How To Keep Your Pet Calm In The Car

While some animals love car rides, others can throw a real tantrum the moment they even sense they’re going to be coaxed into the backseat. This can not only make daily activities difficult, but also make traveling with your pet a dreaded task. From uncontrollable howling to unfortunate accidents, the symptoms of a nervous, four-legged traveler can be the last thing you want to deal with.

Making your pet as comfortable as possible is the first step to calming them down and preventing any worrisome issues. Specially designed pet seats, seat covers and other products can ensure they have a stable resting area, so they can feel safe and secure. Many of these items are easy to install and clip right onto your car’s seatbelt, much like a child’s car seat.

Consider bringing something from home, to make the surroundings more familiar. While you may spend possibly hours every day in your vehicle, your pet sees the inside of a car maybe only a handful of times per year. To make the environment more welcoming, add one of your pet’s favorite blankets, stuffed animals or pillows.

Practice does make perfect, so taking your pet on a short car ride around the block occasionally can help them adjust to the feeling. If you’re only taking your pet on car rides to the vet or kennel, it’s likely they only associate car rides with negative experiences. Make the experience positive by driving them to the dog park, play dates or to visit friends and family.

If all else fails, ask your vet if there’s any sort of anxiety medicine your pet can take before car rides. Many animals use mild anxiety medications to cope with large crowds or thunderstorms, and using the same for travel anxiety is no different.