Traveling can be hectic and stressful, particularly if you aren’t well prepared. Traveling with your pet can also be stressful, not only to you, but also to that four-legged member of your family. Careful planning can take a bite out of the stress and make it more comfortable and fun to travel with your pet. One key bit of advice – plan ahead, particularly if you are traveling out of your country. In some cases, you need to plan six months to a year ahead to ensure that you and your pet will enjoy the adventure. Here are some great pet travel tips to help you start the process.
Know Your Pet
Make sure your pet is both physically and psychotically able to travel. If your pet is older, if it is very young and not well trained, or if it has been sick or under strict medication, reconsider your position. Your dog or cat may be better off in familiar surroundings with a loving pet sitter than on unfamiliar turf at this time.
Visit Your Vet
Have your veterinarian check your pet’s health and fitness. Traveling is as stressful for a pet, and your pet should be healthy before taking on the additional stress involved in travel. Your veterinarian should also check for fleas and ticks as well as any skin disorders.
In the case of traveling abroad, make sure you and your veterinarian know what documents are necessary for ease of entry into another country. Make sure that your pet has vaccination and rabies records up to date. Know what testing and treatments need to be done. Find information on pet import requirements for countries worldwide.
If your dog, cat, or ferret isn’t microchipped, have your vet implant a 15-digit pet microchip ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A of standard 11785. Don’t forget to register your contact information in a microchip database.
Why is microchipping important? First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Secondly, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database. Thirdly, if your pet is being transported internationally, pet identification is required to enter most foreign countries.
Most pets require this some of identification, even birds, rabbits or reptiles. If your pet is not of a species that can accept a microchip, your veterinarian must be very specific about physical characteristics of your pet when issuing the health certificate.
Ask for a referring veterinarian in the destination area and keep the phone number of the veterinarian with you. Get information from your veterinarian information on medications for motion sickness, tranquilizers he or she would recommend, and any available information on health dangers in your destination area, such as rabies, tick, heartworm or flea infestations.
Things to have ready for your veterinarian:
- Details of your pet.
- Vaccination records or certificates from the administering vet.
- Any other testing (e.g. rabies titer test) if your pet has had one.
- Microchip information (from the vet who implanted the microchip).
- Travel Itinerary including any layover countries.
- Details of how your pet will travel (ground, in-cabin, checked baggage or air cargo).
- Pet policies of your airline
Check Your Pet’s Vaccinations
Have your veterinarian check your pet’s health and fitness. Traveling is as stressful for a pet as it is for all of us.
That said, other healthy vaccinations should be administered to protect your pet from diseases. They include:
Dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, hepatitis (two types), and parvovirus
Cats: Panleukopenia, feline leukemia, and feline viral rhinotracheitis
Get Your Pet’s Equipment Early
Purchase an appropriate pet carrier or pet crate for your pet, depending on your pet’s size and how it will travel. The carrier you choose should allow the pet to stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably, and should be free of any interior protrusions that could injure your pet in travel. There should be adequate ventilation and a waterproof bottom. Your pet should be secure in the pet carrier. Make sure your name, your pet’s name and address and phone are printed on the crate or attached to the carrier in indelible ink.
A word about the pet carrier or pet crate. Don’t spring this mode of transportation on your dog or cat on the day you leave. Spend several weeks or months getting your pet used to the carrier or crate increasing intervals before embarking on your pet vacation.
Related: Step-by-step instructions on how to acclimate your pet to its crate or carrier
If you are traveling in a car, you can opt for a pet harness for your pet as well.
Pet Travel by Air
If your dog or cat will be flying, then you will need to find an airline that flies the entire route from beginning to end. The airlines will transfer your pet between their aircraft, but they will not transfer your pet to another airline company. If your pet is traveling in the cargo hold, it is extremely important that your layovers stay around 2 hours and your airline confirms that they will transit your pet through the layover airport. If you are traveling in the cabin, changing airlines could cause you to clear customs to check your pet into the airline that serves the second leg of your trip.
Be sure that you know your airline’s pet policies and contact your airline to notify them that you will be traveling with a pet. If your pet is traveling unaccompanied, contact the cargo department of the airline for details.
If you are planning to travel with your pet in the cabin, you will not only need to have an airline compliant carrier, but you will need to let the airlines know that you are traveling with a pet before making your booking. Although some airlines will allow you to make a reservation for your pet over the Internet, we recommend that you speak with them on the telephone as well to avoid any issues on travel day.
