Taking your puppy on a vacation is exciting! Your young dog will see, smell and hear so many new things. And you’ll get some amazing photo opportunities along the way.
If you’re going to be traveling with your dog, you’ll want to make sure you’ve set them up for success. The following tips will help you prepare for travel with your young dog.
Tip 1: Make sure your young dog is up to date on vaccines and preventives before travel
Travel presents an opportunity for your dog to be exposed to infectious diseases and parasites. By ensuring they are vaccinated and on preventives, you can help protect against serious illness. If your dog isn’t microchipped, make sure to get this done before travel in case they escape.
Tip 2: Familiarize yourself with pet health risks where you’re traveling, including infectious diseases and potential encounters with wildlife
Make sure to check whether the place you’re going has preventable diseases that your dog doesn’t normally encounter, such as Lyme disease or canine influenza. Speak with your veterinarian about whether additional vaccinations might be right for your puppy.
If you’re exploring the outdoors, you’ll also want to ensure you’re prepared for potential wildlife, such as snakes. Make sure not to let your young dog consume fecal matter while on the trip and avoid allowing them to drink from natural bodies of water.
Tip 3: Keep your young dog safe while traveling with a seat belt or crate
Car accidents happen, and if your dog isn’t belted in during an accident, they can become a projectile, seriously hurting themselves and the people in the car. It’s best to keep your dog either in a crate or belted into the car seat. Don’t open windows enough for your dog to jump out. It’s not considered safe for dogs to ride freely in the bed of a truck.
Tip 4: Prevent anxiety in the car
If your dog is an anxious traveler, speak with your veterinarian about antianxiety medications that could make the road trip less stressful for your pet. Be sure to bring a lot of treats for positive reinforcement and plan frequent breaks so your dog doesn’t get antsy.
Tip 5: Be prepared for nausea
Like us, dogs can experience motion sickness in cars. Speak with your veterinarian about medications to have on hand in case your dog develops nausea. If your dog has a history of motion sickness, it may be better to preemptively medicate them before travel.
Tip 6: Make a packing list for your young dog
There isn’t anything worse than getting a few hours away and realizing you forgot something! Make a packing list for your dog so you don’t overlook any of the essentials. Items to consider include:
- Food and water dishes (portable)
- Food
- Water
- Toys
- Treats
- Seat belt or crate
- Medications
- Leash
- Collar with ID tags
- Harness (if your dog uses one)
- Poop bags
- Bed and/or blankets
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Pet first aid kit
- Vaccine records
- Dog-safe shampoo in case of accident
Tip 7: Check out legal requirements for traveling with your young dog
You may be required to get a health certificate from a veterinarian verifying that your dog is healthy and free of infectious disease prior to travel. Vaccine requirements may also vary by jurisdiction, as may leash laws. It’s a good idea to bring copies of your dog’s vaccine records and rabies certificate with you.
Enjoy a fun, safe trip with your best friend!
Traveling by plane instead? Learn more about airplane travel with your dog.
