Traveling can be a stressful time. As a pet owner, there are many things that you might need to consider as you travel and move around. You might be away from your home for long stints and might be weighing the decisions about bringing your pet along or even leaving them with someone you trust. If you decide to bring a travel companion or not, there are some things you'll have to prepare and keep in mind on your journey.
Documentation and Paperwork
When you are traveling over long distances and through borders, it is important to have the right documentation for your pets. When you're traveling by plane, some airlines require you to present your veterinary documentation with a certification of health no longer than 10 days prior to your departure. This may include documentation to certify that your pet has received their rabies and vaccination shots. In addition to health records, there is other paperwork you need to consider. If your pet is a support animal or an assistance animal, according to the experts at Therapetic, it is important to keep ESA documents that you might attain in order to stay up to date with precautions and protocols. If you know you are traveling in the coming months with your pet, you can take some easy steps to inquire and be evaluated by a professional and easily have your letter sent out to you to be properly equipped with all necessary travel documents.
Travel Crate
Bring a travel crate and bed while you travel. Your pet won't always feel comfortable as you change places and locations, so it is important to do what you can to make any sort of transition as easy as possible. This can be especially important when it comes to the types of pets that are accompanying you on your travel. Dogs may be more comfortable with new environments, but cats tend to be a bit more territorial and more uneasy and anxious when it comes to unfamiliar surroundings.
Microchip
If you haven't already had your pet microchipped, and if you plan on some travel adventures, this would be a good time to do so. This will allow you to rest easy knowing that if something were to happen to your pet while you are traveling, you can keep track of and locate them easier. This is just one of those precautions you can take to do the best for your pet and will have benefits moving forward even after your travels are done.
Food
It is important to feed your dog; but on the date of travel, you might want to consider whether or not it is a good idea to give them their last meal prior to traveling. This will depend on the level of anxiety your pet has and if they are new to travel or if they are seasoned veterans. If your pet has traveled with you before, you should feel fine feeding them as you normally would, but if you recognize they may be more antsy and anxious about your trip, their stomachs may become more sensitive and cause problems on your voyage. On shorter trips, you can pack snacks to keep them fed, while it is a good idea to break up longer trips with rest stops if you find you are traveling on the road.
Hydration
It is important to keep your pet hydrated on your trip. Pets can very easily get dehydrated during trips and while traveling, so you need to keep this in mind. Their anxiety can overwhelm their systems, and they may not remember to drink water. If you are keeping your pet in a crate, you can have a water bowl nearby. Otherwise, if you can do so, you should stop frequently to take water breaks. A good way to keep your pet both fed and hydrated is to feed them wet foods as they will have water content in their ingredients to help with hydration.
Pet-Friendly Accommodations
When considering the places you will stay and the restaurants where you can dine, it is important to find pet-friendly locations that not only will allow your pets to stay, but can be of great benefit if you can find places that will accommodate your pets needs as well. Having restaurants or hotels whose amenities are pet inclusive can leave you feeling assured and your pet feeling more comfortable with travel.
Traveling is not always simple, and it isn't always smooth sailing. It can be hectic if you haven't prepared yourself, and even more hectic if you are traveling with others, especially pets. So if you are adventuring with a furry friend, make sure you have the right preparations in place before heading out the door.
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