What’s Been Living in Your Pet’s Travel Gear All Summer?

As summer winds down, many of us begin putting away the things that traveled with us during vacations, weekend getaways and summer adventures.

We empty suitcases, wash clothing, clean coolers and inspect things we'll use again. We check for damage, throw away what has expired and replace what needs replacing. We want our belongings clean, safe and ready for the next trip.

But what about the things our pets traveled with?

Leashes, harnesses, carriers, bowls, blankets, toys and travel bags went to many of the same places we did. Before putting them away until the next adventure, give your pet's gear the same end-of-season inspection you give your own.

This isn't simply about starting next summer with clean equipment. Cleaning, inspecting and restocking pet gear is another form of emergency preparedness.

Start With What They Eat and Drink From

Travel bowls often get a quick rinse at a rest stop, campground or hotel and are then folded or tossed back into a travel bag. Food particles can remain in seams and corners, while moisture and saliva provide an environment where bacteria, mold and odors can develop.

Wash food and water bowls thoroughly according to the manufacturer's instructions and allow them to dry completely before storing them.

Take a look at food and treat containers, too. Empty out crumbs and residue rather than simply adding fresh food on top the next time you travel. Check reusable containers for cracks, damaged seals or areas that have become difficult to clean.

Bedding Brought the Trip Home, Too

Blankets, towels, crate pads and pet beds can collect fur, dirt, saliva and whatever your pet encountered on campground grass, hotel floors, patios or the backseat.

Launder washable items and vacuum or wipe down those that can't go into the washing machine. Make sure everything is completely dry before storing it. Packing damp fabric into a closed carrier or travel bag can create its own problems while that equipment sits unused.

And don't forget the pet!

A bath or thorough grooming session gives you an opportunity to uncover and remove unwanted hitchhikers that may have come home from those summer adventures. Check the coat, paws and between the toes while you're at it.

Cleaning takes care of what came home.

Inspection can help prevent what happens next.

Could That Leash Make One More Trip?

Probably isn't good enough.

Run your hands along the entire length of your dog's leash and harness. Look closely at stitching, webbing and areas that may have been chewed or repeatedly rubbed against another surface.

Then operate the hardware. Open and close clips. Test buckles. Check adjustment points.

A worn leash that breaks while you're standing in your living room is inconvenient. That same leash breaking beside a busy highway, at a campground or in an unfamiliar town can quickly become an emergency.

Don't forget vehicle restraint equipment. If your dog travels with a seat-belt tether, headrest restraint or other travel system, inspect its straps, stitching, clips and connecting hardware as well.

And if you discover something questionable, replace it now—not the morning of your next trip.

Then fit and test the replacement. You don't want to discover beside the car that a new harness doesn't fit properly or that you aren't sure how a new restraint attaches.

Cat Carriers Need an Inspection, Too

Cat owners should pay particular attention to carriers.

Inspect mesh for tears and hard-sided carriers for cracks. Check seams, fasteners, handles, doors and latches. Make sure doors align properly and securely latch.

A carrier that has been bumped around in vehicles, stacked with luggage or carried in and out of hotels may not be in exactly the same condition it was at the beginning of summer.

That latch you've noticed getting “a little loose” could become a very big problem when a frightened cat pushes against it in a veterinary parking lot.

When Should a Favorite Toy Retire?

Some pets have a travel toy they love, and after a summer of chewing, tugging and carrying it around, that toy deserves an inspection too.

Look for loose pieces, exposed stuffing, damaged seams, cracked components or sections that have been heavily chewed. Small pieces that separate from a toy can become choking or ingestion hazards.

Sometimes a favorite toy has simply reached retirement age.

Replacing it before it fails is much easier than dealing with the consequences afterward.

Empty the Emergency Bag

Don't just peek inside your pet's travel or emergency bag.

Empty it.

Check expiration dates and replace used, expired or damaged first aid items. Confirm that packaging is intact and that supplies you used during a trip actually made it back into the bag.

Also check your pet's identification information. Are tags still readable? Is the phone number correct? Has an emergency contact changed?

If you carry written veterinary information or emergency contacts, review those as well.

A prepared bag isn't one that looks full. It's one whose contents are current, usable and ready when you need them.

Pay Special Attention to Medications

Summer travel introduces another concern that's easy to overlook: heat.

A pet travel bag may have spent time in a parked vehicle, trailer or other hot environment. If medication was inside, don't automatically assume it's still safe or effective simply because the bottle or package looks normal.

Medications have storage requirements, and exposure to temperatures outside those recommendations can affect some products.

Read the storage instructions provided with the medication. If you're unsure whether a medication was exposed to excessive heat—or whether that exposure may have affected it—contact your veterinarian or pharmacist rather than guessing.

And don't replace questionable medication by simply putting a new supply into the same travel bag and forgetting about it. Think about how you'll protect medications from temperature extremes on the next trip.

Clean It. Inspect It. Restock It.

This isn't just end-of-summer housekeeping.

It's one more part of being prepared.

A frayed leash, failing carrier latch, damaged toy or compromised medication is a minor problem when you discover it safely at home. The same problem can become an unforeseen emergency when discovered hundreds of miles away.

So before putting away your dog or cat's summer gear, give yourself twenty minutes and remember three things:

Clean it. Inspect it. Restock it.

Then store everything clean, dry and ready for the next time you need it.

Emergency preparedness is often associated with first aid supplies, evacuation plans and knowing what to do after something goes wrong. Those things matter.

But preparedness has another side: looking for problems before they become emergencies.

Sometimes the best preparation isn't responding well when something happens.

It's finding the small problem that keeps it from happening in the first place.