Common Pet Travel Mistakes That Lead to Emergencies
Taking your pet traveling with you is an amazing experience to have. And you can really open up their world, expose them to new environments and opportunities, and really give them a chance to lean into life alongside you.
However, traveling with pets isn’t something that should be done on a whim, nor is it something you should underestimate. Because while you can manage behaviors and risks at home, on the road in new places, you won’t always have the same level of control or access to the things you need to improve living standards, safety, or behavior. Because for some dogs even the slightest change in their usual routine can be extremely disorienting, leading to them acting out of character.
If traveling with your cat or dog is on the agenda for you, here are a few mistakes to avoid.
Leaving Pets in Hot Cars
Despite all the warnings and all the news reports of pets dying in hot cars, people still do this and think “it’ll be fine, it’s just for a minute.” But the thing is, cars even with windows cracked can reach dangerous temperatures really fast. People underestimate just how rapid this escalation really is. Even with the windows open, even on mild days it happens.
Heatstroke occurs in minutes and your dog can go from fit and healthy to dying in the blink of an eye when left in a hot car. Small animals, senior pets and short-haired breeds are especially susceptible. If you cannot take your pet into a place when on your travels, don’t do it.
Letting them Roam Freely
Sure, your dog might have amazing recall, but if your dog is in unfamiliar territory with new smell and new distractions it might not be as reinforced as you as you thought it was and they are at risk of not only ignoring your commands but getting lost so that they can’t find their way back to you. Plus you don’t know of any hidden dangers in unfamiliar places either.
Invest in a long line training lead so your dog can still have the freedom they need but still have control of them so you can keep them safe and ensure they don’t get lost.
Not Knowing Where to Get Medical Care
You should know when the best local vets are in each area to travel to as well as emergency vets for those times outside of office hours. The wish is to never have to use them but doing your research beforehand means you’ll know your approximate location to vet help at any time so you can get where you need to be without wasting time.
Some areas might even have mobile vet services like Veteris who can come to you. But being prepared at each stop point with the right details is just sensible.
Expecting Pets to be Resilient
Some pets are. Some cats and dogs are chill and go with the flow; nothing much phases them. But not all of them. Many people underestimate just how impactful a change in routine and scenery can be on their pets when they take them traveling, and this can ruin the trip.
You should never expect dogs to push through a long driving period without toilet breaks or stops for them to run around and burn off some energy. You should never expect them to keep to their usual eating and sleeping routines. They get overwhelmed, overstimulated, and are just as susceptible to anxiety and stress as humans are. So take the time to appreciate this, pay attention to changes in their usual behavior, and adapt what you’re doing to make life wise for them, not you.
