What to bring on your next summer trip with pets

If you can’t imagine going on a summer vacation without your pet, road trips are a great option. But before you hit the road, make sure you’ve packed everything your pet might need on the trip. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of must-have items for any summer road trip with pets, whether it’s across town, state, or even the country!

A cooler with lots of food

No summer road trip is complete without a selection of snacks for you and your pet to munch on as the miles go by. Before heading out, fill a cooler with your pet’s favorite Freshpet treats and recipes plus a selection of pet-safe human snacks that you can enjoy together. Not sure which snacks fall into this category? Take a look at our list of human foods your pet may also enjoy. Keeping them in a cooler will ensure they stay fresh during the ride, no matter how far.

A selection of engaging toys

Looking out the window is only going to keep your pet occupied for so long, which means you’ll need to have car-friendly toys ready for when they need a distraction.

• For dogs: Our number one recommendation would be a Kong, as they come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are easy for your pet to play while standing still. Plus, they can be filled with their favorite Freshpet treats or recipes, keeping them busy for much of the ride.
• For cats: Doc and Phoebe Indoor Hunting Feeder is a great car safe toy. Just like a Kong, it can be filled with your cat’s favorite snacks, which they must “hunt” and work to extract.

A splash-proof water bowl

Chances are your pet’s regular water bowl won’t be enough for a road trip. Instead, you’ll want to invest in a splash-proof model designed specifically for use in the car. Kurgo No Spill Dog Travel Bowl is a great option as it has a tapered lip, which helps reduce spillage during travel, and a unique wedge design that allows it to lay flat on car seats. Bonus points for the fact that it’s also made from food grade and dishwasher safe material!

Some of the comforts of home

As exciting as being on vacation may seem, all the changes can leave your pet feeling a little off balance. To minimize these feelings of anxiety, it is helpful to bring items from home that have a familiar smell. Some great options include those for your pet:

• Soft mattress
• Favorite cover
• Stuffed or rope toys
• Any other items that could easily contain the smell of the house

Letting your pet sit with these items during the ride and at rest areas will give them a sense of familiarity and comfort in an ever-changing environment.

Products that calm anxious animals

If the comforts of home won’t curb your pet’s anxiety, you’ll want to pack a few relief items designed to calm nervous pets. These could include:

• Thunder T-shirt: This vest-shaped shirt is designed to apply gentle yet steady pressure to calm all types of anxiety, fear and over-excitement issues in cats and dogs.
• Feliway Classic Vaporizer: This soothing spray is designed to make traveling less stressful for cats. Just spray it in their crate 10 minutes before you put your cat in there and reapply every four hours.
• ADAPTIL Calm On-The-Go Collar: This necklace releases calming pheromones to help dogs feel reassured and relaxed in all difficult situations.

All of these accessories are a great alternative to sedatives, which require a prescription from a veterinarian and can have side effects.

Accessories to beat the heat

Even in an air-conditioned car, your pet may need extra help to stay cool. Luckily, there are a number of cooling accessories that are easy to store and use on your summer trip.

• Use a cooling pad: Put on a cooling pad, like the one in Green pet shopon top of the car seat is an easy way to keep your pet cool during the ride, especially if your car has leather seats.
• Pack a cooling bandana: You can also try using a cooling bandana, like this one from EVERYTHING FOR PAWSIt’s a more car-friendly alternative to the traditional cooling vest.

You now have your to-do list, but if you’re looking for inspiration on destinations or stops for your road trip, why not take a look at this list of the most pet-friendly cities !