Traveling With Your Pet

The summer travel season has officially started!  It's time to get out of the city and enjoy nature at her finest.  On family trips, all family members - including Fido - can enjoy the experience and return home enriched and recharged.  With just a bit of prior planning, your dog will be safe and enjoy being with his favorite people no matter where you are at the moment.

One of the most common problems with traveling with your dog is diarrhea caused by different water sources, the stress of being in new places and the motion of traveling in the car.  This issue can be solved with some easy planning.  When on the road, only give your dog purified bottled water (stay with national brands as they will come from a common water source) to drink.  Plan on adding a bit of plain yogurt to your dog's diet if he is off feed for a couple of days.  It is easily found, quickly packed and will stay fresh in an ice cooler for several days. The extra treat will encourage your pet to eat more willingly and the active cultures in the yogurt will aid in keeping his digestion settled.  Training your dog to travel in a solid sized crate will keep him stress-free and comfy.  He can be "packed" in a convenient place in your vehicle and will always have his home around him.  If he suffers from motion sickness, packing him more in the middle of the vehicle will help and also giving him a dense-foam bed will absorb vibration and motion. 

Make sure that your dog is leash-trained and make sure he's on that leash securely before you take him out for exercise.  Don't ever let him run free in a strange place.  Even the most well-trained dog can bolt if he becomes startled or scared.  Walk your dog only in designated areas of motels or rest-areas and pick up after your pet each time - no excuses!

Finding dog-friendly resorts, motels/hotels and campgrounds is worth the search.  More and more vacation spots are becoming pet-friendly.  You and your dog will have the opportunity to meet new friends and see new sites.

Have a great trip!