7 Tips for Safer Road Trips with Your Pet
We all love a family road trip, and one of the biggest advantages of traveling by car is that it’s easier to bring your dog or cat along for the ride.
Here are seven tips for safer road trips with your pet.
- Never ever leave your pet unattended in the car.
- Crates are great and keep pets safely restrained. Secure the crate with a seatbelt or other harness so that it doesn’t shift or tumble during an abrupt stop. Make sure the crate is well ventilated! The crate should be large enough for your pet to stand up and stretch out a little.
- If traveling in a crate isn’t an option, a pet should be restrained using a seatbelt or harness. There are several great options on the market. Free-roaming pets can easily distract you, obstruct the view, or even get tangled in the gas or brake pedals.
- Airbags are meant to deploy and protect a human occupant but could do great harm to a pet. Your pet is much safer secured in the back seat
- Bring all of the essentials with you. Make sure you bring plenty of food, water, a familiar blanket or toy, a secure collar or harness and leash, and medical records – especially proof of rabies vaccine.
- Make sure people can get ahold of you if your pet gets lost far from home. All pets should always have current ID on them, tags and a microchip, with up-to-date information including whom to contact in case of emergency.
Some pets love the vacation but hate riding in the car to get there. Talk to your vet about anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medications that are highly effective and safe. Your vet will be happy to partner with you on a good plan to ensure a safe and happy road trip with your pet.
