Road Trip Time! You’re ready to take your dog with you on your next adventure! Now that’s it’s time to pack, do you have everything? Don’t leave without your dog road trip essentials!
If you have a medical emergency what do you need for that? What if they have an accident in the car? You may be thinking of all these scenarios but it’s worth a few minutes checking!
We put together a list if helpful items for you!
ID Collar and Microchip
First things first: If your dog somehow gets separated from you, you’ll want to be able to locate him or her. Purchase a sturdy collar and attach a personalized ID tag on it that contains your name, home address and cell phone number.
It’s worth taking this step even if your best friend has a microchip.
Sturdy Leash
This is especially necessary when visiting unfamiliar places on your road trip. This vest and leash combination is great. It’s no pull and easy to use.
Water Bowl and Water
Always carry additional water and a portable water bowl with you on your travels, because you never know how often you’ll be able to find a suitable water source along your travels.
Remember, dogs cool themselves by panting and drinking water, so having it water hand is critical to their health in warm conditions.
Most need about an ounce of fluids per pound of body weight per day, so a 10-pound dog needs a bit over a cup of clean water daily. The more active dogs can need more so make sure to plan accordingly!
Make sure there is water along your route or bring water with you. These are good inexpensive water carriers that are collapsible. If you need to bring water with you these can be a great option:
When traveling you will want to keep things compact. Try this collapsible bowl for ease.
Also if you need to give your dog a quick drink, these portable water bottles offer a drinking cup for your dog:
Dog Food
This one’s a no-brainer, but you should take care to bring along much more dog food than you expect to need. Bring along your pet’s favorite food to prevent upset stomachs that can occur from sudden changes in diet.
We recommend some great foods here if you’re interested. Make sure to plan accordingly for the size of your dog and the length of the trip.
Depending on how much food your dog needs you may need a dog food container to carry all of it if your going on a long road trip.
You may not be able to find your pup’s favorite brand in another part of the country, so having the right food on hand will avoid unpleasant gastrointestinal surprises.
Waste Bags
Don’t risk running out of doggy bags! Bring along plenty of plastic bag rolls to make it easy to dispose of waste at rest areas, parks, or on hotel grounds. This is another obvious one, but it can be easy to overlook when you’re busy packing up all of your own bags.
Dog Crate or Seatbelt
Placing your dog in a secure dog crate or canine seatbelt will ensure that he or she is safe during the sudden stops that may arise on highway road trips.
A variety of canine seatbelt systems are available, depending on the size and weight of the animal. If you own a dog harness this seatbelt works well. Don’t attach this to your dogs collar!
A well-designed dog crate is the safest option, but some dogs object to be confined in the crate for long periods of time. Make sure you do a few trial runs before the road trip to ensure that your dog is accustomed to the new system.
Dog Blanket
Pack a dog blanket for motels or campgrounds to allow your dog to sleep comfortably in unfamiliar environments. If it’s not a blanket that your dog loves make sure to get something that will comfort them.
Whether you are camping or staying in a hotel for the night, the blanket will serve as a special spot to rest up after the day’s activities, not to mention providing padding and additional warmth on cool nights.
Medications
If your dog takes medications on a regular basis, ensure that you have packed a sufficient amount to keep on hand. Also, bring along your veterinarians name and phone number in case the medication becomes lost or destroyed. That way, you can quickly replace the medications without disrupting your vacation schedule.
Dog Calming Aids
Riding in the car can be a stressful event for your dog. Sometimes all they need is a little “calming effect” to make the ride more enjoyable.
Luckily depending on where you are in the world you may have more options than you think! FOr instance help products and CBD oils have become available for pets.
There are also some other products out there to help your dog with stress like this toy designed to let dogs lick when they get stressed.
Toys
Pack a few of your dog’s favorite toys for the road trips so they have a few familiar comfort items to help them feel secure on the journey. The toys will keep them busy during long hours in the car and relieve stress at the end of the day.
Dog chews may also be great for the car. Many different indestructible dog toys to choose from. A dog toy for chewing could be a good option while your dog is traveling or even while you are at your destination!
First Aid Kit
This is an item that seems like a burden to carry around until you need it. If you are on the road and your dogs needs attention this can literally be a life saver!
Make sure your first aid kit has some of the following basics:
- 1 x Thermometer
- 1 x Scissor
- 1 x Tweezer
- 1 x Emergency blanket
- 1 x Instant ice pack
- 1 x Disposable gloves
- 10 x Alcohol pads
- 1 x Sterile non woven gauze
- 450cm elastic bandage
- 20 x Cotton swabs
- 450cm First aid tape
- 30 x Band aid
Dress For the Occasion
There are many different styles and selections out there for cool or warm harnesses and sweaters. Make sure your dog not only is comfortable, but almost as important make sure the look dapper for their furry friends.
If your dog has a thick coat it won’t matter as much but some smaller dogs like the Frenchton for instance may need some help in really hot or cold weather!
Photo credit: Creative Commons user jsmjr
