The road is oft romanticized in American theater, cinema, and folklore. Americans love the idea of traveling in a nice car down a picturesque, open road alone or with a loved one.
Americans also love their pets. YouTube was made famous in part due to cute cat videos, as was the meme. There are movies and legends dealing with pets and their owners/best friends, and Americans love adopting pets from shelters or volunteering in a shelter.
So, naturally, Americans would want to mix two of the things they love: pets and travel. This can get tricky, however, if not planned correctly. The whole trip could be made troublesome and problematic for pet owner and pet alike. Here are five tips to help plan that perfect trip for your and your pet:
- Plan ahead
To reach road trip bliss, planning ahead is essential. Pets can easily become confused and frightened in a car or in a new environment if they aren’t used to travel. To console the beloved pets, people often divide their attention between the stressed animal and the road, raising the chances of an accident by a significant amount.
To prevent any faux-paws in trip planning, make sure to invest in an “away toy” to distract pets in the car. Also, try bringing your pet’s bed or bedding to keep them comfy. Find a good collapsible food and water bowl to help make stops quick and easy for you and your pet. Lastly, look up off leash dog parks on your route to give your pups some freedom to run and stretch their legs. Check out resources like Figo’s Pet Cloud, an app that helps you find pet-friendly hotels, emergency vets, off-leash dog parks, and more. - Visit the vet
Talk to your vet in detail about travel plans and make sure your pets’ vaccines and tags are properly up to date and registered. Also, consider if your travel plans are right for your pets. If you will have to leave them for long periods of time or go places they can’t easily handle, maybe they should come on a different trip instead. - Do a run through
Grab your pet and let them experience travelling before the big day so they have a moment to get used to it. Let them adjust and get normal.
- Consider getting pet insurance
Health emergencies happen at any time, in any place, and to anyone. Healthcare can be really expensive without the help of insurance, and this is no different for pets. One option is Figo Pet Insurance, which is accepted at any licensed veterinary practice across the U.S. But do your research and decide what is best for you and your furry one. - Accept and enjoy the experience
Problems will ensue, no matter how much planning you do. If you allow yourself to be flexible and react calmly to the situations that might occur including messes in the car, run-aways at rest stops, and more, you will be able to have a much better trip than if you stress out over them. Show your pet some love on your trip, and they will be so much calmer and happier!
