Getting Your Pet Safely To the Veterinary Hospital

With the majority of the continental United Sates is in the deep freeze, my thoughts turned to the issue of safely transporting our pets by car. Not only do we have to concern ourselves with the road conditions and the subzero temperatures, but precautions are necessary to prevent the loss of a pet during the transportation process either in the car or while moving from house to car or from the car to the veterinary hospital. This is particularly important since many of our pets, if lost, would not be able to survive the current weather conditions. However, the following recommendations are important to consider whether it is summer or winter. Safe transport is key to not only your pets survival, but yours as well. 

So many times we see a client walking into our hospital clutching a terrified cat to their chest or with an unleashed dog walking at their side. Usually there is a collective gasp at the front desk and we run to assist the owner. Many people are surprised by our alarm. But, we have seen pets wrestle free of their owners grasp or pop out of poorly designed makeshift carriers (our favorite is the two laundry baskets, one inverted over the other, tied together with twist ties containing a wild eyed feline) to be set loose in our parking lot. Fortunately we have never seen a pet injured, but there is a very busy road in front of our practice and a  quick dart of a terrified pet in the right direction could mean tragedy. 

Sometimes the danger lies in the trip to and from the hospital in the car. Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents in the US and pets have been listed as number 8 in the top 10 causes for distracted driving.¹ According to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, slightly more than 50% of all drivers, at some time, will take a pet with them in the car. In a study published by the journal, Accident Analysis and Prevention, among drivers over 70 years of age, driving with a pet doubled their chance of an accident. These statistics clearly illustrate the need to have our pets secured in the car so they are not a distraction. Crates, seat belts and other sundry carrying devices can go a long way towards keeping the whole family safe. 

How to keep your pet safe ~

• Carriers -
  
  It’s important that you have an appropriately sized carrier that is in good repair for each of your pets. Be sure that they are functional, doors open and lock and it is sturdy, able to support the weight of your pet. You should have a carrier for each pet. Remember that although you may not bring all four (for example) of your cats to the hospital at one time (hopefully you aren’t that ambitious!), you may have a household emergency that requires evacuation of all of your pets which would be impossible without a carrier for each animal. Birds, pocket pets, snakes and tortoises need transportation as well. A visit to your local pet store can help you find the right carrier for your pet. 
  

• Leashes and Collars -

Before leaving the house, be sure that your dogs collar fits snuggly. Remember your pet may not be a willing travel companion and loose stationary collars (buckle-type collars)  may allow him/her easy escape. Chain or choke collars, slip leashes, and gentle leaders provide better control and security.

• Seat belts -
  
  Seat belts and carriers keep pets confined during travel and minimize distractions for the driver and reduce the risk of injury of both the pet and occupants in the event of an accident. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends that all pets traveling by car be restrained. Remember, even carriers can be secured using seat belts.  This fall the Center for Pet Safety in Reston, Va. tested pet seat belts. They found that only Safetypods Clickit three point safety harness to be the only harness of the 11 tested that performed adequately. Soon Subaru will be offering Safetypods harness as one of their vehicles accessaries.
• Warm up the car and cover the carrier - Small dogs, cats and exotic pets are typically much less tolerant of cold and drafts. Be sure that the car is warmed before you take them outside and cover their carrier with a warm blanket or towel to prevent exposure.

These few easy measures will help make the next trip to the veterinary hospital safe for both of you and assure that you all return home in good form. 

1. Parker, Akweli.  "10 Most Dangerous Distracted Driving Habits"  01 February 2012.  HowStuffWorks.com.   04 January 2014.