Dog-friendly Travel Essentials – We have been traveling a lot with our dogs for almost 13 years. I’m one of those dog moms who feels that a family vacation just isn’t a vacation without our precious furry family members! We have learned a lot and made more than a few mistakes along the way to create a fabulous holiday with dogs. At this point we are planning a great vacation with the dog and the necessary travel with the dog for it! We know exactly how to plan and prepare for a great dog-friendly vacation.
In this post, I share all the must-haves for traveling with a dog. I want to talk about my dog travel kit, including all the dog travel essentials and dog travel gear you need to pack for a fabulous dog vacation.
Dog-friendly Travel Essentials
The most important things you need on holiday with your dog are food and water and bowls to serve them in. This should be the easy part, just throw some dog food in your bag and get water from the hotel sink, right? Not exactly. There are more considerations for feeding your dog on vacation compared to feeding at home.
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Whatever you feed your dog, think about comfort and temperature regulation. Is it necessary to store dog food in the refrigerator? Do you want to heat it up? Do you mix ingredients for your dog’s food? Make sure you have everything you need to prepare dog food while traveling and at your vacation destination.
Most hotels have mini fridges and microwaves in the rooms, but not all hotels have them. If you don’t know the hotel where you and your dog will be staying, make sure they have everything you need to prepare food for your dog.
The same with a private holiday home. Find out all the equipment and tools you’ll need on hand to make sure you have everything you need to make dog food.
When it comes to water, make sure you have plenty of fresh, clean water for your dog while you drive, fly or sail to your destination. If I’m not sure about the quality of the water we get, I bring bottled water for my dogs. I bring water everywhere I take my dogs when we go on vacation.
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I feed my dogs twice a day a mixture of dry dog food and rolls, wet or canned dog food. At home I often add ingredients that I make to them; eggs, chicken or salmon. But when we travel, I cut back and simplify their meals. I will measure and pack dry food for them for the entire time we will be traveling. I bring a measuring cup so that the amount of food matches. I also bring small, individual packets of wet food to mix with the dry food. These two ingredients make preparing dog food really easy!
I bring collapsible food and water bowls when I travel with my dogs. They fold flat and travel well and take up very little space in my dog’s travel bag.
The most important thing in this category is a copy of your dog’s updated rabies vaccination certificate. I keep a hard copy of my dogs’ rabies certificates in my car, as well as legible pictures of their rabies certificates on my phone so I can access and present them wherever desired.
If your dog has current health problems, please bring documentation of this. Have information from your dog’s vet handy in case of injury or illness. Find out where you can get emergency veterinary care at your destination if you need it.
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While on a long road trip with our dogs, we needed immediate veterinary attention due to throat irritation caused by the cleaning products in the hotel room we stayed in. We were lucky to find a great vet in the middle of Ohio! We were so grateful to have found him.
Focus on your dog’s health when preparing for a dog-friendly vacation. Forgetting medication, whether for a medical condition or heartworm, flea and tick prevention, can leave them unprotected! Even a short break in protection can cause your dog to become infected with fleas, ticks or heartworms!
If you forget your dog’s medication at home, you may not be able to find a veterinarian willing to fill your dog’s prescription. Don’t forget to pack all the medicine your dog needs. Oddly enough, we always travel when it’s time to give the dogs their monthly heartworm/flea/tick preventative! I pack one dose so my dogs never break the protection.
We are big fans of probiotics and joint health supplements for dogs. My Husky, Icy really needs it. She is now 13 and has developed a sensitive stomach and arthritis so canine probiotics and canine joint supplements are very important to her comfort and health. I always remember to wrap them for her.
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Don’t forget to pack dog treats and chews for the dog. Depending on how good a traveler your dog is, you can bring some calming dog treats, or maybe even calming clothing like a Thundershirt if she’s very nervous in unfamiliar places. Icy and Phoebe were very experienced travelers so they didn’t need calming products, but I always have treats and lots of chews to keep them entertained and happy in the room and when we stop at local cafes. It’s their holiday too, so treat them to some good treats!
Do you brush your dog’s teeth or do you use brushless oral care for dogs? Consider bringing them as well as dog chews. I pack teething treats for my dog, one for each day of the trip. I like to keep up with my dogs’ dental care even on vacation.
Dogs’ fur can get dirty and tangled during travel. Keep them clean and looking their best by bringing a comb or brush, dog shampoo and conditioner, and other dog grooming items that your dog uses.
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Disclaimer: These products were given to me by Zymox, one of my favorite brands, and I decided to run a giveaway and share them with you!
What activities do you want to do with your dog? Are you just going for a walk with your dog, or are you going to hike, camp, sail, swim, run, dive in the harbor or go sightseeing with your dog? Whatever you do with your dog on holiday, make sure you have all the right equipment and supplies.
You may need a dog life jacket if you plan to be in or near water with your dog. A life jacket can keep your dog safe around pools, lakes, oceans, even streams you may cross on hiking trails.
If your dog is an older puppy or has mobility issues, you may want to consider a dog stroller, a dog backpack, or a front dog carrier.
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If you will be walking on very hot sand or walking in unfamiliar or potentially uncomfortable terrain, consider dog shoes or booties to protect their paws.
Whatever you do with your dog on holiday, bring plenty of water! You’d be surprised how much water your dog needs just for an afternoon walk, and you don’t want to run out of water. Do not rely on fountains or bathrooms to provide clean drinking water for your dog. Always bring some with you.
We never travel with dogs without our first aid kit. Icy is a rough husky. He plays hard and loves to explore every nook and cranny. Her curiosity and rough play have caused her several injuries over the years. We go through lots of hydrogen peroxide, adhesive pet bandages, antibacterial ointment and wound care cream. Dogs can get into all sorts of things they shouldn’t, so be prepared.
Pack some cleaning supplies because I guarantee there will be a mess! Muddy paws, potty accidents, dog vomit, a skunk encounter (don’t laugh! It happens), and dogs just walking into things they shouldn’t. The chaotic possibilities are endless! Here are some supplies you may want to pack in your dog’s travel bag or keep in your car:
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*Dog Car Seat Cover – We have a 4Knines car seat cover for our SUV. It is a must for us when we travel with dogs, it has saved us many times!
It is a good idea to bring a blanket or a dog bed to give your dog some comfort at home. I do not recommend washing them right before departure, so that their smell and the smell of home remain on things. Familiar scents will make them feel more comfortable. Favorite toys or interactive games
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