Tips for Traveling With Pets

Laurie Anne Walden, DVM

• Going on vacation and thinking of taking your pet along? First decide whether travel is right for your pet. Some animals are comfortable traveling and being in unfamiliar places. Others are much happier staying at home or in a boarding facility. Destination matters; some places (and types of vacations) are more pet friendly than others. Will you be able to spend plenty of time with your pet or will she be alone in a crate most of the day?
  
• Make sure your pet has identification, ideally both a microchip and an identification tag. Before you leave, double check that the microchip registry has your current contact information. Have a photo of your pet available in case he gets lost.
• If you’re taking your pet to another state or country, check the destination’s animal import requirements as far in advance as possible. Your pet will probably need a health certificate. Some destinations require vaccinations and blood tests on a specific schedule. The USDA APHIS Pet Travel web page lists current requirements for international and interstate pet transport: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel.
• Plan how you’ll safely restrain your pet during travel and give her time to get used to the restraint method before the trip. Either a seat belt harness or a crate will keep your dog safe in the car. Cats should stay in crates in cars. Airlines might require specific types of carriers.
• Look after your pet’s medical needs. Consult your veterinarian if you’re not sure if your pet is healthy enough to travel or if he has motion sickness. Remember to pack your pet’s medications, including heartworm and flea preventives if a dose will be due during the trip. Be sure you can locate emergency veterinary clinics along the route and at the destination. Ask your veterinarian if your pet needs extra preventive care measures, like tick prevention or a leptospirosis vaccination. 
• Traveling by car: Keep water, a bowl, leashes, and poop bags where you can reach them. From personal experience, I also recommend taking paper towels, a garbage bag, and a backup dog bed or towel in case somebody gets sick all over their bed. Pack your pet’s usual food, but you might need to withhold food before and during the ride if she has motion sickness; check with your veterinarian. To reduce the risk of heat stroke, never leave an animal in a car without air conditioning in warm weather (cracking a window open is not enough). Rest stops with pets are easier with at least 2 people so someone can stay with the pet at all times.
• Traveling by air: Check the airline’s requirements in advance. If possible, arrange to have your pet with you in the cabin. If your pet will be traveling in the cargo hold, try to book a nonstop flight at a time of day without temperature extremes—for example, not in the middle of the day in the summer. Brachycephalic (short-nosed) animals are at extra risk in cramped or warm conditions. Tranquilizers are not recommended for animals traveling by air. For more air travel tips, see the American Veterinary Medical Association Traveling With Your Pet FAQ: https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Traveling-with-Your-Pet-FAQs.aspx.

Photo by Ian Badenhorst on Unsplash

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