Safety measures are intended to avoid accidents, injuries and illnesses in businesses, individuals and families alike.
Plan your route carefully, booking accommodations suitable for dogs along the way. It is also essential that your pet be microchipped with current contact info on its collar/tag. To ensure a safe journey.
1. Don’t Leave Your Pet Unattended
Road trips with your pet are a wonderful way to bond, but take precaution when leaving them alone in the vehicle for too long. Dogs left in cars can quickly overheat, which poses serious health risks and may lead to injury or even death. Furthermore, pets may distract the driver, leading them down an unsafe path.
Always ensure your pet is securely restrained in a crate, carrier, or seat belt harness to protect them in case of an accident and avoid injuries. In addition, it would be prudent to bring along a first aid kit as a backup measure in case anything unexpected should arise during their trip.
Before your trip, familiarize your pet with riding in a car by taking them on small trips around town and gradually increasing the length of their stays in the vehicle. This will reduce their anxiety and make the journey more pleasant for both of you. In addition, make sure your microchip information is up-to-date and ensure their ID tag can easily be read – should your pet ever become lost on the road, this makes finding them much simpler.
2. Make Sure Your Dog Is Vaccinated
Vaccinations not only keep your dog healthy, they help protect other dogs and humans as well. When traveling with or taking your pet to a dog park, boarding facility, daycare center, or friends’ houses who own dogs it’s vital that their vaccinations are current – many places won’t accept any dog without proof of current shots being administered.
Never feed your pet while driving as this will only lead to severe stomach distress for both of you, and could even result in dangerous bowel blockages and vomiting while on the road. Instead, feed them prior to leaving home and make regular stops along the way for potty breaks, exercise sessions, and stretching their legs.
On any trip, it’s wise to bring along a first-aid kit and the contact info of your veterinarian, including copies of current vaccination records and emergency animal hospital numbers in the area where you’re traveling. Programming them into your phone can ensure your pup can access care should any accidents or health concerns arise during travel.
3. Make Sure Your Dog Has a Collar and Tag
Never risk leaving behind your dog’s collar on a long drive. Collars help identify your pet, while temporary tags with your phone number could come in handy should your travels separate you. Also make sure your microchip information is up-to-date so if they become lost they have the best chance of being returned safely.
If you’re traveling with a puppy or small dog, make sure they feel secure in their carrier or seat. A few days before leaving on your trip, set out the carrier and encourage them to spend time there by giving treats or toys so that it becomes part of their positive associations with this space. It may be beneficial for them to experience short practice drives prior to embarking on their road journey so they become familiar with moving vehicles.
Make sure your pet has enough food during the trip. Sticking with their usual diet will prevent gastric upset; additionally, having a first aid kit and pheromone calming collar or vest on hand could also help ease anxiety during travel – it is wise to consult your veterinarian about such options as soon as possible.
4. Make Sure Your Dog Is Restrained
Letting an unrestrained dog travel in the car poses numerous dangers, particularly during hot temperatures. Many states have laws prohibiting this practice because it could pose threats to health or welfare – such as heat, cold and lack of ventilation – for both you and your pup. Furthermore, leaving them alone could increase their chance of jumping out the window or being injured in a collision.
Restraining your dog will also prevent them from distracting the driver. Unrestrained canines can interfere with steering wheels, pedals and gear shifts and airbags which could seriously injure or kill them; additionally, dogs that hang their heads out of windows could be hit by flying debris that causes eye or mouth injuries.
Before traveling with your pup, practice rides are recommended in order to acclimate him or her to being inside for extended periods. Plan plenty of stops so they can stretch their legs, use the restroom, and get fresh air during their journey.
5. Don’t Let Your Dog Stick Their Head Out the Window
Traveling by car used to be an ordeal for pet owners. But with more hotels, Airbnbs, airlines and train lines becoming pet-friendly – as well as off-leash dog parks popping up around the country – making road trips much less arduous and less daunting for your furry friend. Still though, they still require careful preparation so your pup arrives safe and sound!
Unsurprisingly, dogs love sticking their head out the window during car rides to enjoy all of the stunning sights and smells around them. Unfortunately, however, this can be harmful in several ways.
One major reason is that it could cause them to become distracted from driving, leading them into dangerous accidents. Furthermore, exposure to wind and debris could damage their eyes further; and worst case scenario they could fall out of their car and into danger or worse, even cause death.
Prevent this from happening by getting your pup used to being in a car by taking them on short rides before taking on your major journey. This will get them comfortable with driving and help prevent motion sickness during their ride. Make sure to include plenty of rest stops so they can stretch their legs, go to the bathroom, and take a breather from being trapped inside for such an extended period of time.
6. Don’t Let Your Dog Ride in the Back of a Pickup Truck
As you prepare your road trip checklist and playlist, don’t overlook your pet’s health and wellbeing – road trips can be stressful for pets such as dogs so it is essential that we take measures to ensure their comfort and safety during travel.
Dogs riding in the back of pickup trucks run the risk of being strangled or killed by its rolling bed or crushed by fallen objects, or being thrown off when sudden stops or accidents happen.
Another risk associated with riding in a truck bed is that dirt, insects and debris may get inside their ears, eyes or nose and cause irritation and discomfort during their drive.
Before embarking on a long road trip with your pup, it is wise to familiarize him or her with car rides so they become familiar and have somewhere safe they can retreat if necessary.
Your vet or the BringFido app are both great sources for copies of vaccination records for your dog while traveling, which should make accessing them much simpler while traveling.
7. Don’t Let Your Dog Jump into Your Lap
Even though it may be tempting to allow your pet onto your lap while driving, doing so could be hazardous to both of you. Not only will it distract from driving but will make controlling the vehicle even harder and potentially cause them to be car sick. Furthermore, your pet could find this experience uncomfortable as well and could become car sick due to this proximity.
Pet safety requires keeping them secured in the back seat with harness or crate while driving. A carrier or crate provides space and comfort should an accident occur while keeping them from jumping out an open window into unfamiliar environments.
Bring food and water bowls, leash, waste scoop, plastic bags, medication and their favorite toy or blanket as part of their travel kit. It is also important to plan out your route so that there will be suitable pet-friendly stops along the way.
Before setting out on your trip, ensure your furry friend gets enough rest by taking him or her on a long walk or to the dog park and then feeding them a light meal three or four hours before starting your journey. This will make them feel more at ease during their travels and less likely to chew at their seat belts as often happens during car journeys.