Outings with your pet

These days there are so many options available for outings with your pets that you could be quite spoilt for choice. From an outing in the park to an all-day canoeing trip to an extended vacation at the establishments with special facilities for pets, you can take your pick. No matter what you pick, the chances are that there will be long car rides involved. Here are some tips on how to get your pets to enjoy car rides.

There are three major reasons why pets do not like to ride in cars:

-the noise and the vibration upset them

-they cannot see out of the windows and

-car rides normally end up at the vet’s office

You have to begin by creating a platform or a place from which they can look out of the windows. This could even be a pet car seat or a harness. The view will provide your pets with lots of reassurances, and they will not be so disturbed by strange noises or unfamiliar surroundings. Just make sure that your pet carrier does not slide around. A pillow with a rough cloth cover (to prevent slippage) is ideal because the pillow will cushion the vibration. Make sure that the carrier itself is held securely in place. If possible, use a harness for better protection for your pets in case of an accident.

Remember not to let the pet eat or drink just before the ride to avoid a possible mess inside the car. For the first "fun" ride take your dog or cat out to a quiet wooded spot with lots of birdsong and nature noises. Make sure that the window is rolled down a little bit so that your pet can hear. Soon, you will find that they begin to look forward to these rides. Before you begin these trips, make sure that your pets are absolutely up-to-date with their medications like Sentinel.