The summer is just around the corner and it’s time to go on a roadtrip. It’s all about having fun on the road, but if you plan to bring along a four legged companion it’s important to be prepared. Traveling with pets is important to ensure comfort and safety, whether you are visiting National Parks with a dog or a family from out of state with a cat.
How to Prepare for a Road Trip With Your Dog or Cat
Make sure your dog or cat is healthy enough to travel
It is important to ensure that your pet has received all necessary vaccines and anti-parasite medications before you hit the road. Your pet is more likely to be exposed to parasites and infectious diseases in high-trafficked areas such as hotels and rest stops. It’s important to schedule an exam with your vet before you travel if your pet has not had one in a while. You don’t want an illness to surface when you are thousands of miles away from home.
Lost Pet Prevention
Don’t forget to update your pet’s microchip when updating their vaccines. Update the microchip with your contact information if they already have one. If your pet is found, a vet, animal shelter or animal welfare group must be able contact you.
You can get a microchip for your pet at the vet’s. It is important to have ID tags (which should be updated as well), but they can sometimes fall off or your pet might wiggle out of the collar. Microchips are a great way to identify your pet. Animal control, shelters and vet clinics scan all found pets to check for microchips.
Consider a Lifetime Membership with 24Petwatch for added protection. This membership gives you 24/7 access to specialists in lost pet recovery. 24Petwatch’s resources and network of local vet clinics and shelters can be used to launch an instant search in order to find your pet, wherever you may be located in North America.
Comfortable and safe car travel for pets
You’ll need to spend some time acclimatizing your pet to long car trips if they are not used to them. If they respond positively, increase the length of time gradually. Include comfort items such as beds, blankets and their favorite toys. Also, keep them safe with a seatbelt (or car-safe crate for dogs) or a cat-safe carrier.
Speak to your vet if you pet is experiencing travel anxiety, car sick, or excessive stress during car rides. Your veterinarian may prescribe a medication to relax them or relieve tummy problems. It’s more common for cats than dogs to experience car anxiety. It may be more beneficial to use a pet sitter, or board your pet at a boarding facility than force an anxious pet on a long trip. This is also better for the human passengers in your car — a dog or cat that’s vomiting for several hours can be a miserable experience for everyone.
The Road Trip Checklist with Rover
Are you ready to take your dog on a road trip? Be sure to have the essentials you need for a road trip with your dog.
Car Setup
Dog seatbelt or crash-tested dog crate
Travel bed (or comfy crate liner)
Leash, collars, harnesses, and ID tags
Splash-proof auto water bowl
Seat Cover
Comfort items for your dog, such as his favorite blanket
Pet wipes
Poop bags
Additional towels or blankets
Calming aids such as Adaptil
Enrichment toys
Packing List
Pack enough food, water and treats to last you the entire trip plus a few days extra in case there are delays.
Bring any medications that your pet takes (if you can, bring the bottle and label with the dosage).
Copies of the vaccination history, vet records and pet insurance information for your dog
Travel bowls to hold food and water
Pet Poison Control Number and Pet First Aid Kit
Extra leash
Dog Shampoo
Towels
Accidents? Use cleaning products to clean up.
You may need to bring any special gear for your destination, like a life jacket for the dog for boating or a sleeping bag for your dog for camping.
Dos and Don’ts for Dog Road Trips
Do – Secure your dog in the car.
Do not – let your dog hang from the window. This is especially true on highways.
Do – Plan out rest stops that are dog-friendly and make sure to take frequent breaks.
Do not – Allow your dog to run off leash in rest stops. Heavy traffic, toxic chemicals and litter are all present.
Do – Always stay with your dog (or alternate with other passengers).
Do not – leave your dog in the car unattended, especially during warm weather.
The Road Trip Checklist: Wandering with Whiskers
Are you ready to take your cat on a road trip? Be sure to have the necessary items for a road trip with your cat.
Setup for Car
Cat carrier (preferably a crash tested cat carrier)
Travel bed (or comfortable liner for the carrier).
Collar and ID tags
Splash-proof auto water bowl
Under the cat carrier, seat cover or towels are useful.
Travel litter box
Comfort items like your cat’s favorite blanket
Pet wipes
Poop bags for scooping up litter
Additional towels or blankets
Feliway is a calmer.
Enrichment toys
Packing List
Pack food, water, treats and litter. (Pack enough for the trip plus a few days extra in case you are delayed)
Bring any medications that your pet takes (if you can, bring the bottle and label with the dosage).
Copy of your cat’s vaccination history, veterinary records and pet insurance information
Travel bowls to hold food and water
Pet Poison Control Number and Pet First Aid Kit
Cat Shampoo
Towels
Accidents? Use cleaning products to clean up.
Feline-Friendly Extras
It can be different to travel long distances with a cat than with a pet dog. It’s often difficult to give them time to explore and stretch their legs unless they are already leash-trained. Bring your cat’s harness and leash if it is used to them. It could be useful if you don’t have the time to try it out before your trip. But, do not force a cat who isn’t interested. Some cats prefer to hide in their car.
Some cat parents choose a bigger crate for longer trips. This allows them to transport all of their cat’s belongings and gives the cat more room to move. In hotel rooms it’s handy, but make sure they have a place to hide or cover the crate in a towel. Plan for the extra items your cat might need to feel comfortable.
Dos and Don’ts for Cat Road Trip
Do – Secure your cat in a carrier.
Do not let your cat run around in the car when you are driving.
Do – Take breaks to give your cat quiet time (hopefully), so that they can use their litterbox.
Do not – forget to clean the litter box at regular intervals.
Do – Always stay with your cat (or alternate with the other passengers).
Do not – leave your cat in the car unattended, especially during warm weather.
Plan a Pet Friendly Route
It can be difficult to plan a road trip with your pet, but it is well worth the effort. You can plan your pet-friendly stops using apps such as Bring Fido. These include hotels, restaurants and even veterinary hospitals for emergency situations.
You should also try to stick to your pet’s routine of walking and feeding as much as you can, but never feed them while driving. Plan your mealtimes to coincide with rest breaks, so that they can digest before you hit the road.
Lastly, don’t let your pet get overexerted. The excitement of the car combined with the new activities and places can be exhausting for pets, especially older ones. As tempting as it might be, refrain from feeding your pet fast food. Even though fast food stops are a common part of road trips, even a few French Fries can upset a dog’s stomach and cause a mess in the back seat.
Pet-Friendly Road Trips: The Final Stretch
It’s now easier than ever for you to go on a roadtrip with your pet. With a growing list of pet-friendly accommodations and various car accessories that keep your pet comfortable and safe, it is possible to do so. You only need to make sure your pet is prepared for the trip.
A Lifetime Protection Membership with 24Petwatch will take the worry out of traveling. You will have access to telehealth services from vets, discounts for dog walking and pet-sitting services, and 24/7 lost pet recovery specialists in the event of an unthinkable incident. 24Petwatch reunited more than 730,000 lost animals and will be there to help you too!
