Our little furry family members are important
to us. When planning to bring your little critters on the road with you
there are a few things to keep in mind. Even if you are only travelling a short
distance there are a few tips that could be helpful and may even save a life.
It’s nice to have our furry companions enjoy the excitement of
a road trip, often there is nothing our K9’s like more than a trip in the car.
You can see the genuine happiness in them as they hang their head out the
window and let the wind blow through their ears. But, did you know that the wind
blowing in your dog’s face can actually be dangerous? That’s right; even though he is having the time of his
life he is at risk of numerous dangers like, getting hit by an object,
developing a lung infection, or causing inner-ear damage. It’s best to be the
big mean parent and ruin the fun for the sake of safety.
If you are planning to take your pet on a trip and they have
not spent much time in a vehicle before then it’s a good idea to try and get them used to the environment a bit
first. Take your cat or dog out to spend some time in the car for a while
without going anywhere. Let them sniff around and get used the space and all of
the new smells, this will help them to
be more relaxed while travelling. You can also take him out and about
around town on short little journeys to gradually get him used to being in the
car. If you choose places that are more exciting like a trip to the dog park
then it will make the outings that much
more positive. These practice runs
can also give you an indication of whether your pet has any other issues that
you need to be aware of like anxiety or
car sickness. If there is a problem you can speak to your vet about medications to help.
You wouldn’t dream of putting your child in the car without
securing them in a proper seat, so why would you not do the same for your pet. Your animals depend on you to keep them
safe. A loose animal in the vehicle is dangerous, not only to you but to
them as well. In the event that you have to slam on the breaks your pet becomes a projectile. Imagine
little (or even big) “Fluffy” flying through the air, then slamming into you,
your child, or even a window. That is not an image that is easy to think of,
but it is a reality if you don’t take precautions
to prevent it. Another danger of
having a loose pet in the vehicle is having them distract you while driving. A
frightened pet could try and hide under your feet, making it near impossible to
operate the brake and gas pedals. Or, if you are trying to get your pet to
behave you are likely not watching the
road.
Luckily, there are numerous ways to secure your pet to avoid
disaster:
- Crates are probably the best way to
keep animals contained, especially when it comes to cats. If your pet is not
used to being in a crate then you will want to make sure that you let them get
used to it a bit first. Make sure that you secure
the crate as well; you will want to strap it to something so that it can’t
move around or it will also become a potential projectile. You also want to make sure that your pet is comfortable inside the crate; they
should have enough room to turn around and move. It’s also a good idea to make
sure the interior walls of the crate are cushioned as well; you don’t want your pet to be hurt if
he hits the walls in the event of sudden stops.
- Another great way
to keep your pet safe is with the use of a harness.
They make pet friendly harnesses that attach to a regular seatbelt or ones that
have straps that attach to the ceiling of your vehicle. These are great so you
can still enjoy the company of your dog
while you keep them safe and comfortable. Remember, the back seat is best
for pets because the air bags in the
front seat can cause serious injury
in the event of an accident.
Now that you have your pet travelling safely we can look at
a few other things that help make
travelling with your pet easier.
Food – Make sure
that you do not feed your pet for at least 3 to 4 hours before you leave. This
will help prevent car sickness. If your pet needs to eat during the trip do not
feed them in a moving vehicle, this could cause an upset tummy. Stop at a rest
stop for him to eat and make sure you allow lots of time for the food to digest
before getting back on the road.
Water – Fresh water
should always be available to your pet. Bring bottled water along so you can
make sure that can keep them well hydrated. There are special water dispensers
available to attach to the inside of crates. Also, you can buy collapsible bowls
that are great for food and water while travelling.
Identification –
I.D. tags are important while travelling, make sure your pet is wearing one. In
the event of an accident your pet could get loose and become lost, this ensures
that he will have a better chance of being returned to you. Also, if your pet
is travelling in a crate, make sure that the crate is labelled with your pets
name, your name and address and cell phone number. The more information you can
provide the better.
Travel Kit – Put together
a few items that you can have easy access to during your travels. Use a small bin
with lid to keep it all contained. Your kit should include: Pet health records
(in case of an emergency trip to the vet), nail clippers, liquid bandage,
pooper scooper, waste bags, treats, extra dog leash, and at least one favorite
toy.
During the trip make sure your pet is content and comfortable. Having a toy available often helps them to
be more relaxed and occupied. It is
also important that you make frequent stops to allow your pet to stretch his
legs and have bathroom breaks (always
clean up after your pet.) When you stop to let your dog out ensure that there
is lots of space to walk him and make sure he is always on a leash. If you have
to leave your pet in the vehicle then park
in the shade and leave the windows open. Do not leave your pet for long
periods of time, even if the windows are open, it doesn’t take long for temperatures become dangerous.
Hopefully these tips can help you to have a successful road trip with your best friend. Remember to use
these safety tips even if you are just travelling around town. Accidents are not planned and these few
precautions could save you or your pet
from injury, they could even save life.
-Muriel Rolufs
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