Tips travelling with your pets by car
There are often times you would like to travel with your pets by car or do a short walk with them for grocery shopping during the weekends. Before you go, make sure your pet is fit to travel, and it is often ideal to take them for a potty walk before leaving. It can avoid them to pee and poop during commute.
Dogs - Get a crate or dog restraints
If you are planning for a long trip, like a road trip. We suggest you get a crate and anchored to the vehicle using a seat belt. Make sure to take enough breaks in a long commute, your pets require a short walk and pee and poop from time to time.
For a short trip or your dog simply wants to take a breath out of the crate, dog restraints are useful to prevent your dog from jumping and roaming around the car and distracting the driver. Some breeds of dogs can get hyperactive easily in a new environment, it could be from anxiety or overstimulation. You may need to pay attention to their behavior. A cozy crate could be effective in claiming them , most dogs feel more secure and relax when inside a familiar crate. You may also place some of their favorite toys and blankets with them .
For puppies, they tend to be more needy and impatient when adapting to new environments. Instead of using a crate, you may consider using a small dog carrier that you can keep them next to you for easy access.
Cats - Keep them in carrier
Most cats aren’t comfortable adapting to new environments or traveling in cars, so best to keep them in a carrier or sling and stay close to you. You are recommended to plan your trip with a friend or family member. It is also ideal to restrain the carrier in the car with seat belt so that they won’t be bouncing around. Similar to preparing the dog crate, you may bring some blankets from home that make your kitties adapt with the environment easily.
Don’t let your dog travel with the head out the window of a moving car
Your dog could lean too far and fall out from a moving car or from a sudden stop.. A bug, a small insect or even the smallest particle could become projectile in a moving car which could cause eye irritation or get injured. You are also reminded not to let your pet sit on your lap when you are driving. Anything could happen on the road, a sudden break or turn could squish your pet and hurt them accidentally.
Never leave your pet unattended in a parked vehicle
Even if you leave some of the windows open, the car temperature could go up to 102 degrees in just 10 minutes. Heat is a serious hazard, so if you plan to travel with your pet, you might need to plan ahead if you have several planned stops.