Are you about to head out on the highway for a road trip with a dog? If you're planning on taking your furry friend along with you, it's important to make sure he stays healthy and happy on the road, and dog supplements can make the trip easier.
Whether you're embarking on a road trip, camping adventure, or beach vacation, there are several steps you can take to ensure your dog stays strong and safe while traveling.
What Should You Pack for Your Dog on a Road Trip?
Just like kids, dogs can get bored on the road and may need a favorite toy to relieve the boredom. They also need to stay hydrated while traveling, so make sure you have plenty of water. Check out this list of essentials for traveling with a dog:
- Water for you and your dog
- Collapsible bowl so your dog can drink on the road
- Healthy snacks for dogs like treats, carrots, or apple slices
- Leash or harness
- Favorite toys and treat puzzles
- Enough food for the trip
- Travel bowls
- Something that smells like home - a T-shirt you've worn or a towel from their bed
- Your dog's carrier or crate
It is always good to avoid overfeeding your dog, and this is especially true before and during your trip; it can contribute to digestive issues such as diarrhea. If that happens, be ready and bring EverRoot digestive supplements for dogs on your trip! They contain natural ingredients, like pumpkin and psyllium, to help with occasional diarrhea from environmental stress or changes in your dog's diet.
How to Keep Your Dog Cool in the Car
If you're traveling in warm weather, remember that hot temperatures can be brutal, especially for dogs with thick coats. Make sure to keep your dog cool in the car while you're on the road with a car window shade. Provide plenty of fresh water to keep your dog hydrated. Consider investing in a cooling mat or vest, which can help regulate your dog's body temperature and prevent heat exhaustion. Avoid traveling if there are extremely high temperatures in the forecast and you can't guarantee your dog will be kept cool during your journey.
How Often Should You Stop on a Road Trip with Your Dog?
How often you should stop on a road trip depends on your dog. Sitting in a car or crate for a long time can be uncomfortable for some dogs. Families that are traveling with dogs in the car over a long distance should take frequent breaks. Getting out of the vehicle for a bit allows your dog to:
- Eat and drink if they are uncomfortable doing so in the car
- Relieve themselves
- See and smell something new, making the road trip fun
- Stretch their legs while you walk them on a leash
- Burn off some energy
How to Prevent Dog Car Sickness
Motion sickness in puppies can be due to their inner ear not being fully developed. Puppies tend to outgrow motion sickness by the time they are one year old. Adult dogs with motion sickness may have a medical condition or may be taking medication that creates the sickness. Visit your veterinarian for a checkup before your trip. A middle or inner ear infection may be the cause of your dog's motion sickness.
Adult dogs may have motion or car sickness if they haven't been conditioned to enjoy travel. Dogs that only get in the car once or twice a year may be more susceptible to car sickness. Getting them accustomed to car travel can help.
The signs of motion sickness in dogs include:
- Whining and pacing
- Excessive drooling
- Smacking or licking lips
- Lethargy or inactivity
- Vomiting
- Pooping in the car
Whining and pacing can also indicate your dog needs to go to the bathroom. Safely pull over, stop the car, and let your dog out for a little walk on a leash. This should ease his stress and nausea while giving him the opportunity to relieve himself.
If you know your dog has car sickness, and there are no underlying medical reasons for it, ask your vet about anti-nausea medicine for dogs before your trip.
What to Do if Your Dog Gets Car Anxiety
Some dogs jump in the car and are ready for an adventure at the drop of a hat. But other dogs may not enjoy traveling by car. They may get nervous or show signs of anxious behavior, such as whining, barking, or pacing. Calming supplements for dogs from EverRoot may help. Made with chamomile, L-theanine, and other natural ingredients, they calm nervous dogs on the road and at home.
As a pet parent, if you are unsure if your dog will be happy on a road trip, taking a short jaunt somewhere lets you see how your dog reacts to being in the car and on the road. Some dogs may need to be conditioned to enjoy car rides. If the only trips your dog takes in the car are to the vet, the groomer, or the boarding facility, introduce short trips with positive destinations, like a dog park or dog-friendly trail.
To overcome your dog's car anxiety, start slowly and build on your success. To begin, place your dog in the car, start the engine, and sit with him for a few minutes. Repeat it the next day, but this time back your car out of the driveway and then return. The next day, drive around the block. Reward your dog with a treat after each lesson and gradually increase the time spent in the car with your dog to a 30-minute ride. With patience, your dog should overcome any stress about car trips. However, if your dog has had a past traumatic experience in a car, it may take longer to create positive associations with car travel.
All dogs should be crated in the car initially to see how they react to being in the car. Some dogs can be trained to ride safely without being in a crate. We need to be mindful of their safety by always using devices such as a safety harness. Nervous dogs that want to move around while the car is in motion may need to be in a carrier or a safety harness to keep them from hurting themselves or causing an accident.
How to Keep Your Dog Healthy on a Road Trip
To maintain your dog's health on the road, incorporate supplements into his daily routine before you travel. EverRoot immunity supplements for dogs are made with natural ingredients like nutrient-dense spirulina, acai fruit powder, and pomegranate juice powder to help support your dog's immune system while you are on the road.
While some dogs may get diarrhea from nervousness, other dogs may become constipated on road trips because they are less active and away from familiar surroundings. If you're concerned your dog may experience digestive issues, start him on EverRoot digestion supplements for dogs before your trip to help maintain a healthy intestinal tract while you travel.
If you're on the road with your dog, it's important to plan for veterinary care while traveling in case of an emergency. Research veterinary clinics and emergency services along your route, and make sure to bring along your dog's medical records and any necessary medications.
By following these tips, you and your dog can have a fun and enjoyable road trip adventure.
Learn more about EverRoot supplements for dogs.