Top 7 Pet Travel Tips For Car Rides
No Heads Out Windows: It’s very unsafe for you to let your dogs stick their heads out the window while you are driving. It is an easy way for your pet to get injured by flying debris form the road. You should also never let your pet travel in the bed of your truck. There are so many things that can go wrong (some not even your fault) that this is illegal is most states.
Stop Frequently: You should take frequent stops to let your pet walk around for a few minutes and use the bathroom. Most rest stops and travel assistance areas will have specific areas for you to take your pet. Always pickup after your pet and try to stay in the designated “pet zone” when walking your pet. Always keep your pet on a lease and make sure that they have proper identification on their collar whenever they are outside of the car.
Keep Them Hydrated: During your rest stops make sure to provide your pet with some fresh water so that they can re-hydrate themselves. Occasionally, traveling in a car can upset your pet’s stomach and keeping them hydrated will work to help prevent any ‘accidents.’ Another trick is to bring ice cubes for your pet as it’s easier than having to bring large amounts of water (plus by the time you’re done with the trip it IS just water).
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 Stranded: Never leave your pet by themselves in a parked vehicle. On average warm days, the temperature in your car can rise to 120 degrees in minutes, even if you have the windows slightly open. Another reason to not leave them in the car is it sometimes can act as an open invitation to pet thieves.
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.
Staying Safe and Comfortable: Comfort should be a priority regardless of how you choose to travel with your pets. Just as it’s important for your seat to be comfortable on long road trips, your pet’s seat should be comfortable too (by seat we mean seating area). Usually your pets favorite blanket or travel bed will do the trick to quickly put them at ease. If you don’t mind spending the extra money, there are many different pet travel seats available that you can buy which are designed with your pets safety and comfort in mind.
Get answers to your own pet questions by visiting the Online Pet Vet.
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