What should I pack for a long car trip with a dog?

Bringing your dog's usual food, rather than switching brands mid-trip, avoids stomach upset at the worst possible time, and packing a couple of extra days' worth covers unexpected delays. Familiar water from home, or at least a supply for the first day or two, helps too, since a sudden change in water source occasionally causes mild digestive upset in sensitive dogs.

A blanket or bed that smells like home gives a dog something familiar and calming in an unfamiliar crate or new accommodation each night, and a favorite chew toy helps fill downtime at rest stops or in a hotel room. These small items matter more than they might seem for a dog managing several days of disrupted routine.

Carry a copy of vaccination records and any prescribed medication with clear dosing instructions, particularly useful if you need an unfamiliar vet during the trip. Updated ID tags with a current phone number, alongside a checked microchip registration, matter more while travelling than at home, since a lost dog in an unfamiliar area is much harder to reunite with its owner.

Food and treats, a collapsible bowl, water, leash and harness, poop bags, bedding, a toy, a basic first aid kit, medication, vaccination records, and ID tags cover most trips well. Reviewing this list a day before departure, rather than packing the morning of, catches gaps while there is still time to fix them.