Top Five Things To Know While Traveling With Your Pet

For many people their dogs and pets are truly a part of their family. Dogs and pets frequently accompany their owners when they travel and very similarly to children, pets have needs that will have to be addressed if they are to be comfortable and happy during travel time. Review the list below to make sure that you are aware of the top five things to know and do when traveling with dogs and pets.

1.Safety Belt and Carrier

People's notions about safety belts have certainly changed over the last twenty years. Laws now encourage everyone in the car to buckle up because doing so will save lives. Why then would this principle not apply to dogs and pets? The answer is that it does! Pets need to be secured to the car either by being strapped down to the car or bed of a truck while in a carrier or by using one of the new types of seat belts for pets that works while the pet is sitting on one of the car seats. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 dogs are killed when their owners allow them to stand in the bed of a truck unrestrained. Do not be foolish enough to think that a pet will react any differently than a human in the event of a sudden brake or an accident. Pets will become projectiles if they are not secure.

2.Avoid Diet Distress

Pets, and dogs especially, have sensitive digestive systems. They get used to eating certain foods at certain times of the day and if their schedules are disrupted it can make them feel sick. Make sure that if you are going to be traveling, that you take the food that your pet is used to. If you will be away from home for a long time, slowly transition your pet into the new food that he will be eating on your trip. The same principle applies to the water that your pet drinks. Bring a gallon of water from home and gradually mix in water from the various places that you travel to.

3.Regularly Exercise

Dogs and pets need more vigorous exercise than many people are willing to give them while traveling. A simple leg stretch every couple of hours is not going to do the job. Make sure that you schedule time and have the leash ready to take your dog on a long walk every few hours. Don't think of it as a chore; it could be fun to walk around in the new places that you will encounter during your travels.

4.Regulate Temperature

Furry animals get hot a lot faster than do humans. Most furry animals lack the ability to sweat and so they need special attention to stay cool and comfortable. This means making sure that your furry friends have plenty of water and that you keep the car at a temperature that they are comfortable with. Never leave a pet in the car alone, especially if it is hot outside. In only a matter of minutes the internal heat of the car can rise to deadly levels.

5.Plan Ahead

When you know that you will be taking your dogs or pets with you on your travels, the key things to know and do are often encompassed in the fact that you should plan ahead. Know which route you will take, what pet-friendly hotels you will stay in, where there are areas to walk, what your back-up plan would be in the case of something unexpected, etc. Often times dogs and pets add a lot of variables to a trip. Making sure that you have planned for the times that may not go according to plan will make a trip less stressful for everyone.

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