Pet Car Travel Tips

If you and your pet are hitting the open road, follow these pet car travel tips to make sure your pet is safe and comfortable during the ride.

Reduce Stomach Upset

Many pets become sick to their stomachs when they travel in cars. To reduce an upset stomach during pet car travel, try to feed your pet a light meal 5 to 8 hours before the trip. Do not feed your pet any treats or table scraps before the car ride; if you purchase fast food for yourself on the journey, resist the temptation to give your pet a few little tidbits from your meal.

Prevent Dehydration

Pets traveling in cars can become dehydrated from stress, lack of water and increased temperatures. Offer your pet a few drinks of water every few hours, but do not let your pet drink a large amount of water or it may cause an upset stomach.

Pet Car Travel Safety

Pets that are loose in a vehicle can become severely injured even in mild car accidents; they can also escape from the vehicle, become lost or even injure passengers. Pets that are allowed to wander through a car may also cause accidents themselves if they distract the driver or attempt to hide on the floorboard where the gas and brake pedals are located.

To protect yourself, your passengers and your pet – remember safety first. Cats should always ride in a kennel which is securely buckled in the car. Dogs may be kenneled as well, but if you have a canine friend that loves the open road consider a harness and pet safety belt – these terrific tools allow your dog to travel comfortably while taking in the sights and smells along the way.

Using Tranquilizers

The use of tranquilizers for pet car travel is usually not recommended. These medications often have side effects which include upset stomach, constipation and confusion. Pets may even become aggressive and frightened under the use of tranquilizers. However, if you are concerned that your pet may need medication during the journey talk with your veterinarian to see if your pet may benefit from tranquilizers and to learn about risks and side effects associated with these medications.