Keeping Your Pet Safe When You Travel

Taking a road trip or even a short trip down the street can be a stressful experience. You want to keep your pet safe and healthy during the trip, and there are steps you can take to ensure that. Also, there are additional steps that need to be taken when taking and extended trip since there is an increased risk to their health and safety if you do not take control of the situation.

Secure Your Pet

No matter how long or short the trip, your pet (cat or dog) should be secured. In an accident, your pet will literally become a projectile and be thrown forward or in a severe accident ejected from the vehicle. If you can, the safest way to travel with your pet is in a crate. For dogs medium or larger dogs this may not be as practical. In these cases you will either want to have a segregated area with a gate in the back or use a safety harness. This way you know your pet is secured and as safe as it can be. Also, it keeps them from getting into trouble while you are driving, allowing you to focus on the road.

Keep the Window Closed

Everyone thinks the dog hanging out the window enjoying the fresh air during the car ride is adorable. But you are risking debris getting lodged in their eyes while you are driving down the road. Also, if they see something they want to chase, there is nothing stopping them from jumping out of the car and getting hurt.

Restrict Food and Water

This is especially important for long road trips. A pet will not eliminate in a crate unless they absolutely have to. And holding their waste (or having to sit in it when they have an accident) leads them prone to infection, kidney stones, and damage. Restrict their food and water 8 hours prior to trip to reduce the need for elimination during the trip.

Carry Your Pet's Vet Records

There are two reasons you always want to have your vet records on hand. The first is in case of an accident, this way it is immediately know that your pet is up to date on vaccinations and health care. The other reason is because it is the law to carry them if you are transporting them across state lines. If you are pulled over, you must be able to provide vet and current vaccination record to the officer if you are asked. If you are unable to produce them, they can seize your animals until the information is obtained. This is due to health laws and safety precautions for people as well as animals.