Keep the ‘Pooch’ Off Your Pooch While On the Go

By Kara Ogushi. Published October 12, 2011.

Did you know that today is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day?

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), “Half of the nearly 171 million dogs and cats in the U.S. are now overweight.”

As more and more pet parents are traveling with their pooch, it can become difficult to ensure that you don’t overfeed your four-legged friends while on the go.

i Love Dogs’ Ask A Vet, Dr. Patrick Mahaney, offers these travel tips to help keep your pooch in tip-top shape while traveling:

Avoid digestive disturbances and alterations in regular feeding intervals by taking along your dog’s food in pre-measured containers.

Regardless of your dog’s food type (dry, canned, frozen, etc), individual portions in plastic or glass containers can ensure your dog’s consistent feeding.

Additionally, the container functions as both a food and water bowl (once the food is gone and the bowl has been cleaned) to keep your dog adequately hydrated.

Whether the two of you are heading out on a road trip or flying out to a dog-friendly paradise, it’s important to pack meals for your pooch, just as you would pack them for yourself. This will help to keep both of you from overeating and getting sick.

Unless, of course, you happen to come across one of these dog-friendly trucks.

PHOTO: Jeremy Vandel

Kara Ogushi

Contributing writer Kara Ogushi is a pet mom to two dogs and five rabbits. When she isn’t writing travel tips for pooches, she’s exploring new ways to share and create media.