These are the things I pack for my dogs'.
My dogs and I are soon heading to my Mom's house for a week to spend with family. I thought I'd share what I pack for my dogs when we head away from home.
Before a Road Trip
If I know my dogs are due for a health checkup, tests, or vaccines before we head on a road trip, I make sure those are taken care of before we leave. It's especially important to have my dogs' current rabies tags when we're away from home.
I make sure my dogs' name tags are legible and not in bad shape. If a worst-case scenario happens and my dogs are separated from me, I want people to be able to see their names and my contact information clearly.
I also make sure my senior dog, Shadow, has his medication refilled if it's low before we leave. His meds help ease pain in his old joints. I wouldn't want Shadow to feel pain while we're on vacation when it could be prevented with his daily meds.
I'm fortunate my dogs don't get motion sickness. However, the Red Cross Pet First Aid app suggests giving travel medications over a few trial days before your actual travel day.
My dogs love a joy ride in the car! They enjoy it because I have everything they need (plus some of the comforts of home).
Things Already in My Car
Fortunately, I keep a lot of things in my car at all times to ensure My Pets' Preparedness for the Road. Most of the items below are stored in a basket tucked away in a small corner of the trunk:
First aid kit
Roll of self-adherent bandage wrap
Bowls
Empty jug for water
Squeezable filtered water*
Packs of wipes
Towels
Blankets*
Few small plush toys*
Spare collars
Spare leashes
Rolls of potty bags
Hairbrush
Coats and raincoats
Socks and shoes
Goggles
Printed copies of health history*
Some items listed above with an asterisk (*) are inside of the car. The squeezable filtered water is always filled because we use it on regular days and at the park.
There's a blanket covering the backseat and a couple on the floors. The blanket on the backseat is primarily to protect my leather seats from their nails and dog hair, but it also provides them a little extra comfort.
The blankets on the floor are for overnight stays at my Mom's house or a hotel. These serve as my dogs' bedding at night. It also protects furniture from dog hair. If there's a couch and a TV, Shadow's laying on the couch to watch TV.
Small plush toys are also on the backseat and the floors. I want to ensure my dogs are comfortable for short and long car rides.
A printed copy of my dogs' latest shot records is in the glove compartment. I keep those in the car in case an incident arises where I need to share that information. Since my dogs have been going to PetSmart's Banfield Hospital, I also have access to their medical records online and through an app. It's convenient if I need to show it to a hotel or anywhere else that requests to see it.
Extra Things I Pack
When I take my dogs on an extended road trip, I want to make sure they have everything they need. I could buy things I forget while we're on the road, but I'm not fond of shopping (makes me anxious) and would like to avoid doing so if possible.
Below are the extra things I pack when we head away from home:
Medication
Extra jug(s) of water
Dog food
Dog treats
Collar/harness with current rabies tags
Extra rolls of potty bags
Grooming supplies (i.e., nail clippers, nail file, tweezers, toothbrush, toothpaste, waterless shampoo)
Bandanas (because they need to look dapper when they're out in public)
Small overnight bag
Ramp
I've been told I pack too much for my dogs. That may be so, but I want to make sure my dogs have what they need when they need it.
Most of the items are small and fit into a small overnight bag. Depending on how long we're away from home and how much dog food I pack for the trip, the small containers of dog food may also fit into the overnight bag.
Other items, like the jugs of water and ramp, takes up some space. However, I consider these essential items. Shadow needs the ramp to get in and out of the car with ease at his old age, so that's not something I'll leave behind ever again.
Items like blankets, towels, and coats don't take up much space when laid flat. Rolling or folding them also takes up little space, but it really depends on the layout of the trunk and how items are organized in it.
My Thoughts
My dogs have been on many short and long road trips. I've been told my dogs are more well-traveled than most people. Packing the things listed above make road tripping with my dogs convenient. I'm able to focus on other aspects of a road trip, like finding a dog-friendly hotel.
What's Next?
My dogs and I have a long road trip in a few months. I may post about our road trip journey. Let me know if you'd like to see more about road tripping with dogs by leaving a like on this post. You can also email me questions or topic suggestions.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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