Automobile travel is by far the most popular form of transportation for these pet owners as driving enables them to stop as many times as necessary to give their cat or dog a breath of fresh air, a potty break and a chance to stretch all of their legs.
Just as you pack clothes, belongings and necessities for use on your trip, you must also do the same for your pet.
Things you must bring with you for your pet include: his collar with proper tags (rabies, pet’s name and contact information), water bowl, food dish, food, treats, toys, bedding, emergency first aid kit, copies of all vaccination records and any medication your pet takes on a regular basis.
When travelling by car, there are a few safety precautions that must be taken. It doesn’t matter if the pet is a cat or dog, it must be restrained when the vehicle is in motion. Cats are most easily restrained in a carrier, while dogs can be secured via a special canine seatbelt, a pet barrier or a carrier.
In order to avoid bathroom accidents in the vehicle, do not let your pet have any food or water while they travelling in the car. However, whenever you stop, do offer your pets water and a little bit of food. Keep the amount of food you give your pet while travelling to your destination minimal as he can get motion sickness and become ill in the vehicle.
Not all animals travel well. If you have a pet that pants, won’t settle and/or becomes agitated when travelling, and you still want him to accompany you on the trip, consider giving him anti-anxiety medication. Consult your veterinarian or local holistic store for these products.
Not all vacation destinations can be reached within a few hours. Sometimes it may take you a day or two to get to your final location. When travelling with a pet, your overnight stops must be planned prior to your departure, as not every hotel or motel will accept pets.
When mapping out your route, do a web search for dogs hotels and pet hotels that are located along your route. More pet hotels/motels are accepting four-legged overnight guests. However, their acceptance comes with stipulations. Some of the more common restrictions made by hotels/motels that accept pets include pet size – some hotels/motels will only take small dogs or cats, and the number of pets. Many pet hotels/motels limit the number of overnight pets to two.
You may also be asked to pay an extra fee or place a special pet damage deposit. Ask about additional fees when booking the room. Also find out if the deposit is refundable.
A common stipulation pet hotels/motels make when allowing pets to stay overnight is that the pet is never left alone in the room. This request is actually to the benefit of the pet owner as this helps to prevent the pet from causing damage to the room because he is stressed and alone in a strange place. If a pet does cause any damage, the pet’s owner will have to pay for any necessary repairs.
When travelling to another country, whether it is by car or plane, pet owners must find out if there are any entry restrictions. Pet owners must also be aware of any breed bans that are in place and must respect them if they are the owner of a banned breed. You will also need to bring appropriate paperwork – up-to-date vaccination records and proof of ownership are the two most common.
If you and your pet plan on flying to your vacation destination, find out what the airline’s pet policy is. Each airline has their own policy when it comes to the number of pets per flight, size of animal and pet carrier requirements. An airline must be notified of a travelling pet upon booking of the flight.
It is important to note that pets are not allowed in the passenger area of most commercial airlines, therefore, they must fly, in a proper pet carrier in the plane’s baggage area.