Are Pets Comfortable On Long Car Journeys?

With many pet owners regularly taking their beloved dog or cat on car journeys, action is needed to make sure the journey is as comfortable as it can be to keep them amused and safe and help them avoid travel sickness. Some top tips to help.

Confused.com and charity Dogs Trust have teamed up to offer top tips on keeping canines safe and confortable in cars.

First off though there is keeping them amused on the long journey. According to the Confused.com research, popular artists that are liked by the animals include Adele, Madonna and Lady Gaga and while Radio 2 and 5 Live are popular, it’s Radio 1 that is top choice for in-car pet entertainment.

Of concern is that 12% of pet owning motorists say they let their dog stick his head out of the window on the journey but as Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust says: “Dogs might really enjoy the sensation of having their heads out of the window but it is dangerous for them so we would always advise keeping ears, paws and noses inside the vehicle while the car is moving.”

Top tips are:

• Make sure that your dog is safely restrained with a car harness, a travel crate or strong well fitting dog-guard.

• Make sure you know about quarantine requirements and the Pet Passport / Pet Travel Scheme if you’re travelling abroad.
  

• Provide fresh drinking water at all times and make plenty of stops on your journey for him to stretch his legs and relieve himself.

• Never leave a dog alone in a car, especially on a warm or hot day – a dog can die in a hot car within 20 minutes.

• Don’t feed your dog just before travelling to help avoid travel sickness. If you know your dog is prone to travel sickness get advice from your vet

• Find out if your car breakdown service will allow your dog to travel in the cab with you if you have a breakdown. It may not be safe for your dog to travel in your towed car.

• Don’t let your dog stick his head out of the window as passing vehicles could injure your pet, his eyes or ears could be damaged by particles in the air or he could try to jump out.

• As the inside of a car legally constitutes a public place it means anyone who is bitten when sticking his or her fingers through your car window could report you under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. If you have been ordered to keep your dog muzzled in public then you must muzzle him whilst he is in the car also.

• If you’re planning to take your dog with you on your holidays, see the Dogs Trust website for safety and welfare considerations.

MoneyHighStreet comments: “Whether it’s a car journey for just yourself or whether you have passengers, children or pets, time needs to be taken to prepare both yourself and your car. Pets in many ways are like children, you need to keep them amused, fed and watered on a long journey – of course carefully balancing the food and water intake with the need to keep stopping for toilet breaks!

“Take care to also make sure you have adequate breakdown cover and car insurance and for example check that your pet insurance cover includes taking you dog or cat abroad if that’s where you’re heading.”