Restrain your pet in the car. Use a pet safety seat to confine your pet to the back seat of the car so it cannot come to the front of the car and distract you. Secure the pet safety seat to the backseat of the car in the same manner you would secure a baby's car seat. Attach the safety harness that comes with the seat to your pet's harness. Pet safety seats fit small to medium-size animals. Use a pet travel crate as an alternative, or a pet seat belt if you have a large pet.
Avoid allowing your pet to hang its head out the window. Roll down your rear car window and place a guard screen in front of it. The screen allows your pet to enjoy the outdoor breeze while protecting it from debris that can hit it in the face.
Bring all your pet essentials. Pack pet food, bottled water, pet medications, a leash, pet toys, a pet first aid kit, plastic bags and a waste scoop. Bring your own pet food because once you get to your destination, you might discover your pet's preferred brand of food is not available.
Make frequent pit stops. Put your pet on a leash and allow it to roam around, relieve itself and get some exercise. Give your pet some water. Use bottled water to avoid upsetting its stomach. If you're traveling around your pet's usual feeding times, feed the pet during a pit stop, using its regular food.
Avoid leaving your pet in the car because cars can easily overheat or get too cold. Your pet can get heatstroke in minutes in a hot car in the summer, or it can freeze to death in extremely cold weather in the winter.
