Does your canine companion enjoy going on car rides? Many dogs absolutely love driving around with their humans. However, you’ll need to take some precautions to keep Fido safe when you’re out and about. A Washington DC vet offers some advice on going for drives with your four-legged friend below.

Crate

First and foremost: always drive with your canine buddy in a crate. This is really the best way to keep both you and your pup safe. If your dog is allowed to move around loosely, he could jostle you, and interfere with your driving. Needless to say, that could be extremely dangerous! Being crated will not only keep your pooch secured, it also offers him additional protection in case of an accident. Take some time training Fido, and make sure that he sees his crate as a comfy, cozy den.

Other Options

What if you can’t really fit a crate into your vehicle? You can look into things like doggy seatbelts and barriers. These products can vary quite widely as far as comfort and safety, so be sure to do plenty of research before making a purchase.

Window

We know, many of our four-legged friends love to stick their heads out the window. This may be cute, but it’s really not safe. Your canine friend could get dust or insects in his eyes. Some dogs can also develop ear problems. Even worse, Fido could step on the window control, and close or open the window. That puts him at risk of being strangled or even tossed out. Yikes!

Carsickness

Did you know that dogs can get carsick, just like people can? If your pooch is a bit squeamish, you may be able to try desensitizing him to going for rides. At first, just sit in your driveway with the car running. Then, start going for short drives. Keep the air conditioner on or windows cracked, so your furry bff always has fresh air.

Supervision

This really is the big one. Never leave Fido alone in the car, especially in hot or cold weather. In summer, temperatures inside a closed car can reach deadly levels in just minutes. In winter, your pup can get cold very fast. (Note: this doesn’t apply if you have a Tesla on pet mode.) As your local Washington DC animal clinic, we’re dedicated to offering great veterinary care. Call us anytime!