Car Safety Tips - Traveling With Pets

Whether you are heading on vacation or relocating to a new city, extended car travel with your pet can be stressful for both of you - physically and mentally. Car trips with your pet can be a success when approached properly.

For a successful road trip with your pet, you will need to be prepared. In addition to packing special items for your trip, you will need to plan ahead for things like bathroom breaks and meals. However, the effort you extend prior to departure can make your trip more enjoyable for everyone. To keep your pet healthy, happy and safe during your travels together, follow these simple pet car safety tips:

Tips for traveling with pets

Check with your vet - The American Medical Veterinary Association (AMVA) recommends getting your pet a checkup 10 days prior to departure. In addition to confirming your pet is healthy enough to travel and vaccines are up-to-date, you veterinarian can provide you with a copy of your pet's rabies and health certificates. You'll need these to travel with your pet.

Restrain your pet - Restraint is the most important safety rule when traveling with a pet. Loose animals in your car are dangerous, and can cause an accident. In addition to small pets like cats that can get underfoot, pets can suffer eye damage and lung problems from hanging their head out the window. Choose a carrier big enough for your pet to comfortably stand, sit, lie down and turn around. In addition to keeping you and your pet safer, it will provide a feeling of security. If you are a frequent traveler, consider a portable kennel or an additional pet car safety device.

Get your pet in the groove - Prior to your trip, take your pet on a series of short drives. Slowly introducing a petthem to car travel can make the trip less stressful for everyone.

Pack the pet gear - In addition to the necessities, pack some of your pet's favorites items. Toys, blankets and pillows not only can keep your pet entertained and comfortable, but also provide a calming sense of familiarity. Be sure to include these items in your pet's luggage:

• Leash • Food, bottled water and a bowl • Waste scoop, plastic bags, litter with box (if necessary) • Medication and health papers • Toys, blankets and other favorite personal items

Add a temporary ID - If your pet is accidentally lost while traveling, a temporary identification tag can be a lifesaver. In addition to your pet's standard ID tags, place a tag with your cell phone number, destination number and other pertinent travel information on its collar. For added safety, consider microchipping your pet.

Feed before you leave - Pets get motion sickness, too. To prevent an upset stomach, feed your pet about three hours before departure - and never feed them while driving.

Protect your car and your pet - Accidents do happen. Protect your car's interior by covering your pet's area with washable blankets, rubberized floor mats and/or waterproof seat covers.

Take your pet with you - Leaving your pet in your car unattended is never recommended. However, if you must leave them alone, be sure to:

• Keep it short • Lock the doors • Park in the shade, away from distractions • Open windows only wide enough for ventilation • Be aware of the weather conditions that may cause your pet to be too hot, or too cold

Ensure you're insured - Some auto insurance policies offer perks like pet coverage. While it can be beneficial, it may not offer enough coverage, especially for emergency situations. If you don't already have a veterinary insurance policy, consider purchasing one before you depart.

Including your best friend in your travels can be a treat for everyone, but it can be stressful as well. Remember, no matter where you are headed, the key to a successful road trip with your pet is preparation. Keep everyone safer, happier and healthier during your car travels - follow these tips, and plan in advance.

Suzanne Svette is a professional writer and content specialist at Rosetta, one of the top 10 interactive agencies in the U.S.

Pet Food Safety - Home Made Can Eliminate Uncertainty

The latest outbreak of dog food and cat food contamination has shaken the confidence of pet owners the world over, but nowhere as much as in the United States where illness and reported deaths took its highest toll of family pets. Now, in the aftermath of large scale pet food recalls, many are asking questions about the ingredients that they've always trusted to provide optimum health for their family pets.

It comes as no real surprise now that many pet owners are choosing to make their own homegrown variety of pet nutrition. When made properly, it has to be a better option than all that imported stuff with unknown ingredients of suspicious composition and origin. In fact, many say it's not too difficult at all and fairly inexpensive to make. But, a number of experts caution that homemade diets won't work for every pet or its owner. Some dogs and cats have a more difficult time adjusting to a new diet and the new process itself may simply be too labor intensive and inconvenient for many owners. The choice should be made only after careful consideration.

For starters, you can have your family vet or a recommended veterinary nutritionist put together a starter diet for you to try. On the other hand, if you prefer, do the nutritional research yourself. It's unfortunate, but the rap against vets today, is similar to what doctors experienced in years past, that they know a lot about medicine, but were never taught much about nutrition. And, the veterinary nutritionists are accused of being little more than puppets, with the pet food manufacturers pulling the strings. There may be an element of truth to both, but in any case you'll have to use your own judgment. However, having a few sample diets to follow while getting started will most likely be helpful.

The most responsible advice is to suggest paying close attention to your dog or cat. You know your pet better than anyone, so you should quickly notice changes in the quality of their health, such as energy levels, condition of their coat and stool texture. So, keep a close eye out for any subtle changes during the transition, as you would with changes to any food. When you decide to begin with your homemade foods, do it gradually by mixing the new food into the old food for a couple of weeks. Slowly increase the ratio of new to old each day as you monitor your pet's adjustment.

Another trend of late has some owners feeding their pets a diet based largely on raw meat, vegetables and fruits. In fact, many people believe it's the most natural and therefore the healthiest choice for pets. Melinda Miller, president of the North American Raw Pet Food Association recently stated, "There are a wide variety of benefits. Animals with arthritis and longstanding gastrointestinal ailments or skin problems often improve significantly after being placed on grain-free raw diets".

For those who might be concerned about introducing contaminants into their own diets, it's important to note here that the more common phobias and issues related to food borne microbes, such as salmonella are largely unfounded, with no real evidence of actual cases of illness to animals or humans when the meat is fresh and handled in an appropriate manner. Melinda Miller added, "no study has ever correlated human illness with raw-fed dogs or cats." Raw food diets are popular in Europe and have gained significant interest in America over the past twenty years, so it can be considered yet another possible alternative over the store bought brands.

A Word of Caution:

Don't just think that you can feed your pet table scraps and assume it to be a viable nutritional alternative. It's not! Pets have special needs just as we do, so do your homework. There are many online resources, and even pet food cookbooks to help make things a lot easier. But, in the meantime, don't just feed them what you're eating. At the very least, they won't be getting the nutrition they need, and the things you're giving them could make them sick or even kill them.

Here's a short list of foods that can be toxic for animals and should always be avoided, even in small quantities: chocolate, mushrooms, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, leeks, chives, grapes, raisins, potato peelings, tomatoes (cats) and drinks containing caffeine or alcohol. The list for your particular pet may include other dangerous or sickening foods, so think before you toss.

Making your own pet foods can certainly be a loving and caring way to guarantee that your pet gets the healthy nutrition it deserves and without the risk of unknown contaminants. But, do your cost/benefit research first as to ensure a situation that you're comfortable with including dollars, time and balanced nutrition. Carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages for both you and your pet before deciding on this trendy alternative.

For more information regarding the care, development and safety of the family pet, please visit All About Dogs.

Copyright 2007 Harry Monell. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact with all links unchanged, including this notice.

Harry Monell maintains several affiliate and content websites. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Old Dominion University. Following formal retirement in 2000, he now spends time doing what he considers his most challenging, yet most rewarding endeavor - writing about many of the important topics that affect today's families and lifestyles, including health, nutrition and family pets.