Q: We recently adopted Rufus, a young adult dog who becomes anxious every time he’s in the car. He pants, whines, drools, licks his lips, and sometimes even throws up. What can we do about this? A: The most effective way to help Rufus feel calm in the car is behavior modification. Through a series of small steps, you’ll teach him that car rides are nothing to fear but, instead, can be a source of fun. Start by feeding him his meals in the car with the engine off. If he won’t enter, put his food bowl on the ground next to the car. After a week of this, he should be willing to eat in the car. When he’s eaten enough times in the car to be relaxed there, he’ll be ready for the next steps. Be sure to take them when Rufus has an empty stomach, so he …