How to Travel With Fresh Dog Food: Storage, Packing & Feeding on the Go

For most of us, our dogs are part of the family, and in many cases, that means they go wherever we go. In fact, more than 54% of European owners travel with their pets at least once a year. Here, Switzerland often leads the way as one of the most pet-friendly nations on the continent when it comes to travelling.

And while packing the necessary documents, a leash, and a crate is pretty straightforward, travelling with dog food can be a challenge. That’s especially true if you’ve transitioned your dog to a more nutritious yet less travel-friendly fresh food like Pawy.

Not to worry, though. This guide will delve deeper into pet-friendly voyages and explore methods for storing fresh dog food while travelling. So stick around, as we’ll cover everything you need to know about preparing for your journey and show you how to travel with dog food your pet loves.

Dog Food Storage Travel Equipment You’ll Need

Fresh dog meals, such as those from Pawy, are minimally processed and free from preservatives and antibiotics. And while they’ll work wonders for your dog’s digestion and immune systems, as well as fur and energy levels, such food also comes with a trade-off — bacteria can grow in it if storage slips.

That’s why making sure you’re properly storing these portable pet meals is a must, and here’s how you can do that:

• Get a leak-proof container: With proper fresh dog food storage, travel becomes much easier. However, that means finding a high-quality, airtight container, or several, to store your furry friend’s meals safely. After all, even pre-packaged food can sweat as it thaws. In most cases, silicone and plastic tubs will do just fine, as long as the latter are BPA-free.

• Invest in other travel essentials: The ideal temperature for storing fresh dog food is between 0 °C and 4 °C. Unfortunately, those aren’t temperatures you’ll be dealing with while travelling, so you’ll need either an insulated cooler or, better yet, a travel fridge. Keep in mind that you’ll also need ice packs for any trip that lasts more than two days.

• Buy a travel-friendly feeding kit: Your regular food and water bowls can take up a lot of space in your travel bag. Chances are, you won’t bring them with you for that particular reason. Fortunately, there are dozens of great collapsible bowls available online, so be sure to have them ready before your trip. Bonus points if you also pack a measuring scoop.

With the right equipment and a bit of planning ahead, your dog’s fresh food meals will be just as safe and nutritious on day five of your trip as they were in your fridge.

Proper Ways to Ready Your Dog’s Fresh Food for a Trip

With the gear ready to go, it’s time to prepare your pet’s meals for the journey. Ideally, you’ll want to handle these preparation steps a day or two before the trip itself. That said, below is everything you’ll need to do.

Check Airline and Target Country Regulations

If you’re travelling by plane, you’ll have to do a bit of research and find out how the particular airline feels about fresh dog food while travelling. Most airlines won’t give you any trouble as long as your pet’s food is properly sealed.

However, if you’re crossing borders, things can get a little more restrictive. Depending on the country you’re going to, you might not be able to carry more than a day’s worth of fresh dog food. In any case, that’s something you’ll have to check yourself.

Portion Meals in Advance

Unless you’ve had your dog for only a few days, you probably know exactly how much they eat per meal. This allows you to make a rough estimate of the amount of food you’ll need to bring with you.

You can start by calculating the number of days you’ll be travelling for, and then the number of meals your dog will have on this trip. From there, you can easily figure out how much fresh dog food, or the number of pre-portioned meals, you’ll take with you.

Handling this step is even easier if your dog is on a Pawy diet. After all, Pawy has an online quiz that can help you calculate the perfect portion for your pet, which you probably already went through.

Freeze Meals for Longer Trips

If you plan to travel with dog food over the weekend, chilling your pet’s meals the night before will work just fine. However, if you know you’ll be travelling for anything more than three days, you’ll have to go beyond just chilling the food and freeze it instead. After all, frozen meals can stay safe for several hours even without cooling.

Keep in mind that you’ll still need a few non-frozen, just properly chilled meals for the first 2 or 3 days of your journey. Meanwhile, the meals you’ve frozen can double as ice packs and keep the cooled ones at the right temperature for longer.

On-the-Go Feeding With Fresh Dog Food

Once you’re finally on the road, the portable pet meals you’ve prepared will make life much easier. Travelling with your dog will then boil down to keeping your regular feeding schedule. After all, consistency can go a long way in preventing potential digestive issues on your trip.

Another aspect you’ll need to consider is the food’s temperature. While chilled meals are fine to serve, you can’t just offer your dog food that’s frozen stiff. So, plan ahead and give the meals enough time to thaw.

On the other hand, avoid letting chilled fresh food sit out for more than an hour. Instead, keep it in the cooler you’ve bought for the trip until it’s time to eat.

And if your dog doesn’t eat the entire meal, which does happen while travelling, don’t put the leftovers back in the silicone or plastic container. It’s much better to discard this food than risk bacteria contaminating the rest in your travel fridge or cooler.

Lastly, ensure your dog is well-hydrated. So, take advantage of the collapsible bowl you’ve brought and pour some water into it whenever your dog and you are making a stop. In fact, you’ll have to do this even more often if you’re voyaging during hot summer months or walking around more than usual.

Final Thoughts

Bringing fresh dog food while travelling with your pet can be a bit of an issue. However, if you take the proper preparation steps and store your pet’s meals properly, trips with your dog can easily turn from stressful to enjoyable.

As long as you bring the right equipment and follow our tips, your dog’s meals will be safe and sound, regardless of your means of travel. And with a little bit of planning, your pet will also be able to enjoy their meals on time.

Ready to get started with fresh dog meals? Order Pawy today!