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German Shepherd mix in blue truck with canoe on top

Road Trip with Dog Improves

February 17, 20245 min read

Pomeranian Now Goes Potty Outside

The Initial Struggle

As a dedicated practitioner at Calm Animal Solution, I am pleased to share many success stories...including this one about the remarkable journey of Pluto, a 4-year-old German Shepherd mix who struggled with car sickness, threatening to dampen his owner Lucy's adventurous spirit.

Lucy's Dilemma

Lucy, an avid weekend warrior who enjoys hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and cross-country skiing with friends, welcomed Pluto into her home a year ago without realizing the challenges he would face with car travel. To her dismay, Pluto's car sickness became apparent as Lucy attempted to include him in her outdoor excursions. Despite trying medications, which left Pluto drowsy and still prone to car sickness, Lucy was determined to find a solution that would allow them to have adventures together.

Calm Animal Solution: Travel Dog

Car sickness in dogs, also known as motion sickness, can be a distressing experience for both pets and their owners. Understanding the underlying causes of this phenomenon is essential for effectively managing and alleviating the symptoms experienced by afflicted dogs.

  1. Sensory Conflict: Motion sickness in dogs often arises from a sensory conflict between their visual, vestibular (inner ear), and proprioceptive systems. When a dog is traveling in a car, the motion detected by their inner ear may not match the visual input they receive, causing confusion and disorientation. This sensory mismatch can trigger nausea and vomiting as the body attempts to resolve the conflicting signals.

  2. Stress and Anxiety: Dogs prone to anxiety or stress may be more susceptible to car sickness. The unfamiliar sights, sounds, and sensations associated with car travel can exacerbate their anxiety, leading to heightened levels of stress and discomfort. Additionally, negative past experiences, such as rough or turbulent car rides, can contribute to anticipatory anxiety and further worsen the symptoms of motion sickness.

  3. Lack of Habituation: Some dogs may experience motion sickness due to a lack of habituation or desensitization to car travel. Puppies, in particular, may be more prone to motion sickness as they have not yet fully acclimated to the sensations of car rides. Without gradual exposure and positive experiences, dogs may develop aversions to car travel, leading to anxiety and motion sickness.

  4. Genetics and Breed Predisposition: Certain dog breeds are more prone to motion sickness than others. Breeds with a predisposition to inner ear abnormalities or vestibular disorders, such as the German Shepherd, may be at higher risk of experiencing car sickness. Additionally, individual variations in susceptibility to motion sickness may have a genetic component, with some dogs inheriting a heightened sensitivity to motion stimuli.

  5. Conditioning and Learned Behaviors: Dogs may develop associations between car travel and negative experiences, leading to conditioned responses that manifest as motion sickness. For example, if a dog consistently experiences discomfort or stress during car rides, they may learn to associate car travel with nausea and vomiting, perpetuating the cycle of motion sickness.

Addressing the underlying causes of car sickness in dogs requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of the condition. Gradual desensitization to car travel, positive reinforcement techniques, and the use of natural remedies, such as Calm Animal Solution's Travel Dog blend, can help alleviate anxiety and discomfort, allowing dogs to enjoy car rides without experiencing motion sickness.

Lucy emailed Calm Animal Solution and I quickly recommended our Travel Dog blend. Excited to try a natural remedy, Lucy wasted no time in incorporating the blend into his daily routine.

Adding Travel Dog into Pluto's Day

Each day, Lucy added two drops of the Travel Dog blend to Pluto's fresh water bowl, ensuring he received the soothing benefits of the natural remedy with every sip. Additionally, Lucy took proactive steps to create a calming atmosphere in both her home and her truck by misting them with the blend, added to a 16-ounce spray bottle of water, providing Pluto with a sense of comfort and security during car rides.

Signs of Progress

Within several days of starting the treatment, Lucy noticed a remarkable change in Pluto's behavior. Instead of hesitating or showing signs of anxiety when Lucy prepared to leave the house, Pluto eagerly jumped up, ready to accompany her on her errands. Encouraged by this newfound confidence, Lucy decided to gradually introduce short car trips with Pluto to assess his response.

Progress Continues

To her delight, Pluto showed remarkable improvement with each outing, displaying fewer signs of distress and discomfort during the journey. Buoyed by Pluto's progress, Lucy grew more confident in his ability to handle longer rides, eventually embarking on a four-hour journey for her weekend hike with friends.

