commences to settle and soothe the stomach.

Don’t forget you can contact Dorwest on 01308 897272 for advice on treatment for your dog or cat.

“I previously had Scullcap & Valerian tablets from you for my LePerm kitten, whilst getting him used to travelling. They work a TREAT and he now no longer requires them on a journey as he has got used to travelling in such a relaxed state. Thank you for this monumental stride in owning and showing pedigree cats!” Miss S Thornton, Oldham.