If you, like me, have a family pet or pets that enjoy traveling as much as the rest of the family, read on and I will provide you with five tips for making your car more pet friendly. My two Yorkies, Caesar and Napoleon, travel with us often. Many times it is just a quick trip to the local park, but occasionally we have travelled together for several hours. Heck my two canine adventurers have even flown overseas on more than one occasion. Here are my five tips for making your vehicle pet friendly.
Make Your Vehicle More Pet Friendly Tip #1 – Use an Animal Safety Seat
Your pet stands the same chance of being injured during an automobile crash as the rest of the family. Keeping your pet secure while traveling is important and an animal safety seat is one way to ensure that your family pet is safe while you are driving. The “Outward Hound Car Booster Seat” is a good choice in animal safety seats for those with smaller dogs. This collapsible animal safety seat attaches to the safety belts in the back seat of your automobile and allows your pet to still see out the side windows. This animal safety seat is a good way to make your car more pet friendly. Pet Smart sells this and other animal safety seats online.
Make Your Vehicle Pet Friendly Tip #2 – Use Animal Crate when Travelling
Keeping your dog or cat inside their crate while driving, is another way to ensure their safety while they are in your vehicle. The crate also provides a secure environment for your pet that many times makes them feel safe. This is especially true for those animals that get nervous while traveling. Crates work great for transporting cats and rabbits as well as dogs.
Make Your Vehicle Pet Friendly Tip #3 – Put a Blanket Down on Your Car Seat
I highly recommend putting your pet either in an animal safety seat or in a crate when you are travelling, even if it is only for a short distance. If you hate the idea of confining your pet while you travel, you should definitely put a blanket or large towel down to protect your car seat and to provide for a more comfortable seat for your pet. Putting a blanket down adds a touch of comfort for your pet and is another way of making your car more pet friendly.
Make Your Vehicle Pet Friendly Tip #4 – Bring a Water Dish & a Leash
If you plan to travel for several hours you will want to stop frequently in order to allow your pet the opportunity to drink water and to relieve himself. Keep a water dish and a spare leash in the car is another way to make your car more pet friendly.
Make Your Vehicle Pet Friendly Tip #5 – Medicate a Nervous Canine Traveler
Some dogs and cats just don’t like to travel and may even get car sick. There are medications available that make travelling easier for nervous pets. If your pet is a nervous traveler check with your veterinarian about the type and dosage of medication to administer before travelling.
These are some tips for making your car more pet friendly that I have picked up as a dog owner who loves to travel. Hopefully you will find these tips helpful.
Sources:
www.petsmart.com
