Is your favorite road trip buddy a senior now? Traveling with an older dog or cat is possible – and fun! You just need to make a few adjustments. Here are our top tips for traveling with your senior dog or cat.
Wait! Who do you call the elderly?
You might not think of that Your pet as “older‘, but cats claim senior status when they turn 11 to 14 years old. Small dogs are considered seniors when they are 11 to 12 years old. Medium-sized dogs become seniors by the age of 10. Larger dogs are seniors by 8 years and large breed dogs are seniors by 7 years.
When changes happen slowly in our pets, sometimes we don’t even notice them. But the subtle adjustments you’ve made to grooming your dog or cat at home require a little more thought on a road trip.
Preparing for Traveling with Senior Pets
The memories of traveling with older pets are precious. And with a few simple steps, you can make the journey more comfortable and safer for your senior travel companion.
Consult your veterinarian
You didn’t need us to tell you that, did you? Before embarking on a trip with your senior pet, check with your veterinarian for suggestions on keeping them safe and happy. Also, confirm that no adjustments are needed to your pet’s medication.
Set medication reminders
Packing even for an overnight trip becomes more complicated as our pets get older. If your vet has prescribed medication for your pet, set an alarm on your phone while traveling to remind you of the normal dosing schedule. And don’t forget her regular medications like flea or heartworm treatments.
Schedule breaks more often
You’ll be amazed at how easy your journey will be if you stop frequently. Yes, I know you want to get to your awesome destination fast. However, if you stop every two hours, your older dog or cat will enjoy the trip more. And you will also arrive less stiff!
If your travel partner is a cat, you can use Disposable Cat Crates in the car. Put a new one on the floorboard every day. Just try it at home first so it looks familiar to your cat!
Get a ramp
Getting in and out of a car every few hours can be tough on aging joints. So get a ramp. And take the time to teach your dog how to use it before you head out.
You can find many pet ramp options online. Look for one that can support your dog’s weight and will fit in your vehicle.
Pad your pup
In his youth, your dog was probably fine lying on a concrete patio. But older bones need padding. And on chilly days, hard surfaces can be chilly.
So think about packing a simple pillow to make snoozing under the table more comfortable at pet-friendly restaurants, wineries or breweries when traveling with senior pets.
Bring something familiar
All pets – but especially those with limited vision and hearing – feel safer when they are around familiar things. Along with all the other things to pack for your pet, be sure to bring their favorite bed or blanket so they can snuggle up in places that are new to them.
If your dog is used to sitting next to you in the car but gets put in a crate on a long drive for safety reasons, put something in the crate that smells like you. You may not think that your dirty socks are a special treat. But your puppy who loves you will appreciate them. And one of the blessings of traveling with an elderly pet? You’ve probably outgrown the desire to destroy your belongings by chewing.
Plan less strenuous outdoor times
Your older dog may still love to explore. But pay attention to all the fights he has. As our dog Ty grew older, he lost none of his enthusiasm for hiking. But we were beginning to notice that Ty had trouble scaling them when our route included hills without stopping to rest.
By choosing less strenuous activities or trails with less elevation change, you and your dog can continue to enjoy your outings together.
Watch out for extreme temperatures
Both extreme cold and heat can affect pets more severely as they age.
We’ve seen that high temperatures and humidity depleted Ty’s energy more quickly as he got older. So, in addition to looking for flatter hikes, we spent more time checking the weather forecast than planning our activities.
Consider a dog cart
Ty lived to be 15 – quite an achievement for a Shar-pei! But the older he got, the less he wanted to hike. That doesn’t mean we haven’t had a great time outdoors! We also had a younger German Shepherd who still needed his exercise.
It was important to us to do things as a family, so we have Ty a dog cart. If you have an older pet and another that needs even more exercise, this could be a good option for you too!
Enjoy sightseeing by car
When we were considering how to give Ty some rest while keeping Buster entertained, a car ride was another popular option for us. Ty usually curled up in his bed and slept. And Buster would keep a watchful eye on everything and everyone we passed.
This is a great way to see wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and other sensitive locations where dogs are not allowed on the trails.
I expect that in the future our little boy Myles and his older brother Maynard will also benefit from sightseeing road trips.
Get creative
Sometimes you have to think a little differently to find the right mix for your older pet. This is a time to get creative! Here are a few examples:
Once we stumbled across a campground in the Bridger-Teton National Forest near Jackson, Wyoming, and decided to rent a campground by the lake for the afternoon. We set up the zipline for the dogs, hung up our hammocks, unpacked our picnic treats, and spent a few hours enjoying the view. There were even some trails we walked with Buster!
Another time we found a pet-friendly, scenic train ride that gave Buster plenty of stimulation and Ty could curl up for a nap.
When it comes to traveling with senior pets, the only limit is your imagination!
Travel further with your older pets
Dogs and cats (and ferrets, hamsters, rats, birds – heck, all pets) need an enrichment every day. New smells and environments can offer them that.
But most of all, they want to be with you. So take your senior pet with you on your next trip. Hopefully our tips make it easy and fun.
Have you found other activities to do with your older dogs? Share your tips in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you!
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