How to drive long distance with a dog

The AVMA's travel guidance is that pets should be properly restrained: small pets in crates or travel-safe dog beds, larger dogs in harnesses attached to the car's seat belts, never on the driver's lap or by the driver's feet, and never with their heads out of the window, where dirt and debris can injure the eyes, ears and nose. Fear Free's travel handout lists the same choices and asks owners to get the dog used to the crate or harness, with treats, before the trip.

Book a vet check if the trip crosses state lines or the dog has a health condition. The AVMA notes that many states require a certificate of veterinary inspection from an accredited veterinarian, and recommends carrying proof of rabies vaccination, a summary of medical conditions, enough medication for the whole trip plus several days, food and cool, fresh water, a first-aid kit and a list of vets and 24-hour hospitals along the route. Update the microchip with your cell number.

VCA lists the signs as whining and pacing, excessive drooling, smacking or licking the lips, lethargy or inactivity, vomiting and sometimes defecation. It is more common in young dogs, because the parts of the inner ear involved in balance are not fully developed, and VCA says puppies usually outgrow it by about a year old. An older dog that has always been sick in the car may be nauseous, anxious or both, and those need different help.

VCA's practical advice is an emptier stomach, withholding food for up to 8 hours before travel if that is not too stressful, and stopping for a short walk when the dog seems about to vomit. Beyond that, ask your vet before the trip about the options VCA describes, from pheromone products to anti-nausea and anti-anxiety medicines, some of which have to start days or weeks ahead. Never give a dog a human travel-sickness pill on your own judgment.

Some dogs never enjoy the car, and some trips have no room for one. An overnight stay at 210 Eastern Ave is $78 a night, with daytime playgroups of 7 to 10 dogs matched by size and temperament and 24/7 monitoring at night. The Dogtown Classic adds a daily pupsicle or puppy cup for $10 more a night, and the Dogtown Deluxe, at $15 more, adds a stuffed Kong or Toppl, daily treadmill or enrichment play and an orthopedic memory-foam bed.

The Sunday windows for overnight guests, 8 to 10 AM and 4 to 6 PM, suit a weekend departure, and the Pup Van collects in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea for $10 each way. Every new guest starts with the free evaluation on a weekday morning between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, with Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella on file, so book it well before the trip rather than the week of it.