Taking a road trip with your pet is always an unforgettable adventure. Our four-legged besties make traveling that much more rewarding, so here’s a few tips to ensure their well-being.

By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist

1. Find pet friendly hotels on petswelcome.com or bringfido.com

2. Have a copy of your pet’s medical and vaccination records with you. It’s helpful to have in case there’s an emergency. Also, if you want to send them to doggy daycare for an afternoon, they will need your pet’s records, so research ahead and find a high rated one near your accommodations.

3. Research ahead of time to find the nearest emergency vet clinic. It’s important to know in case you need one right away.

4. I know it’s fun for our pets to roam about the vehicle freely on a road trip, but it can be dangerous if there’s an accident or you have to brake suddenly. Make sure cats are in a carrier secured with a seat belt. And there are safety harnesses for dogs that can be attached to seat belts. Or put them inside their crate.

5. Some animals don’t travel well, so talk to your vet about motion sickness medication if need be. And don’t feed your pet right before you leave. This should help cut down on car sickness.

6. Stop every couple of hours to let your pet around for a few minutes. It helps them not to feel too cramped or bored.

7. DO NOT ever leave your pet in the car in hot temperatures–not even for five minutes.

8. Make sure your pet’s tags with your contact information are up to date. Also make sure they’re microchipped before you hit the road. Tags can fall off and in case you’re ever separated from your dog, you want him/her to be chipped with your phone number and address.

9. Always have a muzzle. Your dog may be the sweetest, but if he/she gets out of the element they’re used to, they could become scared and aggressive.

10. Pack your dog’s favorite toy so they have some of the comforts of home.

11. Do a couple short road trips with your pet as a test run to help prepare them.

12. Download the American Red Cross Pet First Aid App before your road trip. They have great advice.

13. Get pet insurance if you’re dog doesn’t have a pre-existing condition. You’d rather be cautious. It can save you lots of money.