Car Travel With Your Pet

It's summer and you want to take a trip. Where does your pet fit in? In this article I will be writing about how to safely travel with a pet. I will be focusing on longer trips, and not just trips to a vet, or going home from a pet store.

There are many reasons that you would travel with your pet. Some of them are...

• You are unable to find a pet sitter 
• You think it's more fun to travel with your pet (usually a dog)
• You are traveling to get your pet from a far off place (usually a purebred puppy)
• You are moving away
• You are taking your pet to or from a show

Since pets very so much in requirements, I will talk about different animals separately.

• Dogs: Dogs must have a secure carrier. The dog should have chew toys, but shouldn't have food or water in the carrier. If  the trip is really long you should give water when you stop for a bathroom break. When you stop you can also walk your dog. Of course, you can't leave the dog in the car on a hot day. If you are eating during the trip, eat in the car or have a picnic. Dogs are prone to motion sickness in a car. As with people, feeding a little ginger to the dog before hand can be helpful. 
• Cats: Cats are notoriously haters of travel, but you can do it. Before the trip, train the cat to accept being in the carrier. If the trip is long, you should also train the cat to wear a leash and harness, for exercise. Again, don't give your cat food or water in the car. The cat should have a scratcher and some toys. Car sickness is also common in cats. You could try feeding them ginger also.
• Birds: When I was moving with Kiki, what I did was put cloth at the bottom of the carrier. If the bottom is smooth, your bird with slide around. Birds are very stressed by travel, so they will likely not want to play with toys. Millet can help calm them down. Birds can get car sick. There isn't really anything you can do about it.
• Rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, smaller reptiles: These small pets only need a tiny carrier. make sure that the carrier is really secure, as a small critter lost in a car can be hard to find. As with birds, use a piece of cloth in a wire cage. You can use normal bedding in a solid sided carrier. Again, don't leave your pet in a hot car. When I was bringing Yertle and Myrtle from Wisconsin to Missouri on a warm May day, we put the tiny turtles in a tiny plastic container under our car when we stopped for lunch and shopping. It worked, obviously. If you go by this method, be sure to remember that your pet is under the car! These animals do not get car sick.
• Guinea pigs, rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets, and other medium sized critters: As previously stated don't use bedding other than cloth in a wire cage. This pets, especially chinchillas, can not tolerate high temperatures in a car. If the cage is small enough, you can put them under the car if necessary. During stops you can let the pet out on a leash, if possible.  

 Pets, with the notable exception of dogs, tend to dislike car trips, but if you must, you can take them.

   Also, consider hotel stays. Some hotels, like Motel 6's will let you bring in dogs, but in some places you must meet with requirements (the dog must be under 50 pound, kept in a crate, ect). I have heard a story of a "pet friendly" hotel that would only except dogs- no cats. Research beforehand!
 
  A "no pets" hotel will often except small animal if they are kept contained. If necessary, try the "under the car" method with small pets.