Don't Let Your Dog Stick Their Head Out of the Car Window

Allowing your dog to let it stick its head out the window is a very dangerous habit. Their eyes are exposed to dirt, rocks, dust and other debris. These materials can easily puncture and scratch your dog's eyes.

Damage to the ears is another big concern. When the dog's ears flap in the wind, their soft earflaps (pinnae) can easily become irritated, swell and become very tender. The constant and rapid flapping of the pinnae against your dog's head from high-speed winds causes trauma to the ear and results in swelling. Repeated trauma such as this can cause lifelong problems for your pup.

Allowing your dog to stick its head out the window can also lead to more severe outcomes, such as falling out of the car or getting their head stuck in the window opening. Taking a turn a bit too fast, traveling over bumpy terrain or an overly excited pup can cause your dog to lose balance and easily fall out of the window. These types of incidents occur more frequently than one might imagine and can cause severe injury or death to dogs.

The best place for your dog to ride is in the back seat or cargo area of your vehicle, properly restrained of course. Utilizing a pet safety belt, car seat, vehicle pet barrier, or a travel crate is the best ways to ensure that your pup's travels are happy and safe. Sure, crack the window, but no heads out!

see article written by: Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TRIPSwithPETS.com at articlespan.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel.