Travel by car? Always with my pet

As the Easter holidays approach, you will be planning a getaway and your pet will be the best and most faithful travel companion. Traveling by car with your dog or cat will not be a problem and will become a safe and pleasant experience if you follow current regulations and use the necessary accessories.

But many questions arise when organizing a car trip: where should the animal be placed? What regulations does the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) indicate? What accessories do I need to comply with the regulations? We clarify everything in this post so that your car trip is a fabulous experience.

Restraint systems for dogs and cats in the car

One of the most important points when traveling by car is that the animal is comfortable, restrained and safe, preventing it from moving freely inside the vehicle, being able to interrupt driving at any time or, in the event of a collision. , may be fired. To do this, we find various accessories on the market that adapt to different vehicles and the size of each pet. These are the main and most used ones:

• Carrier:

  It will be a comfortable and cozy space if your pet is small. It will always be placed inside the passenger compartment of the car, on the floor and behind the front seats. Placing it on the seat, secured with the belt, is a common practice, but, in the event of an accident, the strap could crush the carrier, causing it to break at the top and the pet could suffer serious injuries.

  As for the measurements that the carrier must have , the regulations do not determine anything specific, so everything will depend on the size of the animal that accompanies you on the trip. In the market you can find accessories of this type in different formats - rigid and plastic, fabric and foldable... - and sizes, ranging from approximately 41 cm long and 34 cm high to more than 100 cm long. and 70 high. There are also metal cages for, for example, large dogs. These, as well as the larger carriers, will be placed in the trunk of the vehicle and in a position transverse to the direction of travel.

• Harness:

  This security system is especially used with dogs. The harness is attached to the vehicle's seat belt and, taking into account the length we leave on the strap, we will prevent the animal from hitting the front seats in the event of a crash or sudden braking.

• Divider grid:

  If our animal travels in the trunk, a separating grid will have to be placed between it and the cabin of the car, allowing the pet to move freely without disturbing the driver or the occupants of the vehicle. But it must be taken into account that, since it is not restrained, it can suffer injuries in the event of an accident, so the ideal would be to combine this system with a carrier that protects the animal.

Some tips for traveling calmly and safely

In addition to the security systems that we have mentioned, you should take into account some 'tips' that will make your trip easier and that will make your pet enjoy it as much as you do.

• If your pet is not used to traveling by car, it is advisable that you start by taking short trips so that it gradually adapts to this new situation. There is a possibility that he may suffer from dizziness, just as it happens to people, so, in that case, you can consult with your veterinarian to recommend some type of appropriate medication for these cases. And, little by little, you will get used to it. Try, however, not to give him too much food and water before going out to avoid possible vomiting.

• Put some of his accessories nearby - a toy, a blanket... - so he feels more relaxed and calm. You can use a protective seat cover to prevent the car from getting covered in hair, mud, drool or anything else unexpected.

• Make sure you have all the necessary documentation on hand - health card, identification chip, etc.-. To travel with your pet by car it is necessary to know the current legislation both in Spain and in the country to which you are traveling if you are going to travel abroad.

• Make frequent stops , approximately every two hours, so that your pet can relieve itself, drink water and burn off energy (so that it can remain calm for the rest of the trip).

• Never leave your pet locked in the car , even if the vehicle is in the shade, since its temperature can rise very quickly and in a few minutes cause the animal to suffer heat stroke.

• Bring the accessories and food necessary to take care of your little one during the days you are going to be away (we recommend buying food from the Dibaq Sense range !).

• And enjoy. Now you just need to reach the destination and enjoy a new adventure with your pet. Have a good trip!