Tips for Improving Car Travel with Animals

For many companion animal caregivers, traveling by car with animals is a valued and enjoyable experience. However, health and safety risks for people and animals can result. For instance, distracted driving, collisions, and injuries can occur, and animals can become separated from their caregivers. Consider these tips to help plan ahead and improve well-being when driving with animals:

• Ask your veterinarian if your animal is a good candidate for car travel and for recommendations for keeping your animal safe and calm, including an appropriate crash-tested travel safety restraint.

• Ensure that your animal has current identification tags and registered microchip information.

• Pack your vehicle to ensure you have quick access to your animal’s food, water, travel bowls, an emergency medical kit, veterinary and microchip records, medications and litterbox (if applicable), local veterinary hospital information, and a recent photo of your animal.

• Plan appropriately for inclement weather, take frequent breaks, and select rest stops in advance at locations where you can safely park to care for your animal.

• Never leave an animal in a vehicle.

• If you are the only person traveling with your animal, call ahead to pet-friendly hotels to ask if you and your animal may enter the building to use a restroom and purchase snacks.

For more planning tips, please contact us below.