So you want to take Fido and Fluffy on a road trip this summer but are
worried about the barky, meowy, barfy consequences. Well fear not as
these tips are sure to make your vacation a much more enjoyable experience
for you and your furry friend. The most important thing to consider is,
does your pet actually enjoy traveling in the car? Between my three animals
I have two that absolutely love it and one that hates it. If the stress
for your pet is going to be bigger than the enjoyment on the trip, it
may be better to find a good kennel or house sitter for your pet. If
that isn’t an option there are a few things that can really help
a fearful animal. Why is my pet so scared to ride in the car? Well one
big stress for animals is going to the vet or the groomer. Your pet may
equate the car as the ticket to the scariest show in town. If that’s
the case, taking your animal for short car rides around the block or
around town can be helpful. Give them a treat when they get in the car
and again when you get back home. Offer a lot of praise for a job well
done. If you have a couple of weeks before you leave, try this every
day. It is also very important to always have a leash or a carrier in
your car. I have heard many sad stories of people that have lost their
pet because they jumped out of a window or bolted the second a car door
opened. This is an avoidable tragedy. I also have talked to people that
have had fearful cats scratch and claw them while they are trying to
drive, or even run under the brake or gas pedal. These things can happen
so quickly that it could cause an accident so please keep that in mind
before turning them loose in your car. One other useful tool for a stressed
animal is the use of herbal remedies to help calm them. Bach Flower makes
a wonderful product called Calming Essence. It comes in a liquid form,
and you can give a dose of 3 to 5 drops on the tongue. If you give the
dose about an hour and then 15 minutes before you leave, it can help
during the early stages of your drive. If you have extreme behavior you
can give a dose every 15 minutes. I have seen this help for animals that
vomit or even foam at the mouth when they are in the car. In a worst
case scenario you can get a prescription of tranquilizers from your veterinarian,
although we recommend this only as a last option, as it would probably
be better to find other arrangements for your pet rather than take them
along.Ok, so now it is trip time. How should I feed my pet? Keeping in
mind the lack of exercise they’ll get in the car, I think it’s
best to have your animal travel on a smaller amount of pet food while
on the road. I actually fast my animals 24 to 32 hours before my departure,
in that I don’t think there's anything worse than the odor of an
accident in the car. Having empty bellies before travel can minimize
the stinky consequences. If you are traveling for more than one day you
can offer 1/2 size meals or bring some all natural
dog treats to get
them through the day. If you feed and water them at bathroom stops you
can get your pet on an
easy-to-do,
mess-free
schedule.
If you
are
traveling with Sojos raw dog food you can find
dehydrated meats at many outdoor outfitters and sporting goods stores,
or Wysong makes
a
very good canned meat that can make your travel much simpler. Last but
not least, always remember to bring your pet’s collar and tags so
that if they do get lost someone will be able to reach you. And have
a great trip!!
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Sojourner Farms. All rights reserved.
