If your  Maltese Puppy is not accustomed to the car, take it for a few short rides before the trip. This can help keep your  Maltese Puppy from becoming nervous or agitated, and may lessen the effects of motion sickness. If, after a number of practice trips, your  Maltese Puppy continues to cry excessively or becomes sick, consult your veterinarian.

Buckling up is an important safety precaution for your  Maltese Puppy. Many states now require that  Maltese Puppy be restrained while in a moving vehicle, and restraints have several advantages. They help protect  Maltese Puppy in case of a collision, and they keep  Maltese Puppy from running loose and distracting the driver. They also keep  Maltese Puppy from escaping the car through an open window or door.

Cats and smaller dogs are often most comfortable in  Maltese Puppy carriers, which can be purchased in various sizes at most  Maltese Puppy stores. Carriers give many animals a sense of security and familiar surroundings, and can be secured to the car seat with a seat belt or a specially designed carrier restraint. There are also  Maltese Puppy restraints available that can be used without carriers, including harnesses, seat belt attachments,  Maltese Puppy car seats, vehicle barriers, and truck/pickup restraint systems.

No matter what kind of restraint you use, be sure that it does not permit your  Maltese Puppy's head to extend outside the car window. If  Maltese Puppy ride with their heads outside the car, particles of dirt can penetrate the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infections. Excessive amounts of cold air taken into lungs can also cause illness.

Stick to your regular feeding routine while traveling, and give your  Maltese Puppy its main meal at the end of the day or when you've reached your destination. It will be more convenient to feed dry food if your  Maltese Puppy is used to it. Dispose of unused canned food unless it can be refrigerated. Take along a plastic jug of cold water to avoid possible stomach upset the first day, as new areas can have minerals or bacteria in their water supply that  Maltese Puppy need time to adjust to. Give your  Maltese Puppy small portions of both food and water and plan to stop every two hours for exercise.

Remember that your veterinarian is a good source of information about what your  Maltese Puppy will need when traveling. Consider having your  Maltese Puppy examined before you leave as well, to check for any developing problems.

Find hotels, motels, and campsites that accept animals and book them ahead of time. "Vacationing with Your  Maltese Puppy" by Eileen Barish is a directory of  Maltese Puppy-friendly lodging throughout the United States and Canada. Copies can be ordered by calling (800) 496-2665.

Learn more about the area you will be visiting. Your veterinarian can tell you if there are any diseases like heartworm or Lyme disease and vaccinations or medications your  Maltese Puppy may require. A health examination following your trip should be considered to determine if any internal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, heartworms) or external parasites (ticks, fleas) were picked up in contaminated exercise or wooded areas. Also, be aware of any unique laws. Some places have restrictions on exotic animals (ferrets are not allowed in some cities), and there are restrictive breed laws in others, such as no pit bulls allowed. Your  Maltese Puppy could be affected by these laws, so call ahead to the city or travel information bureau for more information.

To avoid losing your  Maltese Puppy during a trip, make sure your  Maltese Puppy is wearing an I.D. tag. To be doubly protected, consider having your  Maltese Puppy tattooed or having a microchip implanted.

It's important to carry health and rabies vaccine certificates, particularly if you will be crossing the border into Canada, the US, or Mexico. All three countries allow dogs and cats to enter if they meet stringent entry requirements. Depending on the country, exotic  Maltese Puppy may be allowed to enter, though they may need further documentation. Call the Agriculture Department or embassy of the country or state to which you are traveling for information on the vaccinations, documentation, fees, or quarantine that may be required to bring your  Maltese Puppy into the country.