Veterinarians must do the impossible to preserve the physical and emotional health of their patients. Advising owners on how to transport their pets in a vehicle is essential, since it is common for dogs and cats to travel for clinical consultation by car, where if the owner does not take the necessary precautions, pets can suffer injuries of different severity, and even die, in the case of a collision.
A question that shouldn’t be missed during the collection of the medical history is “How does the patient behave at home and during exits, such as walks on public roads or during car rides?” Regarding the latter, it is necessary to find out if inside the vehicle, they travel loose (sitting, lying down, or wandering from one side to the other), in the arms of the owner, held by a seatbelt, or in a carrier anchored safely in the passenger compartment. Both the last options are correct and essential to avoid, in an abrupt stop, the animal getting injured and/or hurting others, depending on the speed of movement of the car and the suddenness of the deceleration.
We must consider that what is inside a moving car: people, animals, objects, etc.. Regardless of what the item is, it is moving with the car at the same speed; If it stops abruptly, anything that is not correctly fastened will follow the path forward and collide with the first thing that it encounters. Thus, the unrestrained object or individual will hit hard on the dashboard or the windshield of the car, or the person sitting in the front seat, resulting in more or less serious consequences for themselves and others, according to their size and driving speed. If the door is opened by the impact, or the vehicle is running with the windows down, those who are not fastened can be thrown outside, which increases the possibility of death when hitting the ground by six-fold.
Representing the aforementioned in numbers, if the car runs at 60 km/hour, speed allowed on avenues in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, and collides sharply against a stopped obstacle, a violent and instantaneous deceleration occurs, but what is inside without restraint continues to move at that speed with a force equivalent to approximately 56 times its weight. Considering the typical weight of companion animals, one weighing 5 kg that travels loose in the car will be projected forward with a force equivalent to 283 kg; one of 10 kg at 567 kg; one of 17 kg at 850 kg; and one of 20kg at 1 ton. So, it is important to take precautions to minimize the consequences in case of a traffic accident.
Another interesting fact cited in specialized publications on the subject is that 70% of car accidents occur on short trips, less than 15 km from the home and when the car is moving at slow speed. This happens because the short trip leads to the driver not taking preventive measures; the “It doesn’t matter, we’re just going over there” thought can be fatal since, according to various studies, a crash at 50 km/h without being fastened has consequences similar to a fall from a fourth floor.
When driving through the streets of the city I frequently observe dogs or cats resting on the rear window of the car, which surely impedes the visibility of the driver; I see others standing or lying on the driver’s or passenger’s lap. Although it is assumed that the animal is safe between the arms of the person, at the time of a crash it is instinctive to release the animal to protect oneself, therefore facilitating them being thrown out by the impact and getting injured.
I also see dogs poking their heads through the window or moving restlessly from one side to the other, even pouncing on the window while barking at strange people or other dogs, which creates discomfort and distraction to the driver of the vehicle. This, coupled with the absence of proper containment that protects them during sudden braking, leads any driving maneuver to have potentially fatal consequences.
Therefore it is essential that people and pets always travel secured by the seatbelt, which, in the case of large dogs, must be strong enough to support them from the harness, never the collar, without breaking during the collision. If an animal is inside a carrier, it must be secured to the seat by means of the vehicle’s safety strap to avoid its displacement. If the car is a minivan and you want pets to travel in the back, it is advisable to use nets, or securely fasten pets to the vehicle’s attachment points.
It should also be considered that a loose animal inside the vehicle distracts the driver with their movements, and can make the person feel the need to hold or restrain the animal during a braking maneuver, for which they must release the steering wheel, further diverting the driver’s attention; the same happens if the pet moves between the feet and the pedals. In both cases, if someone or something suddenly crosses in front of the car it is possible that an accident would occur due to the impossibility of reacting in a timely manner to avoid it.
If the animal is generally well-adjusted, they can easily learn to travel calmly and restrained or inside a carrier, which must always remain fastened, and it’s ideal to habituate them as puppies. If they’re traveling with a seatbelt, it is also important to teach them to wait for permission to get out of the car to avoid releasing them and having them rush out of the car, cross the street, and cause a traffic accident.
If during a trip in a vehicle the dog or cat shows vomiting, nausea, panting, nasal secretion, fears, tremors, vocalization, or defecation or urination, or the animal is restless, hyperactive, reluctant to get up into or down out of the car, or aggressive during the trip, the ethological clinical examination is essential to assess their behavior, arrive at the diagnosis of the cause of the cited signs, and design a treatment plan appropriate to the patient in order to maximize their well-being, and that of the other occupants of a vehicle in motion.
A car trip can start and end well or badly; animals should never travel loose regardless of their age and size.
