Driving With Your Pet - 5 Safety Tips

If you're like most pet owners, you consider your furry friends an integral part of the family. You may take your dog everywhere with you, or find yourself missing your cat terribly while you're away. Bringing your pet with you when you travel can be a great way to include them in your adventures, but it's important to observe several safety tips when driving with your pet in the car. Your friends at Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC are here to help you (and your pets) stay safe on the roads with these quick safety reminders.


1. Transport Your Pet In A Well-Ventilated Carrier.
This is the first and most important tip for any traveling pet owner. If your pet is free to wander around the vehicle, he may get in your lap, distract you, or get in your way of the foot pedals. If you were to get in an accident, there would be nothing to prevent your pet from flying out of a broken window. For everyone's safety, it's best to always transport your pet in a well-ventilated carrier or crate. If your dog is too big for a carrier, you can use a special harness designed to attach to a seat belt.

2. Bring Materials To Clean Up The Waste.
Unlike your human passengers, your cat has not been trained to "hold it" until arriving at a gas station. Include a small litter box in the carrier and bring a scoop and plastic bags to clean up as necessary. You should also bring bags to pick up after your dog at the gas station or rest stop. It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

3. Bring Water For The Trip (But No Food).
In order to help prevent an upset stomach or a need to go to the bathroom, it's best to feed your pet a light meal three to four hours before beginning the drive. When you pack your own water bottle for the drive, remember to bring a small dish so that you can also give water to your pet while you're stopped. While it's important to keep your pets hydrated, you should save their next meal for after you arrive at your destination.

4. Never Leave Your Pet Unattended In A Parked Vehicle.
Leaving your car alone in the car for five minutes while you run into the gas station may be okay, but leaving your pet in your vehicle unattended for an extended amount of time is very dangerous. In the winter, your vehicle can actually act as a refrigerator and your pet can become dangerously cold. In the summer, the sun turns your vehicle into an oven and your pet can become overheated very quickly.

5. Help Your Pet Feel As Comfortable As Possible.
Some pets get incredibly nervous in the car. In order to make the process easier on them, it's best to get them used to their carriers before the day of the road trip. When you're packing your pet's travel kit, remember to include their favorite blanket, toy, bone, or something else that will help provide a sense of comfort and familiarity in their new environment.

In Need Of A New Road Trip Vehicle?
If your family is expanding or you need an easier way to transport your family and your pets to all of your grand adventures, come car shopping at our auto dealership in Camdenton MO! With a great selection of both new and pre-owned vehicles at the Lake of the Ozarks, we're sure to have something that perfectly fits your lifestyle and your budget. We look forward to working with you!

Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMC
That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!

513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO  65020
www.ShopHulett.com
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service:  573.317.4195



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