Ginger is a natural solution that’s readily available, and it soothes your dog’s stomach.
Let’s explore the symptoms of car sickness in your dog and how ginger snaps help.
We will also look at ways to make and feed ginger snaps to alleviate nausea, including solutions to making your furry friend comfortable for the long car ride.
Why your dog gets car sickness?
Dogs that aren’t used to car rides get motion sickness, usually because of anxiety and stress.
The phenomenon is more frequent in puppies because the inner part of the ear that controls balance isn’t fully developed.
Most puppies outgrow the condition by the time they are one year, but others don’t.
Other reasons that can cause car sickness in dogs are:
Dogs with middle or inner ear infections like vestibular disease.
Medication causing nausea.
Dogs that rarely travel in cars except for the infrequent vet visits.
Signs that your dog gets car sick
If you’ve ever experienced motion sickness, then you know it’s not a pleasant experience.
Dogs with motion sickness associate the car with their discomfort, heightening the sickness.
Symptoms to watch out for are:
Pacing
Lethargy
Whimpering
Lip licking
Vomiting
Excessive drooling
Anxiety
Diarrhea
Subdued behavior
When you notice any symptoms, stop the car and take your dog out for a brief walk to give relief from the distress.
Components that shouldn’t be in your dog’s ginger snaps
It would be a proverbial jumping from the frying pan into the fire situation if you were to give your furry friend too many ginger snaps or those that have toxic ingredients.
If you do, you may have to rush to the vet to treat a more serious health issue than nausea.
It’s better to make your ginger snaps than rely on store-purchased cookies.
If you have to go to the store, ensure that you check out the ingredients.
Watch out for these ingredients to ensure your ginger snaps are safe.
Sugar
Too much sugar can lead to obesity in your dog and cause dental issues like tooth decay.
Ingestion of too much sugar can also cause stomach discomfort and interfere with the gut’s bacteria balance.
Signs to look out for are:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Bloating
Discomfort
Lard of shortening
If your dog ingests foods containing lots of lard or shortening, they are at risk of getting obesity, gastrointestinal issues, and fatal pancreatitis.
Symptoms to look out for are:
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Loss of weight
Discomfort
Artificial sweeteners
Xylitol is a commonly used sweetener that is poisonous to dogs.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 degrees Centigrade.
Line your baking tray with parchment paper.
Mix the flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and baking soda until well combined.
Cream the butter, molasses, brown sugar, and water using a mixer.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix.
Roll out the dough and cut it into desired shapes.
Bake for ten minutes, then allow the ginger snap cookies to cool.
Storage
Store the remaining ginger snap cookies in an airtight container.
You can freeze the cookies for up to 4 months.
Other ways to prevent car sickness in your dog
It’s not a great feeling seeing your dog suffer through car sickness.
Most of the time, you hope they will outgrow the stage.
Most puppies outgrow motion sickness once they are about a year old.
But what if your pup doesn’t outgrow car sickness?
Here are some tips you can try.
Spend some time with your dog in the car with the engine off. After a few days, sit with your dog in the car with the engine running. Always praise your dog when he is calm and doing well. Then proceed to back off the driveway then, driving around the block. Slowly you will be taking short car rides where your furry friend will be comfortable. Don’t rush the process.
Don’t feed your dog for about 4 hours before your trip. Your fur buddy is less likely to suffer from nausea on an empty stomach.
Keep the car cool with the windows rolled down and use air conditioning. Restrict your dog from hanging his head out of the window for his safety.
Keep your canine in a well-secured dog crate. The crate will lessen movement and reduce the chances of nausea.
If the car sickness persists, visit your vet for medication that prevents nausea.
Why ginger snaps are good for your dog’s car sickness?
Ginger snaps are a quick solution to alleviating car sickness in your dog. Break off a few pieces depending on your furry friend’s size and give about a half-hour before the car ride. The ginger in the cookies calms the stomach and is a great anti-nausea remedy for dogs.
Final thoughts
As a pet owner, car rides can be distressing, especially when your fur buddy keeps getting car sick.
You can opt for homemade treats as they are more wholesome and nutritious.
Ginger snaps are not only a soothing remedy for your canine’s queasy stomach but are also a great treat.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
