[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Starfish

My wife and I had a rare day with little planned so I told her that I had a surprise destination. Loaded the car, us and the dogs and drove to a farm to pick peaches and eat homemade peach ice cream. We then walked around the lake and the pooches visited the ducks. Lovely day until the baby threw up in the way home. Any suggestions for a car sick French Bulldog? Dramamine does not help.

Your poor baby! I found an article that may help. Here's part of it.

How can I prevent motion sickness in my dog?

Desensitizing or counter-conditioning your dog to car travel may take some work, but it can be accomplished. Helping your dog overcome the stress and anxiety of travel will mean that he can accompany you on trips more frequently and will allow you to spend more time together.

The best way to ease your dog’s travel anxiety is by taking several short trips before embarking on a long haul. Start by simply placing your dog in your car, starting the motor, and sitting there without moving for a few minutes. The next day, repeat this process, but back out of your driveway and then return. Be sure to praise your dog and offer a food reward for good behavior. Next, try a trip around the block. Gradually work your way up to riding comfortably for 20 to 30 minutes.

Conditioning your dog to ride comfortably in the car may require several days or even weeks. Be sure to gradually expose your nervous pet to more and more challenging stimuli. You cannot force your dog to “get over” or “deal with” his anxiety. Traveling in a confined space in a motor vehicle can be frightening for a dog and requires time to adjust. Make sure you maintain a calm and cool attitude, and do not scold your dog if he begins to howl or whine. Visible anxiety is a sign to stop the current training and start again another day. Continuing to expose your dog to a stressful situation will only cause him to further associate the car with displeasure and fear and cause setbacks in your training. Car rides in a carrier can also be good practice for traveling in an airplane or train.

Here are additional tips to make your dog’s travel more enjoyable and reduce motion sickness:

Withhold food 12 hours before travel. An empty stomach will help reduce nausea and the need for frequent potty breaks that are often unwelcome, especially during long car rides or airplane or train travel. Be sure to provide access to fresh water whenever possible. Water bottles that hang on the carrier’s door are a good option for many pets.Use a carrier or dog safety harness. Anxious dogs can both hurt themselves and cause accidents. A carrier is often viewed as a “safe place” for many dogs.

Keep the car cool and quiet. Play soft classical music and keep the temperature cool.

Include the sweet smell of home. Add a t-shirt or blanket with your scent to your dog’s carrier. In addition to smelling like home, nothing is cozier than mom or dad’s shirt.

Offer special trip toys. Giving your dog new toys that he only gets to play with when he travels can help him associate travel with fun. If your dog seems to need a little more help to stay calm during travel, talk to your veterinarian about using one of the following remedies:

Lavender or dog pheromone (Adaptil®). Aromatherapy and pheromones can calm a tense traveler. Add these scents to your dog’s bedding to help calm his fears.

Calming herbs. Natural remedies, including Bach® flower (Rescue Remedy®), kava, valerian, passionflower, ginger, and skullcap, have been used for decades to ease anxiety and motion sickness.

Anti-nausea medications. Cerenia® (a veterinary-specific prescription medication) and dimenhydrinate (brand names: Dramamine® or Gravol®), and meclizine (brand names: Antivert® and Bonine®). These anti-nausea medications can prevent vomiting in a stressed pet. A single dose of Cerenia® lasts 24 hours. Keep in mind that these drugs only help with motion sickness, not anxiety. Speak to veterinarian to discuss if these medications are appropriate for your dog and to obtain the correct dosages and frequency of administration.

Anti-anxiety medication. These medications may be considered for use in extremely stressed pets only. Alprazolam (Xanax®), trazodone (Desyrel®) or other prescription medications given the night before travel and repeated 12 hours later can relax even the most anxious pet traveler. Many veterinarians will recommend you give a second dose about 2 hours before you embark on your trip. Keep in mind that some prescription medications need to be started several days to a couple of weeks before travel to be most effective. Always follow instructions from your veterinarian carefully.

The article also said that a lot of dogs grow out of motion sickness after they turn 1. You said your Frenchie was a baby so maybe this may be true for you.