Road tripping with your cute and cuddly best friend can be super exciting. However, as exciting as this may sound, you want to make sure you take extra caution when preparing your pet for a road trip.
Anxiety
Just like humans, animals experience stress and anxiety. These emotions can arise when your pet is in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable environment. A little preparation can help prevent these unwanted feelings.
- Allow your pet to become familiar with your car
- Take your pet on a series of short drives
- Make their experience as exciting as possible any time your pet gets inside your car
Pet Traveling Kit
Don’t forget the Dog’s suitcase! Now that you’re all packed and ready to go, you want to remember to prep a pet-friendly travel kit. This kit should consist of;
- Food
- Bowl
- Leash
- Waste scoop
- Plastic bags
- Grooming supplies
- Medication
- First aid
- Travel documents
Make sure that you pack plenty of bottled water. Allowing your pet to drink water from an unfamiliar area can result in a possible stomach ache.
Car Safety
- You never want to let your pet roam freely throughout a moving vehicle.
- Make sure they are placed in a well-ventilated carrier
- This carrier must be large enough for your pet to stand, sit and turn around in
- Once your pet is placed inside you want to secure the crate with a seatbelt to prevent shifting and sliding
- Never leave your pet alone in a parked car
- High temperatures can cause your pet to develop a heatstroke or brain damage
- Low temperatures can cause your animal to freeze to death
Flying with your pet can be an adventure of a lifetime for both you and your pet. When taking your pet in the air you have to take a few additional steps.
- Obtain a health certificate form 10 days prior to your departure
- Ensure your pet has had all vaccinations and is ok to travel
- Purchase a USDA-approved shipping carrier that your pet can sit, stand and turn around in
Before boarding the plane
If your pet isn’t small enough to board the plane with you, here are some steps you should take to make sure your pet is comfortable and safe during their flight.
- Mark carrier with the words “Live Animal” along with your name, your pet’s name, cell phone number and a photo of your pet
- Line the inside of the carrier with some sort of bedding in case of any accidents
- Tape a small bag of dry food outside the crate and a frozen bowl of water inside
- Do not place a lock on your pet’s carrier in case of an emergency