Fun Summer Travel Must-Haves for Your Pet from PetSmart (Giveaway end 5/15/12)

As your family is gearing up for your many summer adventures, don’t forget about your furry family member who might be joining you on your summer travels – your dog.

We have a dog as many of my readers know. We would love to take him on day trips with us but there are a couple of reasons why we don’t. For one he hates traveling in the car and tends to get an upset tummy. A dog with diarrhea can put a damper on a good time. So it’s best to limit his travels to the groomer and the vet.

Another reason why we don’t take him anywhere is that we had one incident where we took him to the park and he came home with six ticks. Between the vet visit, groomer and the products to get them out of our home it cost us over $400+. Needless to say we don’t want to go through that again. My husband recently woke up and found a tick on him (under his shirt!). I really don’t want to go through that again. Ticks totally gross me out.

Sadly we don’t have anyone close by we can drop our dog off with if we wanted to go far away from home. Our cats would be OK (we have a neighbor who can check in on them), but our dog needs someone around to take him out at least 4-5 times per day.

Kennels are an option but I would want something a little better for him, like a Pet Hotel. Did you know that PetSmart has PetsHotel locations across the country? Sadly there isn’t one near us but if there was I’d certainly look into it for our dog Espn (pronounced Es-pin).

Pet parents looking to treat their pet to a mini-vacation can head to PetSmart’s PetsHotel. This is a state-of-the-art hotel that’s just for dogs and cats. Whether you choose the standard atrium room or upgrade to a suite, PetSmart’s PetsHotel provides superior day and overnight care and personalized attention for all pet guests in a safe, comfortable, fun environment. This is a great alternative to the chain-link fence facilities that are normally associated with cat and dog boarding kennels, giving pet parents peace of mind that their pets are safe and happy while they are in PetSmart’s care. For more information, check out this virtual tour or the FAQ.

Forget our dog, I think I want to stay there. LOL! It sounds really nice. A lot nicer then a cage in a kennel.

Are you one of those pet parents that love to spend your summer on the water? We live by the Hudson River and I often see dogs on boats in the river. I’ve never met a dog that didn’t like the water.

If you take your dog boating with you I would recommend picking up a life jacket for your dog. Yes, they actually make them for dogs. It’s a great idea to outfit your dog with one just in case of an emergency. Even the most excellent doggy swimmer can tire out if in the water for too long. The life jacket can give your pup some added protection, and possibly save it’s life.

PetSmart has an Outward Hound Pet Saver Life Jacket. This lifejacket is ideal for families who enjoy boating, water sport adventures and other outdoor activities with their dogs. It provides flotation and ultimate buoyancy. They are available in bright colors which can help pet parents easily track their pet as the family enjoys water activities.

Summer vacations are all about having fun. Your dog wants to have fun too! Therefore don’t forget to pack some fun dog toys when you head out on vacation.

Frisbees are always a fun summer time toy for dogs. Kong makes a Frisbee-like toy that is ideal for lazy afternoons with your dog. It’s called the KONG Flyer. This accurate flight “disk” will provide hours of outdoor fun for you and your dog. It’s one of the best soft, flexible rubber flying disks around and gentle on your dog’s teeth. It’s a better option for your dog then a traditional plastic Frisbee which can break or puncture and injure your dog’s mouth.

No matter where you go make sure to bring along ample water for both your family and your dog. Dogs can get easily dehydrated. PetSmart carries portable dishes and canteens that you might want to consider bringing along on your trip too.

Remember to provide your dog with a comfortable place to rest during the day, preferably something that can protect your dog from the sun. A beach umbrella is a nice option if a shady tree is not available. If there is no place to share your dog, and not water available to cool him off, consider going indoors in the afternoon until things cool off late in the day. That is also a great tip for people too.

For more information about the products and services mentioned in this post please visit www.PetSmart.com.

PetSmart would like to give a lucky winner an Outward Hound Pet Saver Lifejacket AND Kong Flyer to enjoy with your pet this summer. Thank you PetSmart.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on May 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries.

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Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the enjoyment of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own. PetSmart will be providing the prize.

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