Similar to humans, your pets will also need bathroom breaks throughout the duration of your trip. This can be mitigated for litter-trained pets like cats by having a portable litter box, which you can bring with you in the car. However, for larger pets like dogs, you’ll need to factor in pet-friendly stops wherein they can do their business.
Since each pet is different, you’ll need to pay attention to how often your pet typically needs to use the restroom in your home. In general, it’s recommended that bathroom breaks occur every two to four hours, but you may need to do it more often under special conditions. Younger animals, like puppies, older pets, or pets with medical conditions, may need more frequent breaks than healthy adult pets.
Alternatively, if your pet is comfortable with diapers, you can make them wear them in between stops to avoid accidents. Depending on your needs, you can either get reusable diapers or disposable ones. Although, it’s important to bear in mind that it can potentially cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) if not changed regularly enough. To prevent unwanted infections, changing a dog’s diaper every two to four hours is best.
However, bathroom breaks don’t need to be boring. You can enjoy the scenery while you’re at it by integrating interesting pet-friendly bathroom stops, such as grassy areas or community parks. Regular breaks can also help pets who experience motion sickness calm down.
