With an animal on the road

Transporting an animal in a car requires special care and attention, which is due to various factors: the temperature inside and outside the vehicle, the capacity of the car and the size of the animal, its type and character, travel time and travel time. .

When it comes time to leave for weekends and holidays, problems begin with our little brothers: dogs, cats, hamsters, parrots and other pets. Some of them at this time are looking for a foster family among neighbors, relatives or in hotels for animals. There are also those (unfortunately) who get rid of the current household, releasing him somewhere far away from home “to freedom”. However, many take it with them.

Short weekend trips lasting about an hour are the least troublesome, but they still need to be properly organized. Let's start in the car. We often drive cars on the roads in which dogs lie on a shelf under the rear window. This is unacceptable for two reasons. Firstly, this place is one of the warmest in sunny weather, and lounging in the scorching heat can even be deadly for animals. Secondly, a dog, cat or canary in a cage on the rear shelf behaves like any loose object in a car during heavy braking or a head-on collision: they rush like a projectile. Also, do not allow the dog to stick its head out of the window, as this is harmful to its health and may frighten other drivers.

The best place for an animal traveling in a car is on the floor behind the front seats or in an uncovered combo trunk because it is the coolest place and animals do not pose a threat to the driver and passengers.

If the dog or cat is calm, he can also lie alone in the back seat, but if he is domesticated, impatient or constantly needs contact with people, he should be supervised because this can make driving difficult.

Also, birds cannot fly freely in the cabin, and turtles, hamsters, mice or rabbits must be in cages or aquariums, otherwise they may suddenly find themselves under one of the vehicle's pedals and the tragedy is ready not only for the animal. If he needs to stay in a parked car for a while, such as in front of a store, he should have a bowl of water and a gentle breeze through the slanted windows.

Drivers who want to take their pet abroad should familiarize themselves with the regulations in force in the countries they visit, because it may happen that they have to return from the border or leave the animal for several months, paid quarantine.

Consulted by Dr. Anna Steffen-Penczek, veterinarian:

- Allowing your pet to stick its head out of the window of a moving vehicle or keep it in a draft is very dangerous and can lead to serious ear problems. Before the trip, it is better not to feed the animals, as some suffer from motion sickness. In hot weather, especially on long trips, you should make frequent stops during which the animal will be out of the vehicle, take care of its physiological needs and drink cool (non-carbonated!) Water, preferably from its own bowl. It is strictly forbidden to leave animals in a warm car in place and without a bowl of water. Particularly vulnerable are birds that drink little, but often.