Taking Your Pet on Vacation -- The Do’s and Don’ts

Some pet owners have to go everywhere with their furry loved one. We at PCWT are always here for you if you need to go out of town for any length of time. But maybe it’s time for your pet to have a vacation of their own. After all, animals need some time off from their routines too. Maybe you work endless hours all week and this is a time for you two to bond all over again. Whatever the reason, there are some important things to keep in mind when bringing your dog or cat with you on a long trip. Air travel and road travel each present their own sets of challenges and conveniences when travelling with a pet, so consider the following tips when you’re planning your next getaway with your four-legged pal.

First thing to do is take your pet for a veterinary check up. Make sure your pet is healthy enough to travel and is up to date on all of their shots. Get a health certificate before you go, as many airlines require one before they will allow your pet to board the plane.

You will also want to have your pet microchipped, in the event your pet gets lost. Whether travelling by air or by land, a lost pet can be devastating to both of you. The microchip will make finding them much easier.

Buy a USDA- approved pet crate. This is essential no matter how you plan on travelling, as it will be your pet’s living quarters for the duration of the trip. Be sure it’s big enough for your pet to stand and move around inside of comfortably. Don’t let it be too confining for them or they won’t enjoy their time inside of it. The crate is required for air travel, especially if your pet is too large to stay in the cabin with you and must travel in the storage area below.  Cats don’t necessarily need much in the way of preparation before they go into their crate. Just be sure they have water, comfortable and familiar bedding and maybe a few toys so that they don’t get completely spooked. For dogs, get them some exercise before you place them into the crate so they don’t have much pent up energy before being confined to the carrier. Make it a positive experience for them. Don’t act like it’s the end of the world that they’re going inside by acting sorry or sad that you have to put them inside of it. Put familiar clothing or bedding for them to feel comfortable and be sure there’s nothing within that can fly around and harm them. You’ll also want to get the dog to pee and poop as well so they’re not holding it for the duration of the trip.

Prep the crate with all of you and your pet’s information for airline travel. Inform anyone and everyone possible that this is your pet inside of the crate and it’s a living, breathing animal that must be cared for with the utmost attention to detail. For car trips, keeping your loved one in the crate is the safest way for them to travel but take a pit stop every few hours for a snack and/or a walk.