Spring & Summer is Travel Time!
I take my dogs with me everywhere I go, and I think that’s true of most of us. So National Pet Travel Safety Day is a good time to remind ourselves of being sure that our babies are safe while traveling. They depend on us and trust us to keep them safe.
Prepare For Travel
Health Check
Nothing will dampen a vacation or a road trip like an emergency trip to the veterinarian. If you are going to be active on this trip, ie, climbing, extra walking, etc, and your dog is overweight it could be dangerous to expect him to do things that he normally doesn’t do. So if your dog is overweight, address that before you go.
Make sure that your vaccinations are up to date and take a health certificate from your veterinarian for proof that he is current.
If he is not already on flea & tick and heartworm preventatives make sure that he is before you go anywhere. Different states have different little critters and these can be picked up anywhere, especially at pet rest stops and dog parks.
Acclimate Him To Traveling In The Car
If your dog gets car sick, talk to your veterinarian. there are medications both conventional and herbal that can help.
If your dog is not used to the car, take him on short, pleasant trips before you go. Drive to a dog park or a different neighborhood for your daily walk. He will associate car rides with something good.
Feed him about 6 hours before leaving and never feed him while the car is moving.
Please don’t let your dog hang his head out the window. Road debris and flying objects can damage or injure their delicate eyes and ears.
Stop every three to four hours to let him relieve himself and walk a little and have a drink. As a precaution, make sure that he already has his leash on before you open the car door.
NEVER leave him in a parked car, not even if the windows are down. I think we have all heard about the dangers of pets in parked cars even on days that are cool. If you stop at a rest stop don’t go in and leave him in the car EVEN FOR A MINUTE.
If you need to go inside, one person should remain in the car with your dog. If you just need some refreshments for yourself have one person remain in the car with him while you go in or go through the drive-through.
Choosing The Best Restraint
One of the most important ways to ensure your dog’s safety is to make sure he has on a halter and that he is restrained in the car. This will keep him contained and safe and the driver will be less distracted. Make sure that it is of good quality and that it fits properly.
- There are three ways to restrain him and keep him safe. The first and the safest is to use a crate and restrain it with the car seat belt.
- The second is a car seat for dogs.
- The third is a device that connects to your dog’s harness and the seat belt or restrainer for dogs. This is what I use for my dogs. I like to be able to see them in the rearview mirror if I am the one driving.
Air Travel
When planning to fly with your dog you should know that different airlines have different regulations regarding pet travel. Some allow small pets to travel on the plane with you as part of the carry on luggage in a crate stored under the seat. Other airlines only allow a pet in the cargo area of the plane. I personally would never put my baby in the cargo area of a plane. So, do your homework before you travel and get all the travel information from the airline so you know what to expect beforehand.
