Whether you have recently adopted a dog to travel with or want to take your cat on your travels with you, traveling with animals can be overwhelming for them, and a little patience-trying for you.
You have made all of your plans, gotten your plane ticket, and even thought to rent a car in Iceland ahead of time, so it is waiting on you, your family, and your pet when you land. Now, all that is left is to put everyone in the car and head out to explore everything Iceland has to offer. Unfortunately, sometimes it is not quite that simple when traveling with pets in the car. Luckily, there are quite a few tips you can follow to help this trip be the adventure you dreamed it would be. Keep reading to find out what you need to know when traveling with pets in the car.
Do not forget your pet’s crate
Although you may not want to, or you feel like you are putting your pet in jail, you need to bring a secure container or crate with you on your road trip. This is the right safety precaution to take to ensure your pet is safe while on the road. It is important to make sure that the crate is large enough for your pet to be comfortable and that there is enough room for your pet to move around.
It is a good idea to start getting your pet used to the crate at home, such as when you take a quick trip to town so that they will be used to it before you head out on your vacation, pet in tow.
Pack the essentials
Just as you pack for yourself, your spouse, and the kids, you should also be sure to pack the essentials for your pet when traveling as well. Below you can find a shortlist of what counts as essentials.
- Collar
- Harness
- Leash
- Clean up materials
- Favorite toy or blanket
- Copy of vaccination records
Bring enough food and water for your pet
As a pet parent, you already know that changing up your pet’s food can be a disaster on their digestive system. Make sure that you bring plenty of the kind of food you normally give them and drinking water for the trip. Since your pet might already have an upset tummy due to the car ride, you do not want to change up their food on top of it. Different water sources can tear a dog’s stomach up as well, so bring water with you, just to be on the safe side.
Never leave your pet in a locked vehicle
One thing you never want to do is leave your pet in a locked vehicle for any amount of time. Not only is it dangerous, it is illegal in most of the places you could be traveling to. You also run the risk of emotional stress when you leave your pet in the car and walk away as well, so do not forget them when you go to stretch your legs for a bit.
Feed your pet a light meal before you head out
You do not want your pet to be hungry on your trip, so you need to feed him before you leave. However, you do not know how his stomach is going to react to travel either. It is best to feed him a light meal before you leave, so if he does not handle travel well, his stomach won’t be as torn up as if he had eaten a lot before you left.
These are just a few of the top tips for traveling with your pet in the car with you. Remember, they need love and patience along this journey, especially if they have never traveled before.
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