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Driving With a Pet: How to Keep Your Dog Safe in Your Car

Are you looking forward to taking your canine best friend on a road trip? If so, keep reading this post by Oils RGV in Mission for tips on driving with a pet safely.

The holidays are coming up! For many, that means visiting family and friends miles away to spend Christmas and New Year's Eve with them. If you plan to do just that, you may want to take your pet on a road trip with you. Of course, driving with a pet for long hours is not easy. As an owner, you must consider a few things to ensure your dog will be comfortable, safe, and happy in the backseat. Thus, this post has listed a few tips that will help you have an epic road trip in the company of your canine friend.

Feed your engine with the most effective synthetic oil in Mission to ensure safer rides when driving with a pet. Call Oils RGV at (956) 458-9399 or visit AMSOIL's online store to order top-shelf formulas and products.

Top Tips for Driving With a Pet Safely

Schedule a Vet Checkup

For starters, book a checkup with a vet to have your pet examined from nose to tail. Again, your dog may need special immunizations or anti-motion sickness meds. So, let your veterinarian know where you'll be traveling and the hours the trip will last. Also, use this consultation to ask for your pet's medical records, as you may need them during your trip. Checking your dog's microchip is also a good idea, as this ID will help you find them if they get lost.

Get Your Pet Used to the Car

If your dog is not used to riding in your vehicle, take a few test rides before setting out on the trip. Try playing with your pup inside the car's cabin with open doors. You can also offer them their favorite snacks in the back seat. Once they seem comfortable inside the car, take them for short rides to the park or to visit friends. By doing all that, your pup will become accustomed to the running car's movements and noises.

Choose the Right Restraint System

Our next tip is to choose a suitable restraint system for the size of your dog. If you have a puppy or small breed dog, it is best to use a secured crate with a small bed to keep your pet comfortable. If your dog is large, it may be better to use a pet seat belt. In short, using the proper restraint system is crucial to keep your dog safe in case of an accident.

The continued use of AMSOIL's Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil helps to keep your car running smoothly for far longer. To get this and other top-quality products, call Oils RGV in Mission at (956) 458-9399 or visit AMSOIL's online shop to place your order.

Pack Your Dog's Essentials

Before leaving on your trip, prepare a backpack with everything your dog needs to be safe and entertained in the car. Here are some essentials that your pet's luggage should contain:

Food and water
Bowls
Medication
Medical records
Toys
Collar and harness
Toiletries
Poop bags
Pet bed

Extra tip: Taking your dog for a walk before the trip will allow them to release a lot of energy. That way, they'll be able to spend the first hours of the road trip relaxed and asleep.

Make Regular Stops

Frequent stops are vital to keeping your pet happy on the trip. Like us, dogs can feel numbness and anxiety if they remain immobile for too long. Thus, take a 15-minute break every two hours of driving to prevent such discomfort for them. Use each break to let your dog drink water, walk around, relieve, and play before returning to the car.

Keep Your Dog Cool

Finally, keep an eye on your car's temperature to keep the cabin cool and safe for your canine friend. Again, dogs cannot sweat or regulate their body temperature as we do. Thus, it is essential to follow this advice. If the temperature rises, use air conditioning as well as cooling mats for your dog to lie on if they feel hot. What matters the most is keeping your car's temperature between 50 and 70 degrees to prevent your furry best friend from heat stroke.