It's vacation season! And for some of you, that might mean your four legged friends will be joining you on an upcoming trip.
While it is important to keep your pet's best interest at heart when making travel arrangements, here are a few travel tips for those vacations you take Fluffy or Fido with you:
Never leave your pet in the car
You might ask, "what's ten minutes?"
The answer will shock you: After just ten minutes on an 85-degree day, a car with its windows slightly open can reach 102 degrees. If there's a line at the bathroom or you're having a hard time finding that snack you wanted, a 30 minute stop could mean a 120 degree car and pet suffering from irreversible organ damage or death.
Plan your trip so that Fido or Fluffy will never need to stay in a car that has been turned off.
Bring your medical records
It's a nightmare most pet owners share, but medical emergencies do happen, whether you're on vacation or not. In the event that something goes awry, it's always a good idea to have not only a travel first aid kit on hand, but your pet's medical records as well. These might come in useful if you need to make an emergency clinic pit stop.
Things like rabies vaccination records are always useful when travelling across state lines.
Try ice cubes
It is important that your pet stay hydrated 24/7... being on the road doesn't change that. Unfortunately, some pets get car sick, so having a cooler with ice cubes to munch on is a good way to settle nausea and stay hydrated.
Prepare, prepare, prepare
If your pet has never been on a long car ride before, starting them out with a cross-country trip is not a great idea. Start bringing your pet on short car rides around the block in the weeks leading up to the big trip and gradually increase your distance traveled so that the cross country ride doesn't come as such a shock.
Secure your crate or carrier
As tempting as it is to let your dog take the front seat, tongue flailing in the wind... it is always in your pet's best interest to safely secure them in a carrier or crate that has been tied down or attached to something stationary.
According to AAA, approximately 30,000 animals are injured each year by travelling without the proper accommodations.
Car not big enough to keep Fluffy or Fido safe? Check out something bigger from our long time partner, Subaru!
