Top 8 Tips for Traveling With Your Dog in a Car
When preparing for a trip, it is important that you also consider your pet. Doing so will
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make the
trip more enjoyable for the entire family, as everyone will have a peace of mind knowing that
everything is taken care of. In order to make the process less stressful, there are 8 tips you can
follow to assure you properly prepare for traveling with your dog.
1. Take Your Dog to the Vet.
It is very important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian before going on a car trip. Health
conditions that can make traveling for your pet dangerous can be detected during the exam. You
can also take advantage of this time to get a health certificate. This is typically only necessary if
you’re going to another country, or to Hawaii. In addition to assuring your pet is healthy, getting
your dog up to date on vaccines, heartworm preventative, and flea and tick control is also advised.
2. Create a List of Veterinary Hospitals
Making a list of all the veterinary hospitals that are located throughout your trip can be tedious,
but it is crucial. If any emergency was to arise, you’d have the information necessary to contact
the nearest veterinary hospital. Write the address and phone number of each hospital down, and
also print out a map of how to get there.
*Be sure to include hospitals that are open 24 hours a day.
3. Prepare an Emergency Kit and Pack Medications
A basic emergency kit for your dog should include; medical records, gauze, bandages, Neosporin
(triple antibiotic), and a cleaning solution for wounds. Also, if your dog gets car sick or overly
stressed while traveling, ask your veterinarian if giving your pet medication is an option. Lastly,
include any medication your dog may be taking in the emergency kit so you know where to find it.
4. Obtain Proper Pet Identification
Whether to get a dog microchipped or not, is often a debatable topic. It can be a tough decision
to make, but it can potentially save your dog’s life. Tags and collars with text integrated on
them are also helpful, but they can get easily damaged. Even if your pet is microchipped, it is
recommended that you place an ID tag on your dog. This is so that even those that are unfamiliar
with microchips will be able to contact you if your pet is lost.
5. Purchase a Crate or Seat Belt
While traveling in a car, dogs should always wear a seat belt or be placed in a crate. If an accident
was to occur, or even if the car had to come to a sudden stop, these devices would help protect
your pet from getting injured.
6. Pack Essential Items
When packing for your dog make sure to include; water, dog food, bowls, bed, blanket, potty pads
(in case your dog vomits or has an accident) and a pooper scooper. Although these are obvious
items, it is easy to forget to pack them when you are in a rush.
7. Take Breaks
Many people are in such a rush to get to their destination that they forget to take sufficient
brakes. Making your dog wait to go potty or urinate is not healthy; in fact, your dog can develop
a urinary tract infection as a consequence. Even if your dog does not have the urge to go, it is
important that he is able to stretch. Going long periods without taking a break can lead to stress
and anxiety in your dog.
8. Never Leave Your Dog Alone
Although it may appear safe to leave your dog alone for just a few minutes, there are several
factors that put your dog at risk. Besides getting loose, your dog can also get into other mischief.
This includes; eating poisonous foods/plants, getting stolen, being hit by a car, and getting lost.
Including pet friendly hotels, restaurants, and parks in your plans can help prevent these incidents
from occurring.
Traveling Safety tips with your Dog
Concepcion Monico Garcia
Concepcion Monico Garcia (aka Connie M.) is a licensed Veterinary Technician with
over 6 years of experience working in the veterinary field. Writing is one of her passions,
especially if it relates to her profession. She believes that writing is an excellent way of
communicating with people everywhere and teaching them about the proper way to care
for their pets. Connie M. blogs at The K9 Shower. She enjoys blogging as a means of
sharing her personal experiences as well as providing helpful information.
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