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The Louth-based vet also advised pet owners to secure their dogs and cats when travelling in a car.
An experienced vet who regularly sees pets injured in road traffic accidents has urged all owners to keep them restrained when out and about.
General Practice and out of hours emergency vet Sinead Kelly made the call during Road Safety Week due to the number of pets she treats who have been involved in car accidents.
“People don't really think of it but pets can cause a lot of crashes if they are left unrestrained either in the car or on the road,” she said.
“It surprises me to see owners out walking with their dogs by their sides who are off the lead. They may be the most obedient dog in the world but all it takes is one banger, a car backfiring or another noise and they shoot off, often out in the road in front of oncoming traffic.
“Motorists then either hit the dog or swerve to avoid it and crash into something else. Cats and dogs who have been hit by cars are the number one trauma injury we see.
“Outdoor cats are hard to restrain and I personally prefer to keep all my cats indoors because I've seen so many who have been killed or suffered horrific injuries because of being hit by vehicles.
The Louth-based vet also advised pet owners to secure their dogs and cats when travelling in a car.
“You can buy dog seat belts and cat baskets and all kinds of carriers to secure pets in cars but leaving them unrestrained in a car can be lethal if you had to brake suddenly.
“Dogs left sitting in the boot or on the floor of the car are often stressed out because of the motor vibrations and they become a projectile in the event of having to brake urgently. The dog loses their life through the windscreen and may cause serious injury to the driver as well.
“In the case of cats, I've seen a lot of owners come in whose pet has ran the wall of death around the car on the journey. A cat won't sit still and will very often try and sit on the driver's lap or on their shoulder or run around the walls of the car trying to get out the window. It only takes a second for a cat to jump on the driver and cause them to lose concentration and crash.
“You can't tell a cat what to do and they are very unpredictable.
“And as well, I've spent hours helping the owners look for their cats because they've bolted as soon as the car door has been opened when they arrive at the clinic.
“Dogs can suffer catastrophic injuries such a ruptured spleens or punctured lungs or fractured legs or skulls. The survival rate for cats is often lower but all injuries sustained in road accidents can lead to prolonged treatment and complex surgery for pets.
“In Road Safety Week when we are asking people to be more mindful on the roads, please be more mindful with your pets.”
