A vet has issued an urgent warning to dog owners against using a viral social media trick if their dog suffers from motion sickness during travel.
Dr Anna Foreman, of Hertfordshire-based Everypaw Pet Insurance, urged people to avoid the viral trick, which suggests tying a plastic bag around the dog’s head to trap any illnesses and prevent the car from getting dirty.
The clip shared on TikTok has garnered around 69.5 million views and more than eight million likes, but is “not safe in any scenario” and could result in “strangling” or “suffocation,” he warned.
It comes as online searches for “cure for car sickness in dogs” have increased by 55 per cent since June 2023, while “remedy for car sick puppies” has risen by 200 per cent in the past three months alone.
Dr Anna said: “Car sickness is common in dogs. If a dog vomits in the car, the owner should stop as soon as possible so they can clean up any mess and comfort the dog, as they will likely become distressed.
A video shared on TikTok tells dog owners that tying a plastic bag around their dog’s neck can keep their car clean if the animal is sick, but a vet warned this could kill their dog.
“A dog, like a baby or small child, cannot understand why an object is stuck to its head.”
The vet warned that the viral trick poses several risks that could cause the dog to panic and injure itself.
He said dogs with a bag wrapped around their head are at risk of strangulation or suffocation, as the bag could get stuck.
Not only is it risky for the puppies, but it could also put those in the car at risk, who could be injured if the dog panics and attacks those around them.
“In a car, they could also cause the death of other people due to distraction and cause an accident,” he explained.
Instead, Dr. Anna suggested other, much safer methods of treating dogs that feel unwell in the car.
In the image: the trick tested on a dog. Dr. Anna said there are much easier and less dangerous solutions, such as simply opening a window or doing desensitization work on her dog.
One method is “desensitization,” which involves taking the animal on shorter car trips, which can help the dog become familiar with the vehicle and may increase its tolerance for trips.
“Initially, you should take a dog on short car trips somewhere as a reward (for example, for a walk), and gradually expand this to longer trips,” he advised.
Just like with humans, a draft of fresh air can do wonders. Dr. Anna suggested keeping a window open for the dog, while she made sure he was properly restrained so he couldn’t escape.
In more severe cases, vets may prescribe medications, such as anti-nausea pills, to help with longer trips, although they can be expensive if used regularly.
Dr. Anna emphasized: “This medication should only be used in extreme circumstances and should not be relied upon.”
Another option may be anti-anxiety medication, which can help stop the root cause of discomfort, he added. These can also be prescribed by a veterinarian.
“However, these medications are typically less effective if used occasionally rather than daily, as they often have a cumulative dose effect on the dog’s body,” he said.
According to Dr. Anna, the key to helping dogs who get car sick is not to scold them.
“Don’t scold the dog because it won’t associate being sick with being scolded and will likely become confused and stressed in an already difficult situation,” he urged.