As an owner of 2 English Springer Spaniels, periodically I do take my dogs for a ride in my car. Sometimes it is to the vet for shots and other times, it is to the groomer for a haircut.

My dogs ride pretty well in the car and behave themselves.  My female, Nikki, has her spot on the floor behind my seat.  I put a thick towel there for when she lays down.  My male, Kiehin, likes the back seat because he can sit up and watch the world all around him and there is a nice thick folded quilt for him to be comfortable on.

Generally, I know a week or so in advance when I will need to take the dogs in the car.  A few days before travel in the car, I will start them on doses of Calm Down, a homeopathic calming supplement, twice a day. On the morning that they are to travel in the car, I do not feed them their breakfast because sometimes Nikki would get car sick. So if I do not feed them breakfast, then she does not get car sick.

It is important that you are aware of the internal temperature of your car if it is a very hot day and your dogs are traveling in the car with you.  You must provide a method of cooling either with the windows cracked to a safe level or run the car a/c.  Extreme heat can be deadly to your beloved animal.

How many times have you seen people drive by with a dog hanging out the window?

This is a major concern to me because I never ever allow my dogs to travel in that fashion, it is not beneficial to their health and safety.

A Dog with Head out the window.  Your dog looks like he is having the time of his life with his head out the window, mouth wide open, fur swept back. But whether you may realize it or not, this really is a danger to your dog. Other vehicles, especially larger ones like buses and trucks, may pass very close to your car, and hit your dog’s head. Your dog is also at risk of debris such as stones, sticks and rubbish flying and hitting him in the face. Think of a pebble shattering a windshield and imagine the damage it can do to your dog’s eye. And your dog is not restrained in the car, he could even jump out the window if he gets spooked or sees something to chase (an instinct that’s hard to resist). It’s OK to have your windows down a fraction to allow fresh air to blow in the car, but not enough to let your dog get his head out.

Electric windows. Another window risk involves the electric windows. If your dog has his head out the window and his paws on the arm rest, he could very likely step on the button, raising the window and trapping his head, with terrible consequences. Keep the child safety window lock in the locked position.

Jumping out of the car. Your dog is at high risk of injuring his spine or other joints if he has to jump a long distance to get out of your car, or likewise jumping into the car. This can apply to small dogs getting in and out of any type of vehicle, or big dogs in SUVs. Either assist your dog in and out of the car, or you
can buy a ramp to help them up and down.

Keeping your pet safe and secure while traveling in your car will go a long way to preventing injury or worse.

NaturVet Calm Down for Dogs
Help your dog through times of stress with this veterinarian recommended aid made from a natural blend of essence from selected flowers.

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