PROTECTING THE PET PASSENGERS

Negligence can put your dog at risk

By Amy DeYoung

It’s any pet parent's worst nightmare: their dog falling or jumping out of a moving vehicle.

Unfortunately, it happens frequently. According to Steven Goats, veterinary technician supervisor at the VCA Thumb Butte Animal Hospital, “Yes, we have had reports of dogs especially falling or jumping out of [the car] window or being in the back of a truck when an accident happens.” The American Veterinary Medical Association even found that 71 percent of veterinarians had provided treatment to dogs injured from riding in a truck, among a survey of veterinarians in Massachusetts. Fortunately, legislation has made allowing your dog to ride in a truck bed illegal in many areas.

A common distraction

Keeping your dog inside your car doesn’t necessarily mean that they (or you) are safe. There have been many cases of dogs jumping on their pet parent’s lap while they’re driving or smaller dogs getting between the driver’s foot and the pedals.

Car accidents are also a significant risk to our furry passengers and having your dog in the car unrestrained can increase your chances of getting into a crash. According to a study performed by Volvo Car, unsafe driving behaviors more than doubled when pets were unrestrained while driving. They also found that drivers were distracted twice as much when their pets were loose in their vehicles.

When accidents happen

So, what happens if you and your dog are in a car crash? Unfortunately, the research is bleak. A study of 600 dogs by The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 31 percent of dogs in car crashes had superficial wounds. However, among the remaining 410 dogs, 87 percent had skeletal injuries, and 36 percent had multiple region injuries. In this study, 12.5 percent of the dogs in motor vehicle accidents died or were euthanized due to their intensive injuries. Considering most dogs ride unrestrained in the car, it’s safe to say that some of these injuries and deaths could have been prevented by taking care safety measures.

So, how can pet parents safely travel with their dogs?

Kennel up/buckle up

Whenever your dog is in the car, it should be properly restrained. An appropriately sized crate can be an excellent option for small to medium dogs, as this prevents them from distracting you and being ejected if you are in a car crash. A crated dog should have enough room to lie down and stand, but not much more than this to prevent them from being flung farther during sudden turns or in the case of a collision. Crashtested dog seatbelts are another option that can reduce the risk of your dog jumping out of your car or being thrown out a window. Many of these seatbelts attach to the seatbelt built into your vehicle and clip onto your dog’s harness or collar to prevent them from distracting you while keeping them better secured in the case of a crash.

Dog car seats, also known as booster seats, are another great choice. Most of these seats fit small to medium dogs, and they typically include clasps to attach your dog’s collar or harness to, effectively securing them in their car seat. Shorter dogs may especially enjoy riding in one because it gives them more height to look through the window.

Steven Goats, from Thumb Butte Animal Medical Hospital, also recommends using a cargo net to keep larger dogs in the back of your car. A cargo net prevents your dog from jumping onto your lap and distracting you while driving and provides them with some protection if you were to have an accident as there is less room for them to be ejected forward.

Watch Out For Windows

Watch out for windows

Goats also said that pet parents should consider keeping their car windows fully closed and child locked. Many dogs can easily push or accidentally touch the button that opens many modern car windows. As fun as it may seem for your dog to stick their head out of your car window, this can be very risky for them. A dog’s tongue, mouth, face, and eyes can be injured from airborne objects when their face is hanging out the window. It also increases the likelihood of your dog jumping or falling out of the car during a sudden turn or car crash. Taking your dog for a spin can be fun, but make sure that it is always properly secured while you’re driving to protect you and your passengers—both the furry and non-furry ones.