Second Thoughts: Pet safety

Britain is known to be a nation of animal lovers. Wherever we go, our pets will probably want to come too!  Not all pets however, like travelling in cars, especially if they associate it with a visit to the vet.  To ensure that your pet doesn’t become a distraction or other danger the following advice should be followed.

Train them young

Puppy dogs can be trained fairly easily to become good travellers. Play with the puppy inside the car when it is stationary, then switch the engine on. Once the puppy is used to this, start taking the dog for short rides.  In general, cats generally don’t like cars and will need to be transported using a carrier.

Pet Carriers

If an animal does not like travelling, then it can be very dangerous to transport them by car, unless they are in a suitable pet carrier. A clawing cat or a yelping puppy is likely to distract the driver and cause a crash. A cardboard box won’t do as it is too easy for the animal to escape. Pets that don’t like car journeys are also known to urinate and defecate in the car. Line the bottom of the carrier with newspapers and a plastic sheet to prevent damage. If the worst does happen, a paste of bicarbonate of soda gets stains and smells out of car upholstery.  For larger dogs, it is a good idea to crate them, especially for long journeys. This will also protect a dog in case of a crash. Many animals will feel safer inside their crate, and therefore will put up less of a performance.

Pet partitions

When travelling with big dogs, to reduce the risk of driver distraction, it is a good idea to have part of the car partitioned.  Owners who travel with more than one large dog do this, especially where they use a smallish car. Do not put an animal in the boot of the car. There is a risk, especially with older cars that poisonous exhaust fumes might get into the boot.

Vehicle death traps

A cars parked in the sun on a summer’s day will get very hot. A locked car left in the sun can reach an inside temperature of over 50 degrees Celsius in just a few minutes. Never leave animals inside a locked car in the sun. Even when you park in the shade, consider that the sun moves as the day goes on. If you have to leave an animal in the car, make sure it is inside a parking garage and that the windows are left open at least a couple of inches.

Window seats

A wide open window can be an invitation to disaster. Some pets may be relied on not to jump through the window, but why take the chance? Most dogs like a bit of a breeze when they are inside a car, but four inches will be enough. Working dogs are often transported on the backs of some vehicles, but they are trained to deal with this and see this as part of their job.

Long distance travel

When going on a long journey, your dog will need to get out every now and then to answer the call of nature. Make sure that you give your dog water whenever you stop. When travelling a considerable distance with an animal that is not used to the car, ask your vet for a sedative for the animal before the journey. You can get anti-nausea treatment if your animal gets car sick on long journeys.

Seatbelts

Special seatbelts are available for dogs that will still allow them to sit up, look out of the window or lie down, whichever they choose. They will also go a long way to protecting the dog from being injured in case of a crash. Speak with your vet about where to get hold of these.

At the Vets

Do make sure your animal is on a leash or inside a pet carrier when you visit your vet. Most animals do not like this experience and when you open the door, they might just make a run for it into passing traffic.