Travelling with your pet by car
Legal requirements, motion sickness and long-journey planning.
A loose pet in a car is a danger to everyone in it.
Restraint
Use a crash-tested crate, a boot guard or a proper harness attached to a seat belt. A pet on a lap or in the front is unsafe and can invalidate insurance.
Motion sickness
Common in young dogs and often outgrown. Feed a light meal a few hours before, keep the car cool, let them see out at the level of the horizon, and take short positive trips to somewhere fun. Your vet can prescribe effective anti-sickness medication.
Long journeys
Stop every two hours for a toilet break, water and a sniff. Never leave a pet in a parked car, even briefly, even with the windows open.
Before you go
Check the microchip details are up to date and pack a travel water bowl, poo bags, a spare lead and vet paperwork.
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