Many of us will hit the road this year to visit family, friends, or on vacation. Many of us will bring our pets with us. A pet has special needs when traveling that you must take into account. Here are some tips for traveling safely with your pets.
Food and water
You’ll want to bring enough food and water for your pet for each day you’ll be traveling. In addition, there are special collapsible bowls for dog food and water that allow you to serve your pet at any time and then fold the bowl so that it does not take up much space. And don’t forget the treats! Have plenty of treats to give your pet when he’s restless. Some treats will work better than others in a vehicle. Choose treats that don’t make a mess, don’t make a lot of noise, and keep your pet busy. For dogs, consider a Kong treat, which is a rubber-like treat that you can insert smaller treats into. Your pet will be distracted trying to get the treats out of the toy.
Comfort
Don’t forget to bring along your pet’s favorite blanket, pillow or stuffed animal, familiarity with these items will lessen any shock or longing your pet may feel. Bring extra blankets so the pet can nap or rest on it. It will also keep pet hair off your seats!
Safety
Today there are special harnesses and seat belts for different sizes of dogs. For small dogs, there are modified car seats that have a padded area for the dog to sit on. The car seat, or dog seat, is secured to the seat with a seat belt. Also, for medium and large sized dogs, you may be worried about them jumping into the vehicle while you are driving. For larger dogs, there are harnesses that basically keep the dog in her seat using a specially modified version of a seat belt. These restraint systems allow the dog to sit in the seat and enjoy the view out the window without endangering himself or the driver. For large and older dogs, there is also a restraint system that allows your dog to sit or lie in the back seat of the vehicle safely and is especially good if you are going off-road or going through bumpy roads with lots of curves and potholes. as these harnesses will keep your dog in place.
car sickness
For dogs that vomit during car rides, there are options to help. There are prescription pet medications that you can get from your vet. There is also the over-the-counter drug Dimenhydrinate, also known as Dramamine. You can give your pet the same type of Dramamine as adults. The recommendation is 30 to 50 milligrams for medium to large sized dogs and 10 to 15 milligrams for smaller dogs and cats. Dramamine should be given about an hour before you leave. Many dogs will get less motion sickness if you let the dog look out the window and/or let some fresh air hit the dog in the face. For some dogs, by distracting the dog with an exciting new dog toy or treat, they will overcome their fear of car travel.
bathroom breaks
Don’t forget to take breaks for the dog to go to the bathroom. Take your time to let the pet find the right place to relieve itself; it may take longer at a rest stop or other unfamiliar location, especially if the area is frequented by many other dogs and animals. Take a brisk jog for a few minutes to rid the pet of excess energy, if necessary. Also, in unfamiliar places, keep your dog on a leash at all times.
Red alert
You should never leave your pet in a vehicle when the outside temperature is even slightly warm for more than 30 minutes. Your vehicle will act almost like an oven and the interior temperature of a vehicle exposed to the sun, even when it’s only a little warm outside, is often too much for a pet to stand on. In fact, it is illegal in many states.
