Most dogs transported to a veterinary teaching hospital are unrestrained during vehicular travel.

Most dogs travel unrestrained; veterinarians should routinely counsel clients on safe vehicular transport practices.

This prospective, survey-based study evaluated vehicular restraint use in 533 dogs transported to a veterinary teaching hospital between May and August 2024. Only 36.6% (195/533) of dogs were restrained during transport, while 63.4% (338/533) traveled unrestrained. The most commonly used restraint type was a seat belt-based device. Logistic regression identified several factors associated with restraint use: each 1-kg increase in body weight was associated with a 3.3% decrease in the odds of restraint use, indicating that larger dogs were less likely to be restrained. Conversely, administration of previsit pharmaceuticals (OR 1.8) and possession of pet insurance (OR 1.5) were positively associated with restraint use, suggesting these may serve as proxies for owner engagement with veterinary care and safety practices. Notably, visit type (emergency, sick, or wellness), travel duration, anxiety level, and mode of transportation were not significantly associated with restraint use. The authors conclude that unrestrained vehicular transport remains common and represents a safety risk for dogs, vehicle occupants, and other road users. They emphasize that increased client education by veterinary professionals may improve adoption of safe transport practices. This study highlights an opportunity for veterinarians to counsel clients on appropriate restraint systems as part of routine preventive care discussions.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.