If you?re anything like me, planning and getting ready for a trip requires lots of lists. I always have list of travel plans and confirmations, directions, places to stop, restaurants, and shops to visit, and packing lists for everyone in my family. But one furry member of our household who seems to always get forgotten is our beloved dog. I?ve learned over the years that our trip is much more pleasant when we bring our dog and are actually prepared for what she will need. Here are the essentials for a pet travel kit?trust me, it will make your travels much easier.
- Food and treats. Especially if you feed your pet a particular brand that you may not be able to get on the road.
- Water. You don?t want to be caught with no reliable water source. We always keep some in the trunk of the car, just in case.
- Water bowl. A collapsible bowl is great for saving space.
- Leash and harness.
- Poop bags.
- Medicine and vitamins.
- A health certificate and shot record. Check with your vet to see if this is required for your trip?you may need it for crossing borders or at campsites.
- Identification tags. Make sure they have current information, including your cell phone so you can be reached while traveling.
- Photo of your pet. Just in case you get separated, it is helpful to have a picture to pass around and easily turn into posters.
- Car seat cover. This is very necessary to protect the seats in your car. You can also use a towel depending on the size of your pet.
- Wet wipes. We have used these to clean up so many pet-related messes on the road.
- Paw booties. These are essential if you?re camping, hiking, or spending time outdoors in hot or uneven conditions
- Toys. We like to pack a few favorite toys and then bring along something new to spice up our time on the road.
- Flashlight. Trust me, this makes nighttime walks much more pleasant, especially if you are in an unfamiliar area.
- Lint roller.
- First aid kit. Make sure everything is updated and will work for your dog?s current size.
- Pet insect repellant and sunscreen.
- Brush and shampoo. Depending on the length of the trip, we may get our dog groomed right before we leave and not worry about bringing shampoo, but we only do that for shorter trips.
