I keep talking to people that are planning road trips this year to avoid air travel and many are taking their dogs along for the ride. As someone who takes his dog everywhere with him, I love this idea. One of my favorite sayings is “It’s what you do for your dog, but what you do with your dog”. Most of these folks are asking a lot of questions so I thought I’d share some of the advice I’ve been giving them.
-Mircrochip your dog: Even the calmest dog can get freaked out in new situations. Collars and tags fall off, but the microchip is there for life. The database used to store the chips number can hold many different contacts and is the best way to get your dog home if lost.
-Find pet friendly hotels: You won’t get the nicest room at the inn, but many hotels have pet-friendly spaces set aside. Some of the boutique chains actually specialize in this with dog bars in the lobby and pet beds in the rooms.
-Make sure vaccines are up to date and take the records: You may find yourself in a position of having to board your pet (or spring your pet from doggie jail after running off…) and you will need to show that vaccines are up to date. If you don’t normally board or groom your dog, your vet may not be giving the Kennel Cough (Bordetella) vaccine. So, make sure this is done before you hit the road.
-Motion sickness: Many dogs can get motion sickness on long trips. While some dogs respond well to Dramamine, some may need something more. There is a prescription medication called maropitant that works better in these cases. You may want to grab a box for the trip.
-Comfort and safety: there are currently no safety harness that are actually “safe”. While they will prevent your dog from flying around the car in an accident, they usually damage the spine in the process. Pet hammocks that sling across the back seats will at least minimize movement while also providing a comfortable place to sleep on the ride.
-Temperature: I always remind people in the summertime that dogs don’t sweat and must decrease body temperature by panting cooler air through their airways. If the outside temperature exceeds their own, they will die from heat stroke. Simply cracking a window is not enough. An automatic starter will allow you to run your car with the AC for about 30 minutes without having to leave a key in the car and open you up to theft.
-Anti-anxiety medication: Some people don’t discover that their dogs have certain phobias until they are in a new situation. Certain noises, smells, and locations can create stress that can make dogs bark, urinate, and generally freak out. In these cases, people may get booted from hotels or cut their trips short as a result. There are many fast-acting medications your vet can prescribe to have on-hand for these potential situations.