Lifestyle
5 Tips for Safe Car Travel
When it comes to taking our pets for rides in the car, it’s only natural that some will be more into it than others. But whether you have the dog that loves to stick his head out the window and catch a breeze, or the cat that is intent on scratching through the upholstery on your backseat, there are some ways you can ease the stress on everybody and plan for a more pleasant ride:
Make sure your pet is secured while you travel. Never leave your pet (especially your cat) free to roam around the car. There are many options for safely securing them—from harnesses to car seats to crates and carriers. Find what works best for you and use it every time your pet rides with you in the car.
Keep a pet kit in the car. Fill a small box with some things you might need while out with your pet: extra water, treats, a towel, waste bags, first aid essentials, and cleaning wipes (if you’ve ever had a pet get sick in your car, you know that the more cleaning aids you have on hand the better!). Keep the kit in the trunk of your car so you know that you’re always covered in an emergency.
Get your pet used to the ride. Some pets take to car rides right away, while others are a bit more resistant. Start your pet off with short drives around the block to get them comfortable, and by the time you need to take them somewhere further away, they’ll know what to expect.
Never leave your pet alone in the car. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside or how short of a time period you’ll be gone, leaving your pet alone in the car is incredibly dangerous. Even with the windows open, cars can easily become furnaces in hot weather, and in cold weather, they quickly become frigid without the heat blasting. Always choose to be safe rather than sorry and avoid ever leaving your pet alone in the car.
Don’t feed your pet a huge meal before setting out. Same goes for giving your pet a lot to drink. We all know how easy it is to get a little car sick—avoid the possibility of making your pet miserable on a long car ride by only feeding light meals. If you can, try to not feed your pet in the three to four hours prior to setting off.
Have more car travel tips? Share them in the comments!
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If You Are Planning a Trip Abroad with Your Pet…
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Chris TulipanaMarch 18, 2013 at 3:15 pm
I never let my dogs ride in the car without doggie seat belts/restraints. I am always trying to convince others to do the same. Would you let your children ride without seat belts on?…NO
Nancy GiegoldtMarch 15, 2013 at 8:38 am
Help, my 7 month old sheltie gets car sick we have tried the cage in the car doesn’t work we hold her and that doesn’t work, we did the short rides that doesn’t work. Please help I really don’t want to give her drugs.
Laura DruckerMarch 15, 2013 at 11:32 am
Nancy,
Dog motion sickness in the car is most commonly seen in puppies and older dogs (it has to do with the structure and development of their ears), so it’s possible she will outgrow it. In the meantime, make sure she’s secured in such a way that she’s always facing forward, and keep the windows down a crack to stimulate air flow.
Before turning to medication (which seems like something you are not keen on doing anyway, and I don’t blame you!), try some conditioning techniques to get her to stop associating car rides with getting sick. Have special toys in there that she only gets when she’s in the car and keep trying the shorter trips – just try making them even shorter.
If none of this works, I suggest bringing her to your vet, who can possibly suggest some natural remedies or treatments.
Hope this helps, and good luck!
Take care,
Laura, TAILS Editor