You Should Know! Tips on Car Safety for Dogs!

Everyone knows that dogs love car rides. Ask a dog if he wants to go for a ride in the car and he's likely to jump for joy. If you're going to travel in the car with your dog, you should heed these safety tips to make sure your dog's car ride is a safe and happy experience.

Traveling with your dog offers an opportunity for him to run away:

-    Always make sure that your dog's leash is on and someone is holding it firmly before you open the car door.

-    Your dog should always have a collar with an ID tag. Maybe on the tag put your phone number so that you can be contacted directly if your pup is lost.

-    If you're going to be away for any length of time, consider getting a second ID tag with your local address.

-    Microchips are another way to make sure your dog will find his way back to you if he's lost.

-    Keep a current photo of your dog in your glove compartment that you can photocopy or on your phone that you can easily print. This will allow you to show it to others or post if need be.

Dogs shouldn't be allowed to ride in the front seat because they can jump or climb on you while you're driving. This could distract you and cause an accident. Like people, dogs riding in cars have to be secured.

-    One option is to use a pet carrier. Keep in mind that if you use a pet carrier, it must be secured to the car or it could fly forward in a collision, injuring the dog or people in the front of the car.

-    Instead of a pet carrier, you can use a restraining harness that connects to your car's seat belts. The harness has the advantage of giving the dog freedom to move around, while at the same time keeping him safe in case of an accident.

Just like people, dogs can get car sick. Car sickness in dogs can be possibly due to stress and not the actual motion of the car.

-    Don't feed your dog a heavy meal just before embarking on a car tip. A light meal a couple of hours before the trip would be best.

-    Take water and a bowl along and schedule breaks every hour or two to let your dog walk around and do his business.

-    Take along cleaning wipes and some air freshener to deal with any accidents that may happen inside the car.

Don't leave your dog inside a hot car with the windows rolled up. You shouldn't leave your dog alone in the car at all, but if you must, make sure it's not for a long period, try to park in the shade if it's a warm day, and crack the windows enough to let air circulate.