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Road trip planningis tedious enough with all the work of mapping routes, packing, and booking lodging.
Marina Esmeraldo
But traveling with pets adds another layer of stress.
In fact, it can make you feel like, well, you need a vacation from your vacation.
And when that time comes, you might consider bringing a pet.
First, youll want to decide whether your pet can realistically make the trip.
Older, sick, or overly anxious animals may not be up for the journey.
And sometimes, pets just dont like traveling, period.
If they are, here are a few tips to help check that you dont have a hair-raising experience.
Keep pets safe and secure in the car.
Cats and small dogs should be in a carrier, according to theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA).
Its really best not to travel with your pet in the bed of your truck unless absolutely necessary.
And if you do, be sure that the kennel is tightly secured to your car.)
Your poor dog or cat can get sick if debris flies into their eyes, ears, or nose.
It can get 19 degrees hotter in your parked car after just 10 minutes, according to theAVMA.
And, surprisingly, cracking the windows doesnt help avoid that.
Practice traveling with your pet ahead of time.
Research your accommodations pet policies.
Review the details of your hotel or Airbnbs pet policy before booking your accommodations.
Knowing that your friends stayed in a given hotel with their affenpinscher is not enough, Baumgart tells SELF.
She recommends doing your own research about a propertys pet restrictions, such as breed or weight policies.
Your best bet is to call the receptionist for the most up-to-date information.
Pack a pet-specific supply kit.
you’re free to discard used ones when you stop for driving breaks.
This one from Bartun easily fits on dog and cat collars (Amazon, $90).
Expend some of your pets energy before the trip.
Give your animal an opportunity tobreak a sweatbefore you load them into your car for the drive.
Look into calming pet products or even anti-anxiety medication.
For example, your dog or cat could get very sick from ingesting or being exposed to essential oils.
If you have a canine, dog-appeasing pheromone scents may help soothe your pet, Sueda says.
Assign pet and kid duties to each adult if at all possible.
Of course, there won’t always be more than one adult on the trip.
In that case,thorough planningcan help minimize some of the stress.
Adjust their feeding schedules if necessary.
In that case, you would feed your pet when you arrive at your destination.
However, each animal has specific needs, so its best to ask your vet for advice.
(And dont forget to pick up after your dog when they go to the bathroom.
This is a good time to switch out the potty pads in your cats carrier too.)
This article is presented by Volvo.
