05/26/2026
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫
Here are safety tips from Dr. Amy.
Summer will be here soon and there's a little bit of homework that needs to be done if you decide to travel with your pets.
1. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠(𝐬) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐭(𝐬) 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫. Just letting them run around in the back seat while you're driving is not a safe thing to do in the event of a sudden stop or an auto accident. Dogs and cats who are loose in the car can become flying projectiles. Also, when pets are left free, there is always a risk they could get out of the car, which can have catastrophic consequences.
2. 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞, and make sure that your pet is comfortable.
So, if you are planning to travel by car with your pets, short test runs are a great way to make sure they are all good.
3. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫. We like our patients to be traveling in car seatbelts. Small dogs and cats can travel in carriers, but those carriers should be appropriately attached in the car. So that again, in the event of a short stop, your pet doesn't go flying.
𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦...to the carrier/crate early: Set up the carrier or crate days, or even weeks, in advance and leave it open so your pet can get used to it.
𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Put a super high-value treat inside the carrier (like a churro for cats) and make that the only time they ever receive that treat. This helps them look forward to going inside.
𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
Once your pet is comfortable going in, start closing the crate/carrier while they are inside. Then, gradually work up to walking around with the carrier or pack so your pet can get used to the movement, bumping, and being carried before the actual travel day.
𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬:
Their favorite bed or blanket from home.
One or two favorite toys.
Familiar items help make the new destination feel as much like home as possible, helping them "declare" the new space as theirs.
𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬:
Their regular food and water bowls from home.
Extra water and collapsible bowls for use during the trip and stops.
𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠:
Grooming supplies, especially a brush.
If going to the country or to a place where your pet will be outdoors, be prepared for rigorous daily brushing to check for and remove ectoparasites such as fleas and ticks.
𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓, ensure your pet is on prevention for fleas and ticks, especially if they normally live indoors or in a major city and are now going on an outdoor trip.
