Your pet is probably an important part of your family that often joins you on road trips. But unlike your family, your pet can shed, claw or even leave a nasty mess on the upholstery. Traveling with them is full of challenges, but that's no reason to leave them at home. With some proper planning and the right accessories, your road-trips with pets can easily be enjoyable.
I spoke to Rod Jouppi, a veterinarian and owner of Walden Animal Clinic, about some of the challenges and pointers relating to driving with animals. He mentions the importance of getting your pet comfortable with car-rides from a young age.
Start them Young
"You can start bringing them for car rides when they're still young, and positively reinforce the experience with a treat" he says. "This way, as they grow and mature, they'll already be used to riding in a car."
Having a comfort level while traveling is important for a dog or cat- as it ensures they don't become nervous or agitated. Dogs tend to become fidgety when they're uncomfortable- so seasoning Fido to enjoy the ride is vital.
Buckle Up!
It's also important to get the family dog a seatbelt- for his sake and yours. There are animal seatbelts available in a variety of sizes which fit onto the pet, then latch to the car's existing seatbelt system.
"It keeps the animal from moving around- which protects the driver from possible distraction and keeps the pet safer in the case of a collision" Jouppi adds.
Cats and smaller dogs aren't well suited to seatbelts, but can be kept confined in a kennel (plastic cage) which is then strapped into the vehicle.
Ride Inside
It's never a good idea to put a dog in the back of a pickup truck for a drive. Every week, the Walden Animal Clinic sees dogs that come in with injuries from falling out of the back of a vehicle.
Certain harnesses or other options are available if your pet must travel in a truck box, though letting them ride along freely in back is a terrible idea. It's also inconsiderate to following motorists who may hit your pet if he's ejected. That's' not something anyone wants to experience- especially a fellow pet-owner.
Sorry, no sniffing!
When your pet sticks his head into the air rushing past the vehicle, problems can result. Whether it's out the back of a truck box or out of your sedan, dogs love to smell- and 90 km/h worth of air rushing into their nose amounts to sensory overload. Trouble is, the air isn't always free of objects like dirt, insects or dust- and your pet may wind up with a bug or small rock lodged into their eye. This can be a painful and expensive experience.
You wouldn't let your kids stick their heads out a window at any sort of speed, and the same caution should be exercised with the animal- for safety's sake.
 |
| Dr. Jouppi and one of his patients at WAH. |
Start them Young
"You can start bringing them for car rides when they're still young, and positively reinforce the experience with a treat" he says. "This way, as they grow and mature, they'll already be used to riding in a car."
Having a comfort level while traveling is important for a dog or cat- as it ensures they don't become nervous or agitated. Dogs tend to become fidgety when they're uncomfortable- so seasoning Fido to enjoy the ride is vital.
Buckle Up!
It's also important to get the family dog a seatbelt- for his sake and yours. There are animal seatbelts available in a variety of sizes which fit onto the pet, then latch to the car's existing seatbelt system.
"It keeps the animal from moving around- which protects the driver from possible distraction and keeps the pet safer in the case of a collision" Jouppi adds.
Cats and smaller dogs aren't well suited to seatbelts, but can be kept confined in a kennel (plastic cage) which is then strapped into the vehicle.
Ride Inside
It's never a good idea to put a dog in the back of a pickup truck for a drive. Every week, the Walden Animal Clinic sees dogs that come in with injuries from falling out of the back of a vehicle.
Certain harnesses or other options are available if your pet must travel in a truck box, though letting them ride along freely in back is a terrible idea. It's also inconsiderate to following motorists who may hit your pet if he's ejected. That's' not something anyone wants to experience- especially a fellow pet-owner.
Sorry, no sniffing!
When your pet sticks his head into the air rushing past the vehicle, problems can result. Whether it's out the back of a truck box or out of your sedan, dogs love to smell- and 90 km/h worth of air rushing into their nose amounts to sensory overload. Trouble is, the air isn't always free of objects like dirt, insects or dust- and your pet may wind up with a bug or small rock lodged into their eye. This can be a painful and expensive experience.
You wouldn't let your kids stick their heads out a window at any sort of speed, and the same caution should be exercised with the animal- for safety's sake.