If you are like most people, your dog isn’t just a pet, it is a member of your family. As with any member of your family, your dog’s safety should always be your top priority. When it comes to car riding, there are several ways your dog could get injured. These are some of the possible dangers your dog could face while riding in a car, and my safety tips to help protect your dog.
Falls:
There are a couple of ways your dog could fall and injure itself while traveling in a car. If you have an open window, your dog to could lean out too far or jump out causing him/her to fall. Falling from a car’s window while the car is sitting still could cause scrapes and broken bones, but if the car is moving a fall from the window could result in death. It is also possible for your dog to fall onto the floorboard of the car. This happens a lot when the driver is forced to stop short. This too can result in scrapes and broken bones.
The best way to protect your dog from falling injuries is to keep him/her buckled in. Most pet supply stores sell short leashes made especially for seat-belting your dog in the car.
Eye Injuries:
Everyone has seen an adorable dog riding in a car with its head out the window with its ears flapping in the wind. It’s so cute, that it’s in television commercials and movies. However, it can put your dog at risk for an eye injury. If a bug or road debris flies into your dog’s face and hits its eye, your dog could be blinded. Bushes and tree limbs also pose a danger for your dog as well. If your dog likes to have its head out the window while going for a ride, it’s best that you keep the window up to a safe level while you are traveling at a high rate of speed. Wait until you are in a slower speed zone to allow your dog to let its ears blow in the wind.
Overheating:
Unlike the last two possible dangers, this one is completely avoidable. We’ve all heard the stories of small children succumbing to heat exhaustion while locked inside a hot car. Your dog is no different from these children. If you lock your dog inside a hot car, it can very easily overheat and become sick or even die. Unlike small children leaving your dog in a car isn’t against the law in most places. However, it still isn’t a good idea. The best thing you can do is leave your dog at home if he/she will have to be alone in the car for more than five minutes.
These are just a few of the possible dangers your dog can face while out on a joyride with you and your family. It’s up to you to think ahead and try to prevent disasters before they happen.
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