Road Trips and Car Travel With Your Dog

We are taking a 2-day road trip to visit relatives. They have invited us to bring our dog, as they are dog lovers, too, and we will be staying in our own bedroom suite within their home. Can dogs make a road trip?

a cute dog sticking its head out the car windowFor the most part, dogs care most that they are with their humans, and "place" is not as important. This makes dogs very lively travel companions if we take the time to create a positive experience for them. We do need to think through several important logistical issues in order to make travel as smooth and easy for them (and for us) as possible.

A successful road trip with a dog begins long before the day of travel. The best time to teach a dog to travel easily is when he is still a puppy. however, even for an adult dog, the sequence of learning to travel is essentially the same. 

If you have a small dog, teach him/her that the carrier is a great everyday place to hang out. Have the carrier open and available at all times in order to make it as unintimidating as possible. Feeding your dog in the carrier can create a positive association. Practice entry and exit from the carrier to make it as routine aprocess as possible—this will be important during travel. It is important that dogs be appropriately restrained inside the vehicle. 

It is important that dogs be appropriately restrained inside the vehicle. 

For larger dogs, there are several well-designed "doggy seatbelts" for restraint in the back seat. Alternately, you may want to consider either a crate or cage set up and secured on the back seat or in the rear compartment of a van or SUV.

Regardless of the strategy, it is important for your dog to be appropriately restrained during travel. It is safer for him/her and safer for you!

If you travel with open windows, be sure the opening is too small for your dog's head to fit through. It is easy for a dog to be injured by a flying insect or a piece of gravel if his head is hanging out the window. Be sure to set the child lock on power windows so that your dog cannot accidentally open or close a window on his own by stepping on the button. 

For a 2-day drive, confirm that your dog is welcome at the hotel/motel you have chosen for the night. It is not worth "sneaking" him/her in!

Are there details I should consider when packing?

Gather together your dog's medical documents—vaccination certificates, recent lab-work, his/her rabies vaccination tag—as well as any medicines (s)he takes. Take along his/her regular food. You may want to package up meals in individual sandwich bags for ease of feeding. His/her own food and water dishes will contribute to his comfort if they are unbreakable. Also, take along some water from home. Sometimes water in different parts of the country has a different mineral content and may contribute to stomach upset or loose stool. 

Be sure to have your dog wear identification during travel.

Be sure to have your dog wear identification during travel, and please consider a microchip for permanent ID if he/she doesn't already have one. His/her collar should be snug enough not to slip over his/her head. Be sure to attach the leash to his/her collar before opening the door of the vehicle any time you stop. Also, consider making a temporary ID tag with the address and phone number of the folks at your final destination—just in case.

What else will help my dog be comfortable on this trip?

On the day of travel, withhold breakfast from your dog. Travelling on an empty stomach minimizes the risk of nausea and vomiting. Feed a small meal when you arrive at your evening destination. Offer water at any rest stops you make during driving. Be sure to have small bags available for picking up after your dog as needed. Carry a couple of zip-lock bags, some paper towels, and a few latex or plastic gloves for any necessary cleanup and containment of a stool or urine accident in the vehicle. 

Never, ever leave your dog alone in the car. The interior temperature can rise to a dangerous level within a very short time, causing heat stroke. It is simply not a risk worth taking.

What do I do if my dog gets car sick?

Your veterinarian can prescribe a very effective medication to prevent the nausea and vomiting associated with car sickness if needed. It is best given ahead of travel, and it can be used several days in a row if needed.

Should I ask my veterinarian for dog sedative for travel?

Most of the time, dogs travel quite well with no need for any medication. Some dogs, on the other hand, do experience stress when travelling. Consult your veterinarian to create the best travel plan for your dog if she/he doesn't travel well. Strategies to de-stress dog road trips include:

  • A Thundershirt® which swaddles the dogs much like swaddling an infant and can reduce anxiety
  • A pheromone calming collar to contribute to lowering anxiety
  • Medication prescribed by your veterinarian. Be sure to provde a dose at home as a "dry run" ahead of your trip in order to know how your dog will react to the medication. 

With some advance planning, attention to detail, and consultation with your veterinarian, road-tripping with your dog can be as "smooth as silk!" 

This client information sheet is based on material written by: Robin Downing, DVM, CVPP, CCRP, DAAPM and Ernest Ward, DVM.

© Copyright 2014 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. 

 

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