Pets on the Road: Car Travel Tips for Your Pet

If your pet has never been in a car, take him on short rides to get him ready for the trip.

Schedule a check-up with your doctor prior to your departure date on a road trip with a pet, especially for animals with any long-term health concerns.

Tranquilization is usually not required for car trips, but if you know your pet gets carsick,consult your doctor who may prescribe a light sedative.

Your pet should wear a collar at all times with your name, address, and phone number. Be sure to make sure his tags and his chip are up to date with your latest contact information.

Your pet should always be safely secured during the road trip; crates are recommended. Dogs should never be allowed to hang out of car windows, even a window opened only slightly. Severe injuries can occur if you have to stop the car suddenly, and there’s always the risk of the dog jumping out.

Travel with a crate your pet likes. It should be well ventilated, and be large enough for the pet to stand, turn around, lie down and fold-up crate are especially handy if you have a lot of other luggage. Many hotels will not deliver room service or clean your room if there is a loose pet inside, so you will need to crate your pet when not in the room. Line the bottom of your road trip crate with a blanket or wee-wee pad to absorb urine in case of accident.

While on the road, use positive reinforcement to encourage your pet’s best behavior. Just as you might reward children for sitting quietly in the back seat, have a supply of healthy pet treats tucked into the glove compartment to reward your pet for sitting quietly, waiting for your command before leaving the vehicle at a rest stop, for doing their business, etc. Merrick Pet Care makes a variety of dry treats for cats and dogs of all ages, plus crunchy dog treats like Cowboy Cookout and Pumpkin Patch that you can theme to destinations and holidays.

If you can park in an area with a public park or dog run, that’s even better for your pet. Photo by matatddgt for pexels.

Try not to travel in extreme weather conditions. If you must travel in hot weather, do so in early morning, or early evening.

Never leave your pet alone in a car, even for a few minutes. Animals can freeze in cold temperatures. In hot weather, heat stroke can occur in minutes. Heat stress is characterized by heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, a staggering gait, unsteadiness, vomiting or a deep purple tongue. If heat stroke occurs, douse your pet with water and apply ice packs to the head and neck. Seek veterinarian attention immediately. 

Stop frequently (at least every hour and a half) to give your pet some food, water and exercise. If you have a non-tip water bowl you can leave on the back floor in the backseat, that’s ideal. No not allow your dog to run loose at rest areas. No matter how well trained an animal is, remember you are in a new place, and there are a lot of unusual noises. An accident can occur in seconds.

Bring along a photo of your pet in case he or she gets lost.

If you are going to be staying in a hotel, call ahead and make sure your pet is welcome. Double check if there’s a pet cleaning fee for the room.