Safety first: The latest gear for pets on the go

Fido hungry? Petzen introduced the Dog-to-Go the portable Chowpal — a elevated eating platform that can be set up anywhere. Its self-contained doggie kitchen is complete with two stainless steel bowls, a water bottle, and lots of space for food and supplies — it even comes with a dinner mat and features an adjustable shoulder strap for easy carrying.

Canine heatstroke can be a big problem for many traveling pets, and veterinarians are endorsing the patented jacket called the Chillybuddy, which can reduce body temperatures by 30 percent — or protect pets with thin hair from sunburn.

Similarly, to keep pets warm, the Doggy Back Jacket from Warm Wiskers is a snug coat with a small toy that secures onto the jacket. It can be removed and warmed in the microwave to provide additional soothing heat for pets that suffer from painful stiff joins and muscles, and can be frozen to provide for cold therapy.

Numerous new companies are also climbing on the bandwagon offering pet passports to help owners keep track of their pet’s medical history, vaccination records and microchip information.

“Health and ID tag records can be invaluable in preparing for the unexpected, as well as giving pet owners peace of mind knowing they are prepared for any emergency,” says Roger Hoyt, CEO of My Documents Inc. His company also sells key chain tags to alert people that if the pet owner is in an accident that they have pets at home that need attention.

The latest leash designs also focused on providing additional safety features. Take the Seat Belt Leash, which attaches to a dog’s harness and has a universal latch that buckles directly into the car’s seat belt to keep pets restrained. Its padded handle provides extra comfort, a zippered pocket keeps money or keys safe, and a reflective stripe aids for night visibility.

Other designs featured add-ons that went around the wearer’s waist, allowing them to walk hands-free, as well as designs for several dogs at a time. The emphasis is on allowing your dog a bit of leeway without pulling and causing neck strain — and for arthritic pet owners who struggle to attach a leash to a collar or harness, the latest magnetic attachments will prove very comfortable to use.

Finally, one product that caused a lot of buzz was actually for the house-bound pet with no travel plans. The DogTread motorized exercise treadmill is available in three sizes, can be programmed for distance and speeds up to five miles an hour, and even has a space for doggy treats and a water bowl to spur your pooch on during his workout.

A Jack Russell terrier named Jack was only too keen to demonstrate. His owner said, "since he started exercising on the treadmill he’s lost his couch potato bulges and is looking quite buff.”

That may very well have been the case, but to on-lookers it looked as if he was only working out for treats.

Sandy Robins is an award-winning pet lifestyle writer. She is the recent recipient of the Humane Society of the United States' Pets for Life Award. Her work appears in many national and international publications.

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