Pet Health Tips For That Fun Family Road Trip

Pets are part of the family, so why not include them in your family road trip? Having a pet along for your road trip can add another dimension and diversion in your grand plan of an adventure. However, just like people, pets have some health issues that should be addressed before hopping into the car and heading for the open road.

If you have a few weeks or months before your road trip, you have plenty of time to prepare your pet for travel. Start acquainting your pet with your car by taking it for short rides in the neighborhood first. Because many pets associate the car with getting poked and prodded at the vet's office, these multiple car trips where nothing bad happens will help break that association

If you have a pet that is going along for the family road trip, be sure to keep the cat in a pet carrier for security. Cats love to roam and you don't want them to get in a dangerous position, like under the brake pedal or on the dash board in front of your face! With dogs, you can either keep them in a pet carrier or purchase a special harness which latches onto your seat belt for safety. If the truck bed is the only place to put your dog, then a pet carrier is a must and should be tied down to prevent slippage.

The pet harness will keep your dog from sliding around your car. There is some maneuverability and your dog won't hurt itself in case you have to slam on the brakes suddenly. Keep a leash handy as well so that you can allow for road trip breaks and take your dog or cat for a walk to stretches its legs and relieve itself. Just like with humans, pets can develop urinary tract infections if they have to hold in their urine.

Unless you want a sick pet in your car, do not feed it while moving. Wait to feed your dog or cat when you stop for a break. Dry food is optimal as it travels well and you don't have to worry about it spoiling. You should also carry some jugs of water and a bowl in case your pet gets thirsty. If possible, wait for at least thirty minutes after your pet has eaten. This will give them less chance to throw something up due to carsickness.

While dogs may love to ride with their head out the window, do not let them. Going at fast speeds means that bugs, dirt and other debris can hurt when they hit. And if a dog has its mouth and eyes open, it can potentially choke on something or receive an eye injury. If you anticipate carsickness, ask your vet for advice about car sickness remedies for pets. Also, pack a medical kit with the basic supplies just in case your pet hurts itself in route.

Before heading out on the open road with your family and pet make sure that your dog or cat is wearing a collar with the proper identification and contact number. In anticipation of your pet being lost while on your road trip, you might also want to consider a pet microchip. This helps vets track down the owners in a timely manner.

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