Don’t transport dog in bed of pickup truck

Q: I was driving behind a pickup truck that swerved to avoid a deer. A dog in the bed of the pickup was thrown out and badly injured.

Thank goodness he didn't strike my windshield and I didn't hit him. Still, the experience taught me that it's dangerous to transport a dog in the bed of a pickup. Is it also illegal?

A: Regrettably, it's illegal in only a few states to transport an unsecured animal in an open vehicle, such as the bed of a pickup truck or a top-down convertible. Regardless, the practice is unsafe for animals and drivers.

If the dog leaps, falls or is thrown from a pickup truck, oncoming drivers instinctively swerve to miss him, which can cause other problems.

I've treated many dogs hurt this way, and all had broken bones or other serious, painful injuries. One young Newfoundland that jumped out an open car window suffered permanent nerve damage to a front leg that required amputation.

Putting a dog in the back of an open pickup truck on a hot day also subjects him to sunburn and burns to his paws from the hot metal bed. Other hazards are rain, snow, tree branches and road debris—which hits the dog's eyes at the speed the vehicle is moving.

Leashing doesn't help. Dogs leashed in the back of a pickup have been strangled or dragged behind the truck by their leashes.

The safest way for a dog to ride in a pickup is buckled into a seatbelt harness in the cab.

If he must be in the pickup's bed, he should be in a well-ventilated kennel with solid top and sides to protect him from debris.

The kennel, which must be firmly anchored to the truck, should be large enough for the dog to stand and lie down comfortably but not so large that he'll get tossed around if the driver swerves or brakes hard.

Check your state laws, and consider lobbying for stronger legislation to protect animals and drivers.

Lee Pickett, V.M.D. practices companion animal medicine in North Carolina. Contact her at vet@askthevet.pet.