[yorkietalkjilly]

Other than a thundershirt to see if that will calm him during the trip and medication, I would try covering the windows in the back to see if that can help him during a trial run around the block. If not, see if you can just desensitize him to getting in the car, then back out several times. Then put him in the car and see if he will take a piece of boiled chicken while in there and wait a minute before getting back out. Work up to in and out many, many times with nothing bad happening and perhaps a fabulous treat while he's in there or at least when he gets out and see if he won't start to realize that now, in this car, nothing bad happens. I would definitely get him some meds to help take the edge of his panic off and help him to relax and hopefully sleep during most of the trip.

Some dogs like the security of confinement in a car. You might try putting him in an airline carrier - the hardshell kind - and see if he tolerates that, perhaps with a blanket over all but the door end.

Have you ever tried putting his own bed in the car, with his toys and things he's used to?

Usually, with a very nervous dog, medication and repetitive desensitization sessions of frequent but short duration that work up to just backing out of the drive and driving back in it to around the block, etc., can work to help show a dog that it is really not so bad.

Whatever you do, don't try to soothe him vocally during his panic attacks. That tends to just reinforce his scared, nervous behavior. It is better to try to distract him with a squeaky toy, show him your iPhone video or hold a piece of meat in your fist and try to get him to follow it with his nose. But cooing or saying "it's okay" to a shaking, scared, anxious dog will usually just make him think his panic is okay and the thing to do in the present circumstance in the car. It's better to talk upbeat when you are desensitizing them during the short episodes in the car and when they are in there saying positive things like "You can do this!" and "Atta boy" when he jumps out after a little session and "Hero!" when he is quiet for a moment to try to let him see you being positive and upbeat, not sad and sorry for his nerves. He will feed off your energy so the more positive you can make your own attitude during his time in the car, the better he will feel.

Every effort that you make before the long trip to give him short, positive sessions in the car with treats if he'll take them, positive reinforcement with a squeaky toy, ball, upbeat attitude/words, that end in a good rough play session, tugowar, bouncing the ball for him or going to the park, the more it will all pay off on your long trip.