Travelling with your dog: keeping their routine on track

Routine is the thing to pack first

The RSPCA points out that many pets find changes in routine, environment and travel stressful, so the first decision is whether your dog will enjoy the trip at all — some dogs are happier at home with a responsible person caring for them. If your dog is coming, the RSPCA’s advice is to keep to their routine as far as possible, so that food, exercise, bed and toilet breaks happen around the same times every day. It also warns that changing a dog’s diet suddenly can cause stomach upsets, so keep them on their usual food.^[1]

That one principle — change as little as possible — runs through everything below, from the car journey to where you keep their tablets.

Before you go

Microchipping dogs is a legal requirement in the UK, and so is a tag on your dog’s collar with up-to-date contact details. PDSA reminds owners to check their microchip details are still correct before a trip, and the RSPCA suggests the tag carries your holiday address and contact details while you are away.^[4],[1]

Car journeys

Feeding before you set off

The RSPCA advises feeding no sooner than two hours before you travel, because pets travel better without a full stomach, while making water available throughout the journey. The Royal Kennel Club gives the same two-hour guide for dogs prone to travel sickness: a dog is less likely to be sick with no food in their stomach. If the journey covers a normal mealtime, take their food with you; the RSPCA suggests stopping to give a light meal and waiting two hours before continuing.^[1],[3]

Breaks and water

Plan regular stops so your dog can stretch their legs, have a drink and go to the toilet — especially if they aren’t used to long distances. PDSA suggests giving your dog a drink and a short walk before you set off; Dogs Trust suggests a non-spill water bowl to keep them hydrated on the way. Exercise your dog on a lead at stops, and make sure they can’t jump out as soon as the door opens.^{[3],[4],[5],[1]}

Keeping your dog secure

Rule 57 of the Highway Code says that in a vehicle, dogs or other animals should be suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. It lists a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard as ways to do it. Whatever you use, your dog should have room to stand, turn around and lie down.^[6],[3]

Travel sickness

Some dogs get travel sick, particularly on long journeys they aren’t used to. The Royal Kennel Club suggests limiting food for around two hours before you go, keeping cool air flowing and limiting how much your dog moves about. If your dog is regularly sick or anxious in the car, speak to your vet before the trip — PDSA notes that a vet may be able to prescribe something to help.^[3],[4]

Heat: dogs die in hot cars

The RSPCA is blunt about this: dogs die in hot cars. Many people think it is fine to leave a dog in a car parked in the shade or with the windows open, but a car can become as hot as an oven even when the weather doesn’t feel that warm. When it is 22°C outside, the inside of a car could reach 47°C within an hour.^[2]

Holidays in the UK

Once you arrive, give your dog time to settle. The RSPCA suggests bringing something that smells familiar for their bed, letting them explore at their own pace, and giving them plenty of time to rest somewhere quiet and draught-free. Keep them on a lead in unfamiliar places until you know it is safe, and never leave them alone for long enough to cause distress.^[1]

Holidays bring new smells, new food dropped on beaches and in pub gardens, and well-meaning strangers offering titbits. The more of their normal day you keep — the same food, the same bowl, meals at the usual times — the less there is to unsettle them.

Travelling abroad: the GB pet travel rules

Pet travel rules are set by the government and can change, so check GOV.UK well before you travel rather than relying on any summary. At a high level, the GOV.UK guidance for taking a dog from Great Britain to an EU country covers:^[7]

Coming back into Great Britain has its own steps, including using an approved route and, for dogs, a tapeworm dose from a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days before you arrive. GOV.UK warns that a pet that doesn’t meet the rules may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry if you travelled by sea. Talk to your vet early, as appointments for travel paperwork can take time to arrange.^[8],[1]

A packing list for your dog

Supplements on the road

Pack supplements in their original container rather than a loose bag or pill box. The label tells you what the product is, how much to give and how to store it, and keeps the batch number and best-before date with the tablets — useful if you need to check anything with the manufacturer or a vet while you are away.

Storage matters too. The DIGEST+ label asks for a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and notes that refrigeration may help extend shelf life. A parked car on a warm day is the opposite of that, so carry the bottle with your own things rather than leaving it in the glovebox or boot, and keep it out of reach of children. Our guide to storing dog supplements has more detail.

Give your dog’s usual number of tablets with their usual meal, at their usual time. Each bottle holds 120 tablets — 120 days for a dog on one tablet a day, or 30 days for a dog on four — so check you have enough before a long trip. The dose calculator shows how many your dog needs.