Tips for Long Car Journeys with Your Pet: Guiding advice for pet-friendly road trips
As the holiday season approaches, many pet owners are gearing up for travel with their beloved companions. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), an astonishing 87% of dog owners will hit the road with their pets this holiday season, and 74% of them will take to the skies, a significant increase from 68% in 2023.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable journey for both pets and owners, it's crucial to consider a variety of factors. Companies like BarkBox offer different options for toys and treats to keep pets entertained during long car rides. For those travelling by air, it's important to contact the airline to ensure pet care during the flight.
Safety is paramount when it comes to pet travel. Multiple companies offer products to help ease concerns about pet safety, such as pet tracking collars and tags. TryFi, for instance, offers pet tracking collars that connect to a smartphone app, providing real-time location and health data for a subscription fee. PetHub offers peace of mind with tags for pet collars, also requiring a subscription fee.
Preparation is key to making roadside stops easier. Hydration packs, grooming wipes, and calming chews are essential items to pack. For pets, it's important to stop every two to three hours to allow them to stretch, hydrate, and decompress. Bedding, collapsible bowls, and comfort toys can help ease anxiety in new spaces for pets.
In cold weather climates, short-haired dogs may need light sweaters or jackets for fall trips. For those who prefer a more immersive travel experience, veterinarians often recommend using harnesses that hold cameras to capture a trip from a pet's perspective, such as the Insta360 harness.
Before embarking on a long journey, it's crucial to ensure pets are microchipped and their information is updated online to facilitate recovery if the pet escapes during a trip. Pet owners should also make sure their pets are healthy by taking them to the vet for seasonal check-ups, current vaccinations, and stocking up on flea, tick, and Heartworm prevention medication.
Some pet owners are turning to peer-to-peer car-sharing platforms like Turo for travel, offering larger vehicles for crates, luggage, and holiday gifts. BarkBox, known for its monthly toys, also offers a variety of subscription levels to cater to different needs.
As the ecosystem of pet-focused products and services continues to grow, pet owners are encouraged to be aware of the options available to make holiday travel with their pets as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
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