Pet Friendly Road Trips: Tips for Traveling with Dogs and Cats
Ah, the proverbial road trip. It's a great American tradition when we leave our troubles behind and hit the
road for fun and adventure. While a road trip can be exciting and care free, it becomes a little more
complicated when we decide to take a pet friendly road trip. Traveling with dogs or cats in the car for an
extended period of time can work out just fine, but when it comes to pet friendly road trips, there's some things
you will want to keep in mind to keep your animals (and you) happy and safe:
1. Packing for Your Pets
When you take that road trip with your dog or road trip with your cat, make sure you have all the essential supplies
on board with you. Your packing list should include a food and water bowl, an extra leash and collar (with
ID tags), at least a gallon of clean water (you can fill it up along the way), poop bags, treats, toys, and
bedding. Don't forget the food! Most professionals suggest enough food for 3 days at a time for road
trips with pets.
As for getting your vehicle ready, it's a good idea to use a seat protector to prevent scratches from claws as well
as to protect against drool and potential bathroom accidents along the way.
Take Your Time Traveling with Pets
When taking a road trip with your dog or a road trip with your cat, there is no need to drive with no breaks.
Stop every couple of hours during the trip to make sure your animal is doing OK. After a few hours in the
car, they may need to go to the bathroom or drink some water. For dogs, getting out of the car for a few
minutes can be very beneficial. To help your pets in and out of the vehicle and to avoid injury consider using
a pet ramp.
3. Remember Safety First
The iconic image of the care free pooch happily hanging his head out of the window as the soothing winds make his
muzzle flap in the wind is heartwarming, but traveling with dogs or cats that are unsecured can be dangerous for
everyone. Even a medium-sized dog when thrown in a collision can exert thousands of pounds of force into its
co-passengers. For the safety of everyone, dogs and cats should be transported in a certified, crash tested
crate, or kept in the back of your vehicle with a pet
barrier.
4. Keep Your Routine
Our pets are creatures of habit, just like us. So when traveling with dogs or cats, try to keep your animal's
eating and bathroom schedule consistent, just as it is at home. This will help them get accusomted to
traveling more easily and help prevent any messy bathroom accidents in the car.
5. Keep a Comfortable Temperature
We've all heard about pet owners who leave their dogs in hot cars and the tragic results that can come from
such a decision. When it comes to road trips with pets, make sure your animal is comfortable, regardless
of the season. Temperature extremes in either direction are not good for animals, so when traveling with
dogs or cats, take the time to make sure they stay cool in the summer and adequately warm in the winter months.
Pet friendly road trips can be a lot of fun. By taking the time to ensure their health and safety, you
will not only make the journey better for them, but you too will enjoy it more knowing that your pet is getting
the care they need to join you on the adventure. Happy trails!