Travel With Your Older Dog

You might be ready to hit the open road on vacation, but is your senior dog? Not all dogs can adjust to life on the road, even for a short time. A sick, frail, and super skittish dog is probably best left at home with a pet sitter checking-in on her daily. But if your older dog is healthy and you do some advance planning road trips can end up being lots of fun.

If your dog has never traveled by car before take a few trips around the block to see how she reacts. It’s better to find out now that she easily becomes carsick or if she just isn’t cut out for this type of traveling before the big day. If this is the case, your dog may need medication for travel stress. Talk to your veterinarian about this option.

Your dog should know basic obedience commands and be leashed trained. This is important for safety because you’ll encounter a variety of new people, places and sounds (think: fireworks and cars backfiring) that could possibly scare her and cause her to bolt. Some dogs tend to become more scared of things as they get older. You’ll also need to make more frequent stops for potty breaks during your trip and a leash is needed to keep her safe while allowing her to relieve herself.

Remember to pack a few things for your dog too. Here’s a list of must-haves:

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Travel With Your Older Dog