Dartmouth Veterinary Clinic Tips for Summer Travel with Pets
There’s nothing better than taking a summer trip on the open road, especially if your family pet is coming along for the ride! Even though it can be fun to travel with pets, if you’re not ready, it could be dangerous for your pet. Many pets die every year from being too hot after being left in stopped cars, according to studies. It may only seem like a few minutes to go to the bathroom, run to the store, or pay for gas, but a dog left in a hot car can think it’s been hours.
Consult Your Dartmouth Vet Clinic
There are also other things to think about, like making sure your pet is safely buckled in for long car rides and planning ahead by going to your local Dartmouth vet clinic before you leave the area. What pet owners in other parts of the country worry about when it comes to veterinary care is different from what people in Massachusetts worry about. Some places treat their cats for heartworm, while others don’t because it’s so rare or only a problem when they leave their local area.
Before you go on a trip with your pet, consider doing some research online to help you understand some of the things you’ll need to know. That being said, going to Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth, MA, your Southeastern Massachusetts emergency vet, will always give you and your pet all the professional tips, advice, and medical care you need for a safe and happy trip. There is no amount of internet information that can be as helpful as talking to your vet in person.
What You Need to Know
Did you know that the temperature inside your car can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes? It could get 30 degrees hotter in 20 minutes, making it much hotter than the outside air. It can go up by 40 degrees after an hour. It might be 75 degrees outside when you and your family are outside, but it can be over 115 degrees or even higher inside your car. Scientists have found that cracking the windows won’t make a big difference in how fast heat rises inside a car. Also, leaving the air conditioning on while you go into a restaurant can expose your pet to many other risks and issues.
If you’re just going to run errands around town and will be getting out of the car for any reason or for a long time, you should leave your pets at home. The best thing that can happen on vacation or a long trip is to bring along a second person to watch the dog inside the cool car while you go to the bathroom or get food. To help keep your pet safe, you could also go to places that are pet-friendly and let you bring your pet inside with you, or you could go to drive-through restaurants instead of going inside.
Safety Gear and First Aid Preparation
People have to wear seat belts to keep themselves safe in case of an accident or other possibly dangerous event. When you travel with pets, you should also make sure they are properly restrained in your car. You can do this by using a safe harness or putting your pet in a cage. Talk to your Dartmouth veterinary clinic about possible solutions for your case so that you don’t have to take your pet to a Massachusetts veterinary clinic after an accident. An accident can also be avoided by making sure pets are properly restrained. A pet that isn’t restrained could get in the way of the gas or stop pedals, and pets that are sitting in seats could be hurt by airbags, block the view of the road, or jump out of a window.
Not only can pets that aren’t properly restrained get hurt in an accident or even cause one, but they are also likely to be thrown out of the car. When you travel with pets, you have to keep an eye on them the whole time to make sure they stay safe. When rescuers try to help you and your human friends get out of your car after an accident on the highway, pets can be thrown out of windows, break through the glass, or run away.
Visit Anchor Veterinary Clinic
Call Anchor Animal Hospital and Veterinary Clinic in Dartmouth to make an appointment with your Southeastern Massachusetts emergency vet to get help on traveling with pets or for a full check-up and veterinary care. Just call 508-996-3731 and ask to speak with a member of our medical team. In Massachusetts, we can help you with a lot of different kinds of veterinary care, such as preventative care, safety tips, regular check-ups, vaccines, and a lot more.