Keep Your Pet Safe On The Road

Many of us take our pets along when we go on vacation.

In fact, says the Travel Industry Association, some 29 million Americans bring their pets on vacation every year, and 76 percent of them travel by car. Of those, dogs are the most common (78 percent), and cats are a distant second, at 15 percent.

On The Early Show Tuesday, resident veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner shared tips on keeping pets safe away from home, and spotlighted products designed to do it.

According to Turner:

To have a successful road trip with your pet, you must get your pet ready for the road.

The first and most important thing to do is to take your pet to your veterinarian for a thorough physical examination to make sure that she is healthy and ready for the stress of being away from home. If any of your travel includes flights, you will need a health certificate from your vet. Some hotels may require a health certificate, too.

Speaking of hotels, be sure to call ahead and confirm that Fido is welcome. Ask the hotel about any requirements or restrictions it has for pet visitors. That applies to friends and relatives you'll be visiting, as well. You don't want your pet to be "left out in the cold" when you reach your destination!

Also, be certain your pet has proper identification, such as a microchip or tattoo. Your pet should also be wearing a leash, collar, and identification tag with your name and phone number on it. Make sure the phone number is one where you can be reached while you're away, such as a cell phone number or a friend's number.

Finally, make sure your pet is used to the carrier and car BEFORE you take a long trip. Do short practice runs so the pet can get acclimated to the new environment.

You should also pack all the supplies you'll need for you pet, suich as portable food and water bowls, a leash, a collar with an i.d. tag, and a first aid kit (in case of emergencies or minor accidents). Also, take a full description of your pet and a current picture. This is important just in case your pet escapes, or is stolen. You'd have a ready description and photo to begin the process of looking for him.

It's important to have your dog on a leash AT ALL TIMES when out of the car. Small dogs and cats should always be kept in their carrier, to prevent escape. Traveling can be stressful for your pet and her instincts may cause her to run away just out of fear. Having him properly restrained would, of course, prevent that. Plus -- never let your dog run free at a rest stop or park: There a risk of them running into traffic and being hit by a car.

There are many safety products on the market meant to protect your pet while she's in the car. It's very important to have your pet restrained while you're driving. If you have to suddenly hit the brakes, or have an accident, you don't want your pet to go flying through the windshield as a result of his not having been properly strapped in. Cats and dogs should always be in their carrier. Medium and larger dogs should either be in a carrier or harnessed in with a pet seatbelt.

Here are some of the latest products that are available:

PET BUCKLE safety harness
www.barkbuckleup.com

SLEEPYPOD pet car seat
www.barkbuckleup.com

KURGO Auto Zip Line
www.barkbuckleup.com

FURRY TRAVELERS to go bowl
www.barkbuckleup.com

Portable Jeep Pet Ramp - Green
Price: $129.97
www.tripswithpets.com

Backpack Carrier
Price: $51.95
www.tripswithpets.com

Duragear Pet Travel Hammock
Price: $59.97
www.tripswithpets.com

Outward Hound Pet Lookout Car Booster Seat (13.5"W X 13.5"D X 7.5"H; For Pets Up To 20 lbs.)
www.kyjen.com

RoamEO GPS Pet Locator
www.roameoforpets.com

Web sites to check out include:

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/caring_for_pets_when_you_travel/
http://www.travelpets.com/
http://www.tripswithpets.com/
http://www.dogfriendly.com/
http://www.barkbuckleup.com
http://www.www.aaa.com