Advice for Car Travel with Your Pet

If your pet is traveling with you in the car for your summer road trip, you may need some advice to ensure that things go safely and smoothly. For families with pets, a summer vacation would not be complete without the companionship of their beloved four-legged friends. Yet, hitting the open road with Fido or Felix could cause stress to both pet and pet parent unless the right steps are taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.

“Pets such as dogs and cats are often excited by the prospect of travel in cars and can enjoy a road trip as much as their human companions, but disruptions to their schedule can have a negative impact on pets, leaving them stressed and frightened," said animal trainer and 2006 Comfort Zone Dog Trainer of the Year, Kellyann Conway. "Pet parents can keep their dog or cat content during travel by anticipating their needs and planning properly for the trip."

Conway suggests implementing the following easy steps to ensure a pet's comfort during car travel. His simple checklist should fool-proof auto travel with your pet:

• Acclimate your pet to the vehicle prior to the trip to determine if he or she has problems with motion sickness and/or exhibits excessive excitability that may require treatment from a veterinarian.
• Secure your pet in a carrier or a pet seatbelt harness to ensure your cat or dog is safe in the event of an accident and is unable to cause distraction to the driver.
• Try to keep your pet on his normal feeding schedule.
• Keep plenty of fresh water on-hand to ensure your pet stays well hydrated.

For more tips, read the full article.

For more information on pet travel, check out RTM's Pet Travel section.

Comments

[Amy]

Thanks so much for your post! This is such important information as we kick off the summer vacation season.

[Ajlouny]

This is some sound advise, especially the part about securing your pet when in a vehicle. Too often I see people with their cute dogs in their laps while driving. This to me poses as a hazard to the driver, the dog and people on the road. It's too distracting and can also obstruct any potential quick reactions you may need to make when driving.