As I stated earlier, taking care of the patient’s life inside and outside the office is important for your client, and the importance of means of transport should not be underestimated. Advising the client on how to do this safely, and how to teach the pet to behave well during the aforementioned and in daily life, ensures satisfaction and preserves the patient.
A serious injury carries expenses, but the most important thing is that a life, whoever’s it is, has an immeasurable value.
Silvia I. N. Vai is an MV, CPMV canine and feline clinical ethology specialist, as well as an FCV UBA small animal medical clinic specialist in Argentina, South America.
(Translated from Spanish by Manuel Tenchio)
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Mike is an emerging animal behaviorist sitting in Minnesota in the US. He carries an MSc in social science research methods (U. of Kentucky) and brings a passion for understanding how the methods we favor shape the knowledge we privilege. Coming from careers in teaching and non-profit program evaluation, he found companion animal behavior by accident helping anxious feline friends in a unique shelter in Ohio. It is a privilege and a joy to combine these and advance the journal in this exciting time of growth.
Alexandra is a certified dog behavior consultant and holds a PhD in neuroscience. She has spent over a decade in academic research and is author of numerous scientific articles on different aspects of brain development, including olfaction, neurogenesis, and memory formation. Her work as a behavior consultant focuses on creating trusting relationships between humans and their dogs through communication, respect, and science-based knowledge. Alexandra is very dedicated to promoting more science within the dog training world. She supports dog guardians and professionals to build a solid understanding of scientific principles and provides guidance on how to apply these to life with dogs. She runs Canine Mindscape in Alicante, Spain.
I’m an Argentinean-Italian dog trainer and CSAT who spent eight amazing years in Brazil learning and working with dogs. Now based in Europe, I volunteer with the IAABC as a translator and, in my free time, help rehomed dogs settle into their new families. I love bridging languages—and hearts—between people and their dogs.
I’m a translator, editor and journalist, as well as canine educator for children and families, specialized in canine body language. I am part of the IAABC Family since 2019, as Language Director at the IAABC and Translators Team Lead at the IAABC Foundation, at the moment. I volunteer at local shelters and promote bite prevention and animal welfare at schools and events all over my country, Uruguay.
I’m a Chilean veterinarian and certified dog trainer, based in Madrid and working at a veterinary clinic. I’ve been volunteering with the IAABC and the IAABC Foundation for over seven years. In my free time, I help dogs and their guardians strengthen their bond, and I love spending quality time with my own dogs.
Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences, with a strong interest in environmental sustainability and the protection of natural ecosystems. Passionate about writing and science communication, she collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on research projects, such as Equine International, and with non-profit initiatives in the environmental and cultural fields. She is writing for different magazines, including IAABC Foundation. Her major goal is to improve horse’s welfare through behaviour research and empirical practice.
Adrienne Hovey is the copy editor for the IAABC Foundation journal and the owner of 
I believe that knowledge from a wide range of disciplines fosters a more empathetic, curious, and engaging world. I am passionate about social, environmental, and minority rights issues (both human and non-human), and this has invariably led me down the road of multi-species anthropology. Perpetually curious about the world we live in, I hope to contribute towards making the world a kinder place for all of us earthlings to live on!
Beckie Wheldon is based in England, UK, and has been supporting the IAABC Foundation Journal team as a volunteer journal content editor since early 2025. She has a BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour and Welfare, and has recently completed a MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour. With a passion for both practical and theory, Beckie is proud to be a part of the journal submission journey and support the process of applied animal behaviour information and research getting from our writers to the readers. As her full-time career, Beckie is currently part of the UK veterinary charity, PDSA, as a Learning and Development Business Partner for Veterinary, where she supports the professional development of people in their Veterinary Hospitals. Her last position was with the rescue charity, Dogs Trust, as a Canine Behavioural Welfare Manager, where she worked on embedding evidence-based behavioural welfare best practices throughout policy and practices, with both internal and external professional stakeholders, such as the police and military. With a varied background in kennels, caregiver education, and charity dog training classes, Beckie is also an accredited Animal Training Instructor (APDT UK) and an Associate Clinical Animal Behaviourist (APBC).
Erin Jones, PhD, IAABC-ADT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, CANZ-ATI, CANZ-ABC, is the Journal Director of the IAABC Foundation Journal. She holds a PhD in Human–Animal Studies, an MSc in Anthrozoology, a PG Dip in Animal Welfare, and a BSc (Hons) in Anthropology and Psychology. An international presenter, editor, writer and mentor, Erin’s writing bridges research and practice with a focus on the intersection of philosophy, ethics and dog-centered behaviour practice. She is the author of Constructing Canine Consent and co-editor of Topics in Non/Human Coexistence and numerous academic and trade journal publications.