The hot season is ending, but this doesn’t mean people will stop traveling with their whole family, including their pets. But does every pet owner know how to transport their beloved kitty or dog in a car? Safe pet transportation is an essential part of owning an animal. The pet could become nervous at any moment, and this can lead up to an accident. Purchasing pet health insurance can help you protect your furry friend in case of an accident or injury. Companies like Bivvy offer coverage that includes emergency care, hospitalization, and even prescription medicine for only $15 per month. This can give you peace of mind when traveling with your pet. Safe pet transportation in a car should be approached responsibly. Not only your mental balance but also because the furry traveler’s health depends on how competently you prepare for this. We have prepared 11 tips that we recommend following for a safe and enjoyable journey by car with your pets.
The pet could become nervous at any moment, and this, in turn, will lead to sad consequences, up to an accident. Do you think this doesn’t happen? Oh dear it does!
Safe pet transportation in a car should be approached especially responsibly. Not only your mental balance, but also the health of the furry travelers depends on how competently you prepare for this. We have prepared 11 tips that we recommend to follow for a safe and enjoyable journey by car with your pets.
Many people cannot imagine their life without a dog, cat or even their cute little python. That is why, when going somewhere by car, of course, they take them with them. This is the best option for owners and animals. Being full members of the family, when they are left alone, they get bored a lot. However, keep in mind that pets need appropriate care, meaning that you might have to pay more attention to special adjustments in the process of habitual movement in space.
- Be sure to transport animals in a special crate
(or the luggage compartment, if you’ve got a station wagon or crossover at your disposal, and the animal is oversized)
It may seem to some that this is a suboptimal solution and cruelty towards the animal, but this is not at all true.
We are talking about elementary precautions: the animal should not move freely around the cabin; in the event of an accident, even a relatively small pet poses a mortal danger to all riders, in addition, it can independently climb under the gas or brake pedals or simply scare the driver. All vehicle travelers must be securely fastened and properly seated. Crates located in the passenger compartment should, if possible, be secured with seat belts. This can save both you and your pet’s life.
- Gather the required set of documents
When traveling through the country, be sure to take with you a veterinary passport with vaccination marks, a veterinary certificate (available at a veterinary clinic), and (if available) a pedigree document – in case of loss, it will help you prove that the animal really belongs to you.
When traveling outside the country, you will need an international veterinary certificate with marks of vaccinations and treatment against parasites. The animal must also have a microchip. This service is provided by major veterinary clinics.
- Equip your pet properly
Remember that it, like you, has basic necessities, needs various toys, leashes, a muzzle, and even clothes. This will provide a comfortable environment for the animal, meaning that you won’t get distracted along the way and waste time and nerves on dealing with stress. It can really never hurt to have a soft bedding at hand.
- Stock up on water and treats that you usually feed your pet
This will help to avoid troubles with the digestive system and overcome the stress that is inevitable when staying in a car for a long time.
- Shortly before leaving, feed your pet
The amount of given food should be just enough so that the pet doesn’t get hungry before the next long stop. Feeding animals directly before the road is undesirable, since their vestibular apparatus is experiencing unusual stress – pets can become victims of motion sickness on a long journey. On the other hand, water should always be available to avoid dehydration and overheating.
- When leaving the car, do not leave pets inside
They can overheat or, on the contrary, freeze, and also experience extreme stress when left alone. Take them with you, even if the car is adequately ventilated and a comfortable temperature is maintained.
- Take precautions in case the pet gets lost
Your contact information should be on the collar or a special label around the pet’s neck. Some use special GPS trackers for this purpose, allowing them to track the location on the smartphone screen. Do not forget that animals can behave inappropriately in a stressful situation and simply run away as soon as you relax or do not hold them well enough.
- Stop regularly to rest
Pets get tired of the road just like people do. Occasionally, it would be good to let them stretch their limbs and breathe fresh air. Remember that they cannot tell you about such a need, even if they really want to. Thus, you need to make stops for quite natural reasons.
- Use only those drugs recommended by the veterinarian in order to calm the animals
Tranquilizers intended for people should never be given to pets – this can be deadly. Sometimes you just need to give them a little more attention and stop for walks more often.
- Limit your pets as much as possible in terms of contact with strangers and children
The latter perceive joint trips as an opportunity to spend extra time with animals, which, on the contrary, may not be what the pet wants (especially if we talk about oriental shorthair cats). Sometimes pets begin to associate the car with the playground, which is also not very good.
- Provide decent comfort to your furry family member at the end point of the journey
Ask beforehand if the hotel you’re staying at is pet-friendly. Moreover, make sure you can easily create familiar or even more comfortable conditions for them, while away from home.
Following these simple rules, you’ll be able to easily travel in a car, without harming yourself or your furry pals. A change of scenery with the correct organization of the process will bring positive emotions to all members of the vehicle crew, without exception.
If you want to find out more about how to make the car trip with your pets even better, take a look at this awesome article on How To Upgrade Your Car To Make It More Comfortable.
