Oh, the places you’ll go—especially if you’re a modern pet! Today’s pets are not only part of the family, but generally welcome and accepted at loads of venues. Between hotels, airlines, restaurants, and shopping centers, it’s truly never been easier to bring a four-legged best friend along. That doesn’t mean that traveling with pets is always a breeze, however. With a little bit of planning, traveling with your pet is a worthwhile endeavor.
A Stress-Free Adventure?
The best place to start pet-safety planning is to make sure your pet has proper identification. To prevent accidental loss or separation, be sure to have them microchipped with your current contact information. Invest in a new set of ID tags that are clear and easy to read and check to see that your pet’s leash or carrier is in good condition.
Essential Documentation
Having your pet’s up-to-date medical records is essential to any trip. You can have these printed up in a folder, or add to an app on your phone. If there are questions about your pet’s health history, vaccination records, parasite prevention, and necessary prescriptions, you are prepared. Always have recent photographs of your pet on hand.
Depending on your destination, you may be required to issue a health certificate signed by your pet’s veterinarian within 10 days of departure. We can help you with this if you need one for your summer travels.
Due Diligence
When booking airfare, each airline has its own set of rules pertaining to pets. With safety and comfort in mind, it is critical to understand how pets travel on your chosen airline. You will have to provide your pet’s breed, weight, size, and health history at the time of reservation. Larger pets must be in a size-specific crate for air travel, while smaller animals can board the aircraft with their owners.
Nervous pet flyers can be calmed with pet pheromone products, but some may require prescription medication to get through the process of traveling.
Traveling With Pets
While many hotels, motels, campgrounds, and resorts accommodate the needs of pets, they must be notified in advance that you’ll be arriving with a pet. Extra fees may apply. Advance research may reveal many possible pet-friendly options that cater to the needs of a variety of animals.
If you are planning lots of excursions or activities that cannot safely cater to the needs of a pet, conduct a search for nearby sitters or daycares so your pet isn’t stuck in the hotel room all day without you.
Travel Pet Safety
We recommend giving your pet lots of opportunities to get used to their travel gear, including their crate, harness, and anything else you plan on taking for them. If they suffer from motion sickness or anxiety, we can help you find the right medication to support their needs.
We hope that you and your pet enjoy your summer travel plans. If we can help you with any questions about safety, behavior, and overall wellness, please call our staff at 905-688-1996.