While perhaps not planes and trains….but definitely automobiles. Welcome to the second article in a series about lifestyle factors that influence the state of our dog’s muscles. In the last blog, I discussed how to prevent injury in dogs living on slippery floors.

In this blog, I want to consider how to prevent injury when dogs are travelling in our cars.

Jumping in and out of cars

The last blog discussed the strain placed on dog’s fore and hind limbs when jumping from and to slippery surfaces. This also applies when dogs get into and out of cars. Often garage floors are concrete with very little traction.

I like to place a rubber mat or you could use a carpet off-cut by the car door to give the dog a firm, non-slip surface to launch from and land without the risk of slipping.

Obviously, the best solution for preventing injury from jumping into / out of cars is to eliminate it completely. Here are some tips:

• For medium or large breed dogs, teach them to use a ramp when they are young to protect their joints and muscles. This is the one I use (Pet ramps for the car )
• For small dogs, lift them into and out of the car.
• Eliminate the “jump”. I have taught my dogs to step into the car. My car has low ground clearance, so they step onto the floor and then up onto the seat. This is specific to my car but be creative.

Travelling in the car

For safety reasons dogs need to be restrained when travelling in a car. However, ensure they type of restraint is not placing uneven load on a particular set of muscles. I prefer a back connecting harness as my guys sit on the seat. Other dogs travel in crates so there is no pressure on their bodies.

Regular breaks are important when travelling for you and your dog. Taking a walk when you break improves blood flow to the muscles which lubricates them and flushes toxins that may have accumulated while sitting or lying stationery.

During breaks ensure dogs have access to water to maintain well lubricated muscles.

Please leave a comment about how you set up your vehicle for your dog.