When you head up to the cabin or over to grandma and grandpa’s, it is hard to leave your canine companion at home; so why not bring them along? You may think this will add stress to the trip, but bringing your dog along can be simple with these simple steps:
- Do not let your dog ride unsecured in the front passenger seat. The safest place is in a crate in the very back of the vehicle, or in the back seat with a dog seat belt.
- Do not let your dog stick his or her head out the window. They could get hit with debris or even jump if they see something tempting to chase.
- Do not feed your dog right before the trip; they could get travel sickness. Speak with your vet about anti-nausea medicine.
- Do not leave your dog alone in the car. Your vehicle heats up a lot, especially in summer.
- Keep the dog away from antifreeze and other vehicle-related chemicals.
- Be observant of the animal’s behavior. Unsteadiness, vomiting and heavy panting may be a sign of heatstroke.
- Have a first aid kit and your pet’s health records on hand in case of emergency.
- Need to stop overnight somewhere? You can find a list of hotels and other lodging that accepts pets at www.petswelcome.com.
Courtesy of Car Talk
