WASHINGTON — If you’re traveling with your pets this Memorial Day weekend, Kim Salerno, founder of Trips with Pets, there are some things you’ll want to do to make the trip a smooth one.

“Make frequent pit stops along the way. You want to watch their food intake, so you definitely want to keep their food to a minimum while you’re traveling.

“And, it’s always a very bad idea to introduce any new foods to your pet while you’re traveling on the road,” Salerno says.

While on the road, she says there’s a major no-no to avoid.

“I know that their dog loves to sit in their mom or dad’s lap, but that is very unsafe.”

Instead, buckle up pets in dog car seats, with pet safety belts or put them in crates.

“One of the biggest things I think that a lot of pet parents overlook is properly securing their pet while traveling in their vehicle.”

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