Dec 6, 2023
Holiday Travel with Pets in Michigan

Make Holiday Travels with Pets Much Safer & More Enjoyable

Holiday travel can be a stressful experience when factoring in the drive and gathering all the family members together for the adventure. However, if you are planning on taking your pet(s) along with you this holiday season, Thelen Honda in Bay City, MI, would like to offer you our favorite suggestions on how to improve the experience for everyone. Those of us who have pets know that it can be a challenge to bring your pets along with you if you’re planning on traveling across mid-Michigan this year. These simple additions to your existing travel plans will help keep your furry companion happier and safer throughout the experience. 

What You Should Do to Improve Your Holiday Travels with Your Pets

Consider a Kennel or Other Restraining Devices – To make the driving experience safer for everyone in the vehicle, including your furry family members, you might consider purchasing a kennel or specialized restraining device that will keep your pet stationary. The stress of a long ride can make your pet restless and may prevent them from staying in one place. If this happens, you suddenly have an additional distraction to deal with while also already handling potentially less-than-ideal road conditions. There are plenty of great options available that will keep your pet comfortable and safely restrained during the trip. 

Bring Food Your Pet Likes – While on the road, you can’t be certain about what pet foods will be available for you or how your pet will do on a new food brand. This also refers to when you arrive at your destination for the holidays. As such, make sure you bring extra food that you know your pet likes or can eat safely. If it’s a refrigerated brand, bring a cooler with a couple of ice packs along to keep it at a safe temperature. Especially if your pet has a specific dietary situation, this will make sure you don’t have to worry about scrambling to find food that is safe for your pet. 

Consider Taking More Frequent Rest Stops – Depending on how long your overall trip will be, we recommend stopping about every 90 minutes to let your pet out for a quick walk to let out some built-up energy. This also offers more chances to take a bathroom break and keep your pet happy and healthy. In conjunction with this, we highly advise bringing extra cleanliness items such as waste bags along to keep everything cleaned up at rest stops or your destination. 

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