With each successful car ride, Pluto's confidence continued to grow, and his car sickness became a thing of the past. Lucy's dedication to finding a holistic solution and her trust in Calm Animal Solution's Travel Dog blend had paid off, allowing Pluto to fully enjoy the outdoor adventures he once feared.

Final Note

Pluto's journey serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of natural remedies and compassionate care in enhancing the well-being of our beloved animal companions. At Calm Animal Solution, we're dedicated to helping every furry friend overcome challenges and thrive, enabling them to lead happy, healthy lives alongside their human companions.


Privacy Disclaimer:
Please note that all names and identifying details in this story have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the individuals involved. While the narrative remains true to the essence of the experience, any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.

blog author image

Catherine Winfree

Catherine Winfree is a nationally certified health and wellness coach, medical massage therapist, animal communicator, and flower essence practitioner. Supporting people and their pets to live in harmony with customized flower essence blends is the basis of her Calm Animal Solutions and Custom Essence Blends businesses.

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Calm Canines Unleashed:

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Command Training Improvement

Supported by WELL-TRAINED DOG Solution

Take a look at the increased tail wagging!

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3-weeks after

Reative Barking Dog

Calmed By Quiet Dog Solution

Notice how much calmer the barking dog's eyes are 2-weeks after Quiet Dog Solution.

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2 weeks after

TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS

Paw Praises

No More Fear of Garbage Trucks

No More Fear of Thunder and Leaf Blowers

No More Begging to be Carried Downstairs

dog laying on wood floor lookin up

GOAL:

Stay Relaxed and Calm with all Noises

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GOAL:

Comfort with all Noises

brown and white dog laying at the top of the stairs

GOAL:

Confidence Going Down the Stairs

I always know when the garbage truck is in the neighborhood because my dog goes and hides in the upstairs bathroom.

One week later:

I was sure the garbage truck had not come because Shay stayed downstairs all day. Yet, I noticed my neighbors taking their garbage cans back to their houses. I went and checked mine, and sure enough, it was EMPTY! I’m so glad Shay does not feel the need to hide from the garbage truck anymore.

— GM

Pepper would let me know hours in advance that a storm was on the way. And she always went inside when I was blowing leaves.

One week later:

I was surprised to see a thunderstorm rolling in. I was used to Pepper letting me know hours ahead that a storm was on the way. She was curled up on the couch, sleeping through the whole storm. I also noticed she is content to be outside with me while I’m blowing leaves.

— VB

I know I created a problem when I started carrying Precious down the stairs instead of letting her manage the steps on her own. Several times a day she would whimper at the top of the stairs, waiting for me to carry her down.

One week later:

I was able to ignore the whimpers and noticed Precious had come down the stairs to where I was on her own.

— EW

No More Fear of Garbage Trucks

dog laying on wood floor lookin up

GOAL:

Stay Relaxed and Calm with all Noises

I always know when the garbage truck is in the neighborhood because my dog goes and hides in the upstairs bathroom.

One week later:

I was sure the garbage truck had not come because Shay stayed downstairs all day. Yet, I noticed my neighbors taking their garbage cans back to their houses. I went and checked mine, and sure enough, it was EMPTY! I’m so glad Shay does not feel the need to hide from the garbage truck anymore.

— GM

No More Fear of Thunder and Leaf Blowers

outdoor photo of white dog with eyes closed sensing something to the left

GOAL:

Comfort with all Noises

Pepper would let me know hours in advance that a storm was on the way. And she always went inside when I was blowing leaves.

One week later:

I was surprised to see a thunderstorm rolling in. I was used to Pepper letting me know hours ahead that a storm was on the way. She was curled up on the couch, sleeping through the whole storm. I also noticed she is content to be outside with me while I’m blowing leaves.

— VB

No More Begging to be Carried Downstairs

brown and white dog laying at the top of the stairs

GOAL:

Confidence Going Down the Stairs

I know I created a problem when I started carrying Precious down the stairs instead of letting her manage the steps on her own. Several times a day she would whimper at the top of the stairs, waiting for me to carry her down.

One week later:

I was able to ignore the whimpers and noticed Precious had come down the stairs to where I was on her own.

