Road-tripping with Your Furry Friends

No one wants to leave the pets behind when heading out on family vacations. Kennels can get expensive, and asking a friend to pet-sit always seems like an inconvenience. Solution? Bring your pets along for the ride! But not before reading these tips for safe (and clean!) animal travel.

• Food: Try not to feed your pet too much food (or any kind of new food) before getting in the car, as many pets become carsick. Once you've stopped traveling for the day resume feeding normally. 

• Space: Give your furry friend plenty of space to stretch or layout in the car. Cramping them into a tight space will make animals nervous and more inclined to behave poorly or become carsick.

• Grooming: Put a few towels or sheets down in your pet-designated car space to prevent fur from sticking to the seats. It's also a good idea to groom your pet before traveling to cut down on the overall volume of fur.

• Rest Stops: Make regular stops every two hours for a puppy and every 3-4 hours for a cat or adult dog. Take them for a leashed walk around a rest area, and let them drink some water before hopping back in the car.

• Contact Information: Be sure to have your cell phone number present on your pet's collar somewhere, whether it be on a tag or written directly on the collar. It's also a good idea to talk with your veterinarian about injecting your pet with a tiny microchip ID that can help track them down if ever they're lost.

• Remember: Do not leave your pet alone in a parked car without cracking the windows. And even if the windows are cracked, do not leave your pet in the car for an extended period of time.