Having a pet is a joyful experience, yet full of responsibility. This responsibility goes beyond the home, and unto road travel. As a traveler you want to be safe and comfortable but also have a pleasant experience, so does your dog. The best way to make this possible is by being prepared with a Road Travel Dog Kit but also the wisdom in how to use it. Last year, I decided to go on a road trip for the holidays with my family and dog. It had been years since I had last driven on the road with a dog, so I decided to do some quick research through products, websites, and online videos. The amount of information was overwhelming, so I made my lists, and looked for the most common elements among them. Then I added things as needed for my dog. It was from that point that I developed my first Road Travel Dog Kit (RTDK). It is currently based on four areas: Information, Domestic Nature, Dog First Aid Kit, and Transporter.
Information list: - documentation of vaccination as well as medical records and prescriptions for medications (if applicable) - a leash and a collar with both a dog tag and rabies tag; dog tag has a dog's name, city, and state of residence, and your phone number(s) - a full-size picture of dog and picture of you with the dog to confirm ownership - primary veterinarian's phone number, list of pet emergency phone numbers - list of dog-friendly motels/hotels for destination and/or along the travel route Domestic Nature list: - water, dry food, and dry treats - collapsible water and food bowls - refillable bottle of water and food container - grooming essentials (combs, brushes, nail clippers, etc ... as needed) - pouch or case with waste bags and waste pick-up scoop (helpful in grassy areas) - high visibility and/or reflective dog accessory - flashlight (for early mornings, or moonlight evenings) - climate-appropriate clothing, depending on dog type (sweater, raincoat, booties, floating vest, etc.) Dog First Aid Kit list: - extra leash and collar or dog harness with a dog tag - muzzle (a roll of gauze or large bandana may be also used) - large bandanna for large wounds, sling, or muzzle - roll of waste bags (may double as gloves or large bandage) - roll of non-adhesive bandage wrap - roll of gauze - square gauze bandages (different sizes) - nitrile gloves (preferred) - tools (flea comb, clippers, tweezers, blunt end scissors, small pliers, penlight, irrigation syringe, thermometer (if possible)) - cotton swabs and cotton balls - antibacterial wipes - hand sanitizer - first aid medication (hot spot and itch relief spray, liquid bandage spray, triple antibiotic, saline eye solution, styptic or blot clot for excessive bleeding) - splint Transporter list: - pet carrier appropriate for travel that is both properly located and anchored to the automobile - rope or chord (to tie down the pet carrier) - alternative use of a safety travel harness that anchors to the auto or safety belt system (check safety reviews first) - familiar toy - familiar bedding and/or blanket - tarp or moving blanket to be placed underneath the carrier or dog - cleaning towel or rag - stain remover - dog scent spray remover In closing, as people have their needs of comfort and joy when they travel, so does their dog. Being prepared with a Road Travel Dog Kit helps in accomplishing this goal. Let us continue to plan our road trips and rest assure that are dog is going to enjoy the trips too. Comments are closed.
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