Pet Safety on the Go: Essentials for Road Trips and Holidays
If you’ve got plans to explore with your furry friend this summer, it’s always important to remember pet safety on the go. In the excitement of packing all of your own items, you mustn't forget to pack all your pet’s essentials!
Whether it be a one day adventure, a camping weekend, or a dog friendly holiday, you should ensure you’re properly prepared to take care of your pet. Your pet’s routine shouldn’t differ much from their day-to-day life, except from the extra exploring, and longer walks! We’d always recommend putting a little extra thought into these occasions, so that you can thoroughly enforce pet safety on the go!
But the most important thing is that you and your pet enjoy your trip away! By following our guide to pet safety on the go, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have the pet essentials for road trips and holidays.
Food and Water Supplies
It may sound obvious, but make sure your pet has enough food and water to last through your trip away. Not only that, but you’ll need to make sure you pack their food and water bowls, and their treats. You may even want to invest in portable bowls, so you can feed and hydrate your pet while you’re out and about.
Your pet’s diet should not change just because you’re on holiday, make sure to stick to their usual routine and feed them the exact way you normally would. Not only that, but after all that adventuring your pet will definitely need to keep their energy up, because they’ll certainly burn off their dinner!
Pet Seat Belts
Something you’ll also need to think about, if you haven’t already, is the transport means to make the journey comfortable for your pet. We’d recommend you invest in a pet-friendly seatbelt harness, so that they’re safe, secure, and aren’t able to distract you whilst you’re driving, especially for larger dogs.
Another option may be to put your pet in a ventilated carrier, which is particularly appropriate for smaller pets. If you’re looking to learn more about safe car travel for your pets, visit the PDSA’s article here.
Durable ID Tags
As part of the Control of Dogs Order 1992, when out in a public area, your dog must be equipped with a legible dog tag displaying your details - particularly your name, address, and phone number. For occasions such as holidays, or road trips, we’d always recommend that you choose a tag with durability, so that you don’t have to worry about your pet damaging their tag.
That’s why we craft our range of reinforced dog tags with exceptional durability to last through any of your pet’s wildest journeys. You shouldn’t have to compromise for poor quality, and fast-fading lettering and aesthetics - choose quality when you view our range of Reinforced Dog Tags.
ID Solutions For Cats
If you’re looking to take your cat away with you, it is highly advisable to equip them with ID, the same way you would for your dog. It’s vital to ensure their safety, especially if they manage to wander off, and with a durable ID tag you can ensure that they’re retrievable in the case this occurs.
If you’re looking to keep your cat protected, make sure to view our durable cat tags!
Comfortable Bedding
Are you staying overnight? You’ll definitely need to consider sleeping arrangements for your pet, so that they’re safe, and comfortable on your getaway. We’d recommend that you take their bed from their home, so that they feel more relaxed, and at home despite the change of scenery.
If they like to sleep with a blanket, you can also take that with you for the car journey, so that the journey itself does not become too stressful for them, and they can sleep if need be.
First-Aid
Putting your pet’s health first means being prepared with a pet-specific first-aid kit. You should ensure that your kit contains all the essential items that your pet could need, preventing minor injuries from becoming major problems. You should also make sure that any medication that your pet needs to take is packed within their first-aid kit.
If you’re looking to find a complete list of everything you need to make sure is in your pet’s first-aid box, make sure to read the PDSA’s article on first-aid for pets.
Toys and Treats
Another excellent way to put your pet at ease, and to allow them to truly enjoy their time away from home, is to pack their favourite toys and treats! These will keep your pet entertained, and can even reduce the anxiety of travelling to a new area. Your pet deserves to enjoy their holiday just as much as you, and it’s important to make sure they aren’t feeling too stressed by the change.
Don’t Forget Leads and Waste Bags!
It is your responsibility to ensure that you’re respectful to others, this doesn’t change when visiting somewhere new. Keep your pet on a lead in busy areas, so that your pet is fully under your control - even if your pet is very friendly.
Equally as important is to pick up after your pets. You should make sure you bring plenty of doggy bags with you, so that you’re not leaving your pet’s waste anywhere other than the bin!
Ensuring a Pet Friendly Stay
You can’t always assume that your pet is welcome to an area you haven’t done research on. Different places have their own rules, and sometimes that is to ensure the safety of your pet. Regardless, you must respect the rules of the area that you're visiting, ensuring you’re visiting pet friendly areas - and there’s plenty to choose from!
Before you leave, we’d recommend doing research to plan your trip around pet-friendly places in the area. That way, you can ensure that your pet is welcome in each place you visit, including the location that you’re staying at. We would also recommend taking note of any local vets or animal hospitals to properly ensure pet safety on the go.
Essential Documentation
Lastly, you should always keep proof of vaccinations and health records with you on your road trips and holidays so that their relevant information is on you in the case that you need it. Some places or accommodations may ask to see your pet’s health records, to make sure that other animals are safe around your pet. This is also useful in the case you need to take an emergency trip to the vets, or an animal hospital.
Summary
Before you start packing yours and your pet’s luggage, make sure that they’re equipped with a durable ID tag built to endure your holiday ahead! If you’re looking to choose a tag of quality, make sure to view our range of bespoke brass tags, letting your dog explore their curiosity with a reduced risk of them damaging their tag.
Aside from pet safety on the go, the main thing to prioritise is to make sure that you and your pet have a great time exploring somewhere new! We’d love to see what you and your pet are going to be getting up to, so make sure to take plenty of photos while you’re out and about!
When you send through your photos to us via our Facebook, or Instagram, @engravingstudios, we’ll make sure to share your pet on our profiles, so that you can have your pet’s adventures featured on our future social posts, where we’ll tag you for credit!