May 11, 2022
Pet-Friendly Road Trip Advice from Thelen Honda in Bay City, MI

Take Your Pets on a Safe & Enjoyable Road Trip with the Family

When it comes time to go on your big family road trip, you might not t want to leave your pet behind. After all, they are a part of the family too. As such, there are special precautions and preparations you should take to cater to your furry companions, so they are happy and safe throughout the journey. The staff members at Thelen Honda in Bay City, MI, enjoy bringing our pets with us on trips and would like to share some favorite tips to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

How to Confidently Take Your Pet with You on Vacation

Purchase Special Pet-Oriented Travel Gear – It is not a great idea to take your furry family members along with you without proper restraint options in place. Conventional seatbelts will not keep your pets safe either. As such, invest in a well-researched and rated pet carrier or crate that is approved for car trips. Not only will this help you have peace of mind that your pet is safe, but it will be more comfortable for them as well!

Bring Plenty of Food for Your Pet – Just like the human members of your family, your pet will require proper sustenance on the journey. If your pet has a special diet or needs a particular brand of food, then it is highly advised to purchase extra of that to take along with you. Even if you are only going to be gone for the weekend, it’s always a better idea to overprepare than under prepare.

Pack Plenty of Destressing / Entertainment Options – A long car ride can be very intimidating and stressful for your pet. This is especially true if they haven’t undergone a long trip before. By packing their favorite toys and a leash so you can take them for short walks during rest stops, you will find that your pet is much more likely to be calmer during those long stretches of travel.

Take Emergency Precautions if Your Pet Gets Loose – We don’t want to think about the potential of your pet getting loose while on the road during a rest stop or at your destination. However, making sure you are able to increase your chances of finding your pet if it does happen is an important step to take. Having your pet microchipped and wearing tags with your contact information are common-sense precautions that should not be neglected. You can also make sure you have the most updated photos of your pet available in your vehicle so that if your pet does get lost, you can increase your chances of having a local recognizing and finding your pet. 

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