If you’re planning a summer road trip with your dog and they’re on any type of medication, it’s important that you follow a few simple steps to ensure they stay safe and healthy on the journey. Here are some things we’ve learned from traveling with our pack of senior rescue dogs.
Start Off With Enough Dog Medications For The Trip
Before you head out on a road trip with your dog, determine how many days that you’ll be gone, then add in a week or two for safety to come up with the maximum days of medication your dog might need. Take a look at all the bottles and check the required dosing, count the pills you have on hand, and order more if necessary.
Note which medications require special handling, such as keeping them out of sunlight (most antibiotics) or if they need refrigeration. Order any necessary medications from your vet and let them know that you’ll be traveling, especially if they have you’ve set up for auto-refill or medications by mail.
A pet first aid kit is a good thing to include in the same container where you’ll keep your medications. A good pet first aid kit to take when traveling with your dog will include wound seal, medical tape and gauze, a thermometer to check for fever, along with eye wash, scissors and material to fill wounds. Orvis and Chewy offer good dog first aid kits.
Pet Car Sickness and Other Issues
Does your dog suffer from car sickness when traveling, as some of ours have? If so, there are medications that veterinarians can prescribe that can be given to help alleviate pet car sickness. Make sure you have a good supply of wet wipes, garbage bags and other cleaning supplies if your dog is prone to getting sick in the car. Cleaning barf out of vehicle upholstery is no fun, so also consider putting down some waterproof material or water resistant pet seat covers on the seat and floor before traveling.
Fleas, Ticks and Parasites, Oh My!
Fleas and ticks are always a constant problem for people traveling with their pets. Your own yard may be flea and tick free, but new areas like rest areas are great places for your dog to to pick up a few hitchhiking pests. (Let me tell you about the time that Zoe picked up dozens of ticks at a rest area in Colorado, in only about 10 minutes!)
Also, if you don’t treat for heartworm at home, and are traveling to an area where heartworm parasites are common (most of the country) then make sure that your veterinarian prescribes a supply for your dog. Below is a map of where heartworm is most prevalent in the US.
As pet parents who’ve adopted dogs who were infected with heartworm, we can honestly say that this disease is nothing you should risk your pet ever getting, especially with such effective preventatives as Heartguard out there.
Have Your Vet Do a Pre-Trip Health Check
You’ve got your vehicle all checked out and ready to go for your road trip, but what about your best friend? Before heading out on any long trip with your dog it’s a good idea to schedule a routine health checkup with your veterinarian. Your vet might be able to diagnose any conditions beforehand, so you don’t end up having your dog become sick while traveling. This is also a good time to ask them to prescribe enough medications to last the duration of your trip.
Keep Your Medications Cool
Most medications need to be kept in a cool, dark place in order to retain their effectiveness. In order to keep our dog’s medications cool while traveling we use a small lunch-bag type cooler, which we can keep inside the top of our larger ice chest. Make sure that whatever you do, don’t let your dog medications get soaked as the ice melts in your cooler.
Below is the little cooler that we take along with our dogs on road trips, with up to six different meds in it for our senior dogs.
Consider Getting Pet Insurance Before Traveling
Pet insurance isn’t always the most cost effective way to take care of your pet’s medical needs, however it does have its place for those who travel frequently with their dogs. Travelers Insurance company offers pet insurance that covers your dog in the US and Canada. Make sure your dog is eligible first, as some policies have exclusions for preexisting conditions.
Take Your Dog’s Medical Records When Traveling
Whether or not you choose to buy pet medical insurance, at least make sure that you bring all of your dog’s health records with you. This makes it easier for a new veterinarian to properly diagnose and treat your dog’s condition.
Keep Your Dog Hydrated and Take Potty Breaks
If you’re on a road trip with your dog and they’re sleeping comfortably in the back seat, it’s tempting to just keep driving on toward your destination, especially if you’re on a schedule. Nevertheless, it’s essential that you stop frequently to let them take a potty break and to have them drink water.
We find that it’s hard sometimes to get our dogs to drink water at rest areas or other places we stop, as they’re so excited to get out and sniff around that they refuse to drink. Giving them water in the car can be a messy endeavor, so we use this little squeeze bottle dog water bottle-dish, which is BPA free and which allows us to reach back and give them sips as we squeeze water into the top cup from the bottle below it.
Also, many medications will cause your dog to drink more water than they normally do may even cause dehydration, so make sure to give your dog enough water to keep them sufficiently hydrated.
One really good rule to follow when taking a car trip with your dog is to feed them at the same time you would when at home. This keeps their digestive system running more smoothly and decreases anxiety.
Keep Your Pet Secure in Your Vehicle & Have Tags With Contact Info
It’s not a pet medication issue, but keeping your dog secured with a seat belt harness is crucial to have a safe trip with your dog. You can do everything else to keep your pet safe and healthy, but if they’re not properly restrained and you have an accident, both you and your dog may be injured or killed if they go airborne.
A Pet Harness is a Must Have
Before you hit the road, get a pet harness that attaches to your vehicle’s rear seat belts and use it religiously. Also, just as with children, you shouldn’t let them ride in the front seat. (A pet in the front seat will also cause your car’s passenger air bag indicator to go on and off randomly.)
The subject of keeping ID on your pet will be the subject of our next post. Don’t forget to update your dog’s tags and to have them microchipped. If they are microchipped, make sure your contact info is up to date in the database. Call the vet that microchipped your dog if you’re unsure how to do this.
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