Why does my dog get anxious around the car?

It is quite common for younger dogs to experience motion sickness in the car, often because their balance has not fully developed mixed with the stress and/or excitement of new experiences. This is usually a phase they outgrow.

Triggers can include negative associations such as going to the vets or groomers, motion sickness; or just that it is a new and scary place.

Signs of car anxiety include drooling, panting, inability to settle, whimpering and/or vomiting.

What can I do to reduce my dog’s anxiety in the car?

• Make car trips positive! Try to avoid car trips only involving places the dog may not enjoy like vet visits, boarding kennels or grooming salons. Instead take regular trips to a place your dog loves such as the dog park, a water hole to swim in or to a friend’s house to change it to a mostly positive experience and they might be more willing to jump in for a car ride.
• Treats, treats & more treats! A great and simple way to make a new experience as positive as possible is to associate it with something most dogs love…… high value treats!! Break the process of car trips into baby steps whilst keeping them under threshold; meaning you only move on when is calm and coping with progression. These steps begin by just approaching the car and gradually increasing the criteria to placing treats inside the car to entice them in & help it feel like a safe place.
• Crate Training: crates can be a great way of creating a “safe place” for your dog particularly in the car or in new environments. It can be your dog’s cosy little nook for inside the car & consequently help ease their anxiety.
• Take it slow: gradually increase the length of journey times and reward for calm behaviour. You and your dog will soon be able to take pleasant long trips together.
• Let them see what’s happening: some dogs enjoy being able to look out the window. Ensure they are safe & secure in the car and not being a hazard to you as the driver. There are great car harnesses on the market for this purpose and restraint is a legal requirement.
• The exemption to the above rule is if your dog suffers from motion sickness; these guys are better in a crate which can be covered to avoid the visual aspect of travel.
• If you have a long journey ahead, its best you do not feed a big meal before leaving then you can give treats here and there during the trip and reduce risk of vomiting.  

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You might laugh at us but we love wee! Just a small amount of your pet’s urine provides us with valuable information about their internal health and can also help rule out diseases such as diabetes and kidney insufficiency.

After we have collected a sample of your pet’s urine, we will perform a few routine tests. These will include:

USG (urine specific gravity) - this helps us to determine how well the kidneys are working by measuring how effectively they are concentrating the urine. This is especially important when we are on the hunt for kidney disease as sometimes a change in USG can be an early indication of disease. This early stage of kidney disease may not be detectable with a routine blood test.

A urine dipstick also allows us to look for the presence of blood, protein and glucose. It can also indicate if a diabetic patient is severely unwell by detecting ketones.

In some cases, it may be necessary to examine the sediment of the urine under a microscope to look for particular cells that may indicate disease. White blood cells and bacteria can be detected on a sediment exam as can urinary crystals, a telltale sign of other urinary tract problems.

We often need to send urine samples to an external laboratory to run more specific tests. This may include one to determine if there is a true bacterial infection present. The laboratory will culture the bacteria and then run tests to determine what antibiotic is required to treat the infection. Another example of a laboratory test is one to measure the level of protein that is being lost by the kidneys. This can help stage kidney disease and greatly assists in determining if medication is indicated to treat the condition.

We may ask you to collect some urine at home and whilst this can seem a little overwhelming, there are a few tricks and tips that will make it a whole lot easier. We will be able to give you the best advice for your pet based on what we are looking for, just ask us for more information.

It is becoming more and more evident that one of the greatest threats to human and animal health is antibiotic resistance and the emergence of 'superbugs'. As veterinarians, we are taking steps to help prevent the world from a global catastrophe where common infections and minor injuries once again kill.

As a pet owner, you can do your bit too by familiarising yourself with the following recommendations for correct antibiotic use:

1. Antibiotics are only helpful in the presence of a bacterial infection. They cannot treat viral infections and are not needed in clean wounds

2. It is sometimes necessary to identify the type of bacteria present to help us choose the most appropriate antibiotic. This involves taking samples for culture and sensitivity testing at an external laboratory

3. Never start any 'leftover' antibiotics you have before you get your pet checked with us as they may be inappropriate or unnecessary

4. Always use them as directed and finish the course, even if you think your pet is 'better'. Stopping too early can lead to the development of resistant bacteria

5. Always give the prescribed dose and give them exactly as we have directed (don’t change the dose or dosing schedule as this can reduce their effectiveness)

6. Please don't ask us to prescribe antibiotics without a consultation. This is against the law!

7. A revisit may be necessary to check your pet and extend the course of antibiotics if necessary

If you have any questions or concerns please ask us for more information.