It’s summertime and it seems like everyone is hitting the road despite the rising gas prices. For the last two weeks, I’ve run articles about how to prepare your car and your families for long drives in the summer heat. Here is the post about how to prep your car for a long drive, and this post is about setting up an emergency first aid kit to take with you. But today I want to discuss traveling with pets. While this post will focus on dogs, the rules apply for other animals as well.
While this isn’t a complete list of things to think about, it’s a good start to building a plan that keeps everyone safe as you travel around the country this summer. Wherever you go, I hope you have a safe and fun trip! After the stress of the last few years, we all deserve a vacation. Including our favorite pets! None of the links below are part of an affiliate program. They are just there for your information and convenience.
Tips For Traveling With Pets This Summer
Check the local laws.
Here is a link to the CDC’s list of individual state rules regarding driving with pets, including transportation requirements (like using crates, etc), truck bed restrictions, and vaccination requirements. Some states even have rules about traveling with pets if you have weapons in the car. If you have more questions about what is allowed, here is a list of every state’s state veterinarians office where you can get all of your questions answered.
Make sure the car is prepped for the trip.
Here is an article with a check-list to make sure your car is ready for a long drive in the summer heat. Last summer our AC died on an 8-hour drive on one of the hottest days of the year. It was a nightmare none of us want to repeat!
Start your drive early in the day.
I also follow this advice anytime I travel by airplane. The earlier you can get on the road (or in the air) the cooler it is and the more daytime you have to sort out any emergencies you encounter. It’s much easier to get a tire fixed at nine a.m. than eleven p.m. It’s also easier to walk dogs in the cooler mornings than the hot afternoons.
Freeze water bottles.
A few days before we leave, I freeze water bottles that are about 3/4 full. I do this for all the water that the animals and passengers will drink. Bring a few unfrozen bottles for the beginning of the trip and store the other frozen bottles in a cooler. They will slowly melt during the trip and you’ll always have some cold water to cool down any overheated animals or passengers.
Pack double the water you think you’ll need for pets and people.
During the hottest days of the year, it’s so important to stay hydrated and people don’t may not realize how quickly everyone in the car can dehydrate. I keep a small bowl with about a 1/2 cup of water in the car so the dogs can drink when they need to. But I also travel with these pop-up bowls so they can drink more at every rest stop.
Try and make most of your stops earlier in the day.
Even if you stop at a grassy rest stop, the parking lot and pavement only gets hotter and hotter as the day goes on. On really hot days, we carry the dogs to the grassy areas so their paws don’t burn on the pavement. This is another reason to get up early and get as much of the drive done during the cooler morning hours. I also keep a few towels in the car so the pets and young children who’ve kicked off their shoes can stand on pavement/parking lots. Especially if we’ve made a stop at a lake or pool to go swimming.
NEVER leave pets or children in a hot car alone.
We’ve all heard tragic stories of people leaving animals and children in a car while they run a quick errand. Unfortunately, if the car is turned off, the inside temperature of a car heats up more quickly than you realize. If you have to use the bathroom, try to stop at a Petco or PetSmart store where you can bring the animals and children inside to stay cool.
Consider not traveling alone with pets.
This is a tricky one because we have to do what we have to do and we can’t always take someone with us. But if you can–even if you offer to drive a kid back to college–you’ll have more flexibility about stopping for food and restrooms. And the extra help will be appreciated if your pets end up with heat stroke.
Watch for signs of heatstroke.
This goes for both people and pets. But specifically for dogs, the signs of heatstroke include lethargy or disorientation, elevated breathing, dry or sticky gums, abnormal gum color, bruising in the gums, and seizures. You may want to consider doggie cooling vests or collars or car mats to help keep their internal temperature normal.
Plan your trip with a list of nearby veterinary clinics.
Veterinary emergencies is another reason to travel earlier in the day. But one thing I always do is when I’m planning my trip is to use google maps to locate all of the emergency vet clinics along my route, hopefully within 15 miles of the interstate. You just never know when you’ll need an emergency vet from heat stroke to wasp bites received on your last rest stop.
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