Travel Tips For Pet Owners

By Author: Insurance Hunter
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Traveling with pets can mean more than packing a water dish and a bag of food. Depending on how and where you’re travelling, there can be a considerable amount of planning required when bringing your furry friend on vacation.

Before you go

There are many ways to prepare your pet for a trip before you even think about packing a suitcase. It’s wise to plan a visit to your veterinarian so you can make sure your pet is up-to-date with his or her vaccinations. And it’s good to ask for an overall health check in general. Speaking of vets, you should also write down the contact information of a vet’s office in the area you’re travelling to, just in case of emergency.

If your pet will be travelling in a crate or kennel, you’ll want to help them get used to it a few days before you leave. Let them sniff around and spend some time in it so they’ll feel more familiar and comfortable during the trip.

Basic essentials

There are a few items that are necessary for any kind of trip you take with an animal. Here’s a quick checklist:

Water
Food*
Water/food ...
... dishes
Toys
Towels
A recent photo**

*If possible, do some research on where you can buy dog food in the area you’re travelling to. The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination and have to search around all night for a place that sells kibble.

**On a trip away from home for almost any length of time, it’s a smart idea to carry a colour photo of your pet. On the off-chance he or she gets lost while you’re on vacation, it will help to have a photo to show people who can help look for them.

Flying with your pet

When it comes to taking your pets airborne, there are several things to keep in mind. All airlines are different, and they all have different regulations for bringing animals onboard. Some require that you provide a health certificate for your pet, and there may even be requirements on how recently you got the certificate. The size and age of your dog may also determine whether they fly in cargo or up in the cabin with you.

Be mindful of any restrictions or specifications on the kennel your pet is travelling in. Some airlines are particular about what kind of crate is considered up to standard.

Crossing the border

Entering another country with an animal might have you stopped at the border. But don’t worry; they usually just want to inspect your pet to make sure they aren’t sick or carrying anything that might be considered threatening. Most times, the main concern is whether the animal might be rabid. While it’s probably a pretty slim bet that your pet has rabies, it’s still very important to ensure your pet is up to date with their vaccinations prior to any travel.

Helping them adjust

Most pets, especially dogs, are creatures of habit. Since travel requires such a sudden and drastic change of environment, it can be very stressful for them. It will help a great deal if you’re able to instill as much of a routine as possible for them while on the trip. Walk and feed them at the same time every day. They will feel safer and more comfortable by keeping to a predictable schedule.

Another way to ease their stress and make them feel familiar is to bring a few items that smell like home. It may seem like just a dingy old blanket to us, but for them it’s a way to feel connected to their den wherever they are.

Finally, if you have an overly anxious animal, or predict that your pet won’t do well on an airplane or in a crate, your vet may recommend sedatives for them. If you choose to go this route, it is recommended that you take them on a ‘test run’ sometime before the trip. This way you can watch first hand how your pet reacts to the drug, and make sure it isn’t too much for them to handle.

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AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:

InsuranceHunter.ca is an online car insurance brokerage, offering free auto insurance quotes in Ontario.