Car Rides: Safety Tips for Your Pet

Car Rides: Safety Tips for Your Pet

Whether your pet will be taking a short trip to the animal hospital for a wellness appointment or an extended journey on vacation with the family, you should make sure your cat or dog is as well-protected in the vehicle as his or her human family members. The following tips from our veterinarians at New Hope Animal Hospital will help you keep your furriest family member safe during car trips.

Car Ride Safety Tips from Our Veterinarians

• Keep pets out of the wind. This is not so much a safety concern for cats, as it is for dogs who love the feeling of the wind blowing through their fur. When pets hang their heads out of windows to feel the breeze, they put themselves at risk of colliding with an object on the side of the street or flying through the air. In addition, dust, pollen, and bugs get into your pet's eyes and ears this way, and can lead to irritation or infection.
• Wear your seatbelts. We all know that it is unsafe to ride in a car without wearing a seatbelt, but cars do not provide built in restraints for pets. A pet should only ride in a car inside of a restrained pet carrier or with a restraint designed especially for pets which attaches to the seatbelts.
• Crates should be comfortable. Especially important on long journeys, your pet's crate should be the right size. This means the carrier provides enough space for your pet to sit, stand, lay down, and turn around comfortably.
• Be prepared. When traveling with a pet, always bring both necessary and emergency supplies for both of you. This includes enough water, a drinking bowl, food, a pet first aid kit, papers, and any medications your pet takes.
• Never leave your pet unattended in a vehicle. Whether the weather is cold, hot, or warm that day, it is unsafe to leave a pet alone in a car.

How do you prepare for short or extended car trips with your pets? Please share in the comments below.