Dog

Don’t Let Them Put Their Head Out The Window: Even though it looks harmless, it just isn’t safe to let your pet stick their head out the window while you are driving. This leaves your pet vulnerable to anything that might be flying along in the road, debris, bugs, even things from the cars in front of you. You should also never put your pet in the back of a pickup truck. It is so dangerous (especially on long trips) that the majority of states actually have laws against this type of animal transport!

Stop Often: Take lots of small little rest breaks so that they can get out and use the bathroom. Remember that your pet has a smaller bladder than you do so they’ll need to use the bathroom more frequently. When taking your pets on bathroom breaks or short walks, try to stick to any pre-determined pet area that can be found at most rest stops. Also make sure that your pet stays on a leash and has proper collar identification any time that you venture outside the vehicle.

Give Them Plenty Of Water: At each rest stop make sure to have some water available for your pet to drink from. Sometimes car travel will upset your pets stomach and this will give it something to help prevent sickness. Something that a lot of people recommend is to take ice cubes on road-trips as they’re a fun way for your pet to get their needed re-hydration and it doesn’t take up as much room as bringing lots of water will.

No Feeding Your Pets Fast Food: It’s a safe bet to refrain from feeding your pets anything extra on long road trips. Just stick to their regular amount of food at their regular feeding time. Try to refrain from letting them eat any leftovers from your own meals, especially if they’re from a fast-food restaurant. Greasy food and pets aren’t a good mix.

Don’t Leave Them Alone In The Car: Don’t leave your pets alone in your car while you run errands. On summer days the inside of your car can easily reach 120 degrees in minutes, even if you have the windows cracked open. Pet thieves also have been known to prey on pets left alone in cars at rest stops, so prevent their attempts by keeping your pets at your side.

Restrain Your Pets: While in your car, keep your pets restrained. Properly using a pet safety-harness or travel kennel are the fastest ways to keep your pet safe. Either method will keep your pet safe from harm as well as keep them from distracting the driver. A pet safety harness is similar to a regular seatbelt, just made to restrain your four legged friend. It’s a safe bet to let your pet try on any pet harness before any road-trip, this way they will also get use to the way it feels. Make sure any dog kennels that you use are well ventilated, as air circulation might be poorer in the back. If you have a large pet, look into using a pet barrier in your car. These are best used with large cars and SUVs. One of the most important travel tips to remember is that they should not be traveling in the passenger seat, no matter how cute they might look.

Comfortably Safe: Keeping your pet comfortable during the trip will go a long way in not having to deal with any flare-ups or ‘accidents’ during the getaway. Just as it’s important for your seat to be comfortable, it is important to keep their area of the car pet-friendly. The easiest way to do this is by bringing along their favorite toy or blanket, sometimes even a travel bed.

To read more pet travel tips visit the Online Pet Vet and get answers to your own pet questions.