Holiday car travel with your pet

Traveling for the holidays can be a nightmare, especially if you've got your pets with you. Whether you're traveling a few hours or a few days to get to your holiday destination, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure you arrive at your destination with minimal stress!

Car Set Up

You wouldn't let your toddler climb around the car while you're driving, so why let your pet? Securing your pet using a sturdy crate - no cardboard - or harness with a seatbelt not only keeps them from distracting you but helps keep them safe if you should get in an accident. Don't forget to pack water bowls and extra bottles of water in your car for easy access. Most importantly, remember that pets belong inside the car at all times, not in the open bed of a truck.

Prepare your Pet for the Trip

You want your dog to be as comfortable as possible for the trip. Ideally, your pet will sleep the whole way! If you are traveling with a dog, exercise him prior to getting in the car so he can burn some energy and, hopefully, is tuckered out enough to snooze for most of the ride. Feed your pet several hours before getting in the car to prevent car sickness. All pets that are traveling should have ID on them at all times just in case they get away from you at a rest stop or you get in an accident and they get loose.

Pack Extras

Preparing your pets to travel doesn't just mean packing food for them. Packing your pet's favorite toys and blanket or bed will help make traveling to a new place less stressful since they have something familiar with them that smells like home. If you're bringing a cat along for the ride, be sure to bring the same litter for the trip as you normally use at home.

If your dogs are like mine, anything that upsets their routine - like company coming to the house or going somewhere new - can throw their stomachs out of whack, resulting in several days of diarrhea. Keeping a can of pumpkin in the house is common for many dog owners, but it's also a good idea to take that pumpkin with you when you travel.

Plan for Bathroom Breaks

When I travel long distances with my dogs, they tend to drink more than usual during the trip and, as a result, need more frequent bathroom breaks. Remember that, while traveling, your pet's routine is off kilter and he might be nervous about not being able to ask to go outside. Schedule frequent bathroom breaks into your travel plans so your dog has plenty of opportunities. If you're a "we need to make good time" type of traveler, having the bathroom breaks already worked into your travel plans will make the trip less stressful.

Research Before You Book

Not all pet-friendly hotels are created equal. If your travel plans involve finding overnight accommodations, be sure to look beyond the pet-friendly label before booking. While some hotels go the extra mile to make your pet's stay a comfortable one, others have breed or size restrictions, allow dogs but not cats, or don't allow pets to be left alone in rooms. Don't forget to check if there's an extra fee for bringing your pet, or if the hotel limits how many animals can be in a room.

Whether you've got a dog that loves being in the car, a cat that yowls the entire trip, or, if you're like me, a bearded dragon that demands a window seat, traveling with pets isn't always easy. The more you can plan ahead of time for the trip, the easier the experience will be for both you and your travel companion. Safe travels!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, a cat, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.