— EW

...more PRAISES

No More Jumping on the House Guests

Improved Dog Training and Behavior

From Car Sick Dog to Traveling Dog

brown and white dog with a happy looking face_pink background

GOAL:

Calm and Confident Greeter

man with dark hair and facial hair crouched down and leaning in close to a white dog with a chest leash

GOAL:

Come Quickly and Steady Leash Walking

close up photo or older reddish-brown dog

GOAL:

Stay Relaxed During Car Rides

I'm seeing signs of change in Ginny, every time I sat down, I realized she wasn't jumping on my lap for attention. I've left the house about four times; when I return, she doesn't jump on me until I've put all my stuff down and start petting the dogs.

One week later:

I opened the door to find three dogs, each with all four paws on the floor, wagging their tails. Nobody was jumping on me or winding around my feet, tripping me.

— JU

I wasn’t expecting much, but the essences have really helped our dog.

One week later:

I noticed Max was responding to the first call to ‘come’. He was pulling less on the leash when he was distracted by a squirrel.

— MB

We are an on-the-go-family. Our new rescue dog, Sparrow, had a nervous stomach, which made traveling miserable for him.

One week later:

I am so pleased to report Sparrow is much more relaxed in the car—he goes with us everywhere!

— EW

A Trained Animal Communicator Connects with Your Pet

With every order, a trained animal communicator connects with your pet to choose the right blend of flower essences

(e.g. Bach Flower Essences) for calming their anxiety. Custom blended flower essences are natural pet calming products.

all-natural vegan and organic ingredients icon
icon showing molecular representation of vegetable glycerin against a blue carrot background
icon showing molecular representation of water against a blue water drop
flower essences icon with blue flowers in the middle
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Calm Animal Solutions

Calm Animal Solutions offers customized, natural remedies for dog anxiety, and are calming for cats. Plus, we create blends for horses, small animal pets, birds, poultry, reptiles, and fish.

©2024, Catherine Winfree. All rights reserved.

Mandatory FDA Notice: The statements made regarding Calm Animal Solutions have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any animal disease. Although the ingredients in Calm Animal Solutions are generally regarded as safe, you are encouraged to consult your veterinary before using any essence product (such as Bach Flower Essences, for example).

...more PRAISES

No More Jumping on the House Guests

brown and white dog with a happy looking face_pink background

GOAL:

Calm and Confident Greeter

I'm seeing signs of change in Ginny, every time I sat down, I realized she wasn't jumping on my lap for attention. I've left the house about four times; when I return, she doesn't jump on me until I've put all my stuff down and start petting the dogs.

One week later:

I opened the door to find three dogs, each with all four paws on the floor, wagging their tails. Nobody was jumping on me or winding around my feet, tripping me.

— JU

Improved Dog Training and Behavior

man with dark hair and facial hair crouched down and leaning in close to a white dog with a chest leash

GOAL:

Come Quickly and Steady Leash Walking

I wasn’t expecting much, but the essences have really helped our dog.

One week later:

I noticed Max was responding to the first call to ‘come’. He was pulling less on the leash when he was distracted by a squirrel.

— MB

FROM CAR SICK DOG TO TRAVELING DOG

close up photo or older reddish-brown dog

GOAL:

Stay Relaxed During Car Rides

We are an on-the-go-family. Our new rescue dog, Sparrow, had a nervous stomach, which made traveling miserable for him.

One week later:

I am so pleased to report Sparrow is much more relaxed in the car—he goes with us everywhere!

— EW

A Trained Animal Communicator Connects with Your Pet

With every order, a trained animal communicator connects with your pet to choose the right blend of flower essences (e.g. Bach Flower Essences) for calming their anxiety. Custom blended flower essences are natural pet calming products.

all-natural vegan and organic ingredients icon
unscented, oil-free, non-herbal, CBD-free and fragrance-free icon
icon showing molecular representation of water against a blue water drop
flower essences icon with blue flowers in the middle
icon showing molecular representation of vegetable glycerin against a blue carrot background

Mandatory FDA Notice: The statements made regarding Calm Animal Solutions have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any animal disease. Although the ingredients in Calm Animal Solutions are generally regarded as safe, you are encouraged to consult your veterinary before using any essence product.

logo with artistic drawing of a cat, a dog and a horse

©2024, Catherine Winfree. All rights reserved.