When you are flying in the cabin with your pet, it is best to be as unobtrusive as possible. Reserve the window seat to remove your pet from the activity in the aisle. Consider a privacy carrier which has coverings that will cover some of the openings in the carrier and isolate your pet, thus helping to keep it calm. The better behaved your pet is (no running loose, no barking or howling), the more likely it is that the airline will continue its pet friendly policy and will encourage others in the industry to accommodate pet owners as well.
Check with the airline if your pet will travel in the cargo hold to find out their precautions for this mode of travel. Tape the leash in a zip-lock bag on the top of the carrier. Your pet can get tangled in it when traveling in the crate.
Related: Preparing your pet’s crate for travel in the cargo hold
Pet Travel by Ground
Many dogs and cats are fearful of traveling in an automobile, so it is crucial to introduce them to this slowly. Take short trips at first and get them used to their restraint. Always give lots of hugs and treats when you go home. Lengthen the trips over time and soon you will have a great companion when traveling in your car.
Your air conditioning should be working properly and be sure and use it while driving. Don’t roll down the windows and let your dog hang its head out of the window, and never have your pet in the back of a truck. It is a good idea to harness your pet when driving for their safety.
Related: Traveling with a pet by car.
Research Your Destination.
Search for pet-friendly hotels and be sure to double check with them before making reservations (policies do change, sometimes with new ownership). Find nearby dog parks, pet-friendly restaurants and other amenities that accept pets.
Will Your Pet be Traveling Within Your Country (Domestic) or Crossing Country Borders (International)?
Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccination is current and will not expire on your trip. All countries will require that your pet be vaccinated for rabies, and this must be done between 14 and 90 days prior to travel, depending on the country’s pet import requirements.
It is also a good idea to travel with a health certificate issued by your veterinarian. Although it may not be enforced with ground transport, a visit to the vet shortly prior to traveling is a good idea and will ensure your pet is fit for travel and has no problems with fleas or ticks.
If you are traveling internationally, then a health certificate will be required to enter any country in addition to other tests and permits. This certificate is completed by your veterinarian during a routine office visit. Some countries will accept a generic certificate, and others will have their own. If possible, the certificate should be translated into the language of the destination country.
Many countries require that tests be done months in advance, so you must learn about your destination country’s pet import regulations as soon as you make your decision to transport your pet.
Pack up!
When packing for your trip, you will need:
- Any veterinary documents required for your pet’s travel
- Your pet’s medication, particularly enough of any prescription medication for the trip.
- A microchip and a collar with your contact information on it
- Your pet carrier or pet crate, complete with identification
- A leash and an extra collar. (Make sure your pet isn’t wearing a choke collar of any kind. Cats should have a safety collar.)
- Extra sheets or an old blanket for under the carrier for travel in an automobile
- A couple of sheets to cover furniture and/or the bed at your destination, just in case
- A blanket or cushion from your pet’s home bedding
- A container of your pet’s food. If you pet eats a common food and you know that it is available, you needn’t bring a whole bag. But, if you don’t know if you’ll find your pet’s food, then bring it with you. (Don’t forget a can opener and spoon, if needed)
- Of course, a portable food and water dish, and a portable water container for traveling while at your destination.
- Backpack for your dog if you are going to be doing hiking or walking
- Booties for your dog if you plan to travel on uneven or hilly ground
- Their favorite chew toys
- Treats
- Grooming supplies, such as a brush or comb, a lint remover for hotel furniture, tweezers, scissors
- Trash bags and waste removal bags
- Extra old towels
- Portable cat litter tray for your kitty
- If traveling by car, use a pet carrier pad. If you decide to take a short walk, use a cat harness and leash. Under no circumstances should your cat run free.
- Use a pet harness or booster seat device when traveling by car. In case of an accident, dogs can be thrown around the car and be injured or injure the driver or passengers as well.
- Flashlight (for walking after dark)
- First aid kit for humans and pets
Relax.
Pack a relaxed attitude. This is supposed to be fun for your family and your pet. Check out interesting places to visit along the way or at your destination, and plan extra time for impulse side trips.
Hopefully, these pet travel tips will help you organize your next trip with your best friend. Have safe and happy travels.
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