DO NOT LET YOUR PET LEAN OUT OF THE WINDOW.
Each year road safety week, focuses on accident prevention and safe driving. However, one aspect of road safety which is often ignored is driving when accompanied by your pets. The safety of pets is less widely publicised – yet the results can be devastating if your pet poses a distraction or hazard whilst you are driving or if you have a car accident with an animal on board.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 means owners are responsible for the welfare of their animals, and this includes whilst they are in a car or another vehicle. The highway code stipulates that you must ensure that dogs, cats and other animals are suitably restrained so that they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you have to make an emergency stop.
Failure to properly restrain your pet may also invalidate your car insurance.
Planning is key
- Always plan your route, ensuring time for stops and factoring in contingency plans for delays.
- Carefully consider the size and temperament of your pet and how much space they need to be comfortable when travelling.
Unless you are taking your pets a short distance to your Vet, you should ideally avoid travelling with your pet if they are:
- Seriously injured, bleeding or vomiting.
- New born and or incapable of feeding themselves and not accompanied by its mother
- A pet that is heavily pregnant or has given birth within 48 hours of the journey
If you need to travel with your pet, they should be allowed to get completely comfortable with their environment. Allow them to sniff around in the car, before your journey and find a comfortable place to sit. Put their favourite blanket or toy where you would like them to travel.
All cars should be equipped with a first aid kit. A human first aid kit is likely to contain articles that you can use to stop bleeding or administer first aid to your pet; ideally you should have a pet specific first aid kit with including specific pet, chew-resistant bandages, a foil blanket to keep them warm and insulate them from the ground, gauze pads, saline and an absorbent mat to sit your injured pet on.
Before a long journey:
Before setting off, encourage your pet to go to the toilet and have a quick run around the garden, go for a short walk or have some form of exercise.
To avoid the risk of travel sickness, arrange for your pet to eat a couple of hours before travelling. Some animals can become more travel sick if they can see out of a window, so restricting their view might be a good option. If your pet suffers regularly from travel sickness, your vet might be able to prescribe anti-sickness or anti-diarrhoea medicine.
A pet carrier of an appropriate size for your pet offers the best protection for your pet and will reduce their chances of distracting you on your journey. They can also practice sleeping in the crate at home and quickly become comfortable and settled within it. Put their favourite blankets and toys inside and position it somewhere they like to be, leave it with the door open so they can wander in and out and become familiar and happy within it.
Secure the carrier safely within the car in case you turn a corner sharply or have to brake suddenly.
For larger animals such as big dogs, a carrier might not be appropriate. Instead you should consider a restraining harness, which can be attached to the car seatbelts to keep your dog safe.
Stop regularly to allow your animal to go to the toilet and get some fresh air.
Ensure that your animal has easy access to drinking water, so they don’t become dehydrated.
Take a supply of their usual pet food and favourite snacks, in case your journey is delayed.
Never leave pets in the car on a hot day… the temperature inside a vehicle can be twice as high as that outside
Keep animals cool by turning on the air conditioning or opening the windows furthest from the animal. Never drive with your animal’s head out of the window.
Ideally, you shouldn’t leave pets in the car alone but, if it’s unavoidable, park in the shade and leave windows open on both sides of the car.
It is strongly advised that you complete an online or attend a practical first aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency. Visit http://www.FirstAidforPets.net or call 0208 675 4036 for more information about our courses.
First Aid for Pets provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical or veterinary advice. First Aid for Pets is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.