Travel Tips For Pets

We can’t stress it enough; treat your animals as you treat your children. In essence, pets are just like children. They are only capable of doing just so much for themselves. This applies to travelling as well. By following the advice below, you will be better able to ensure that your precious pets make it to their destination healthy, happy and fit.

• Demographics: While it might seem strange to use the term demographics in regards to pets, it is definitely something that should be taken into consideration when travelling. If your pet is elderly, or very young, ill, pregnant or has recently had medical issues, you should likely refrain from any long distance travel via any form of transportation, but most definitely via airplane. Travel can be infinitely more stressful for pets than for adults. After all, pets are often required to be in cages, or otherwise restrained during travel.
• Vet Visit: Visit your vet before travel. This way your vet will be able to assess your pet, make sure that they are up to date on any vaccinations that they require, as well as their heart worm and flea/tick regimens. When travelling to an unknown area, make sure that you are aware of any risks, health or otherwise, that your pet may face while travelling, and ask your vet to prescribe medication accordingly, if he or she feels that it is warranted, such as car sickness medication, or tranquillizers if necessary. On another note, you will most certainly want to take copies of vaccination and rabies records with you.
• Diet: Travel is stressful for any pet, so making sure that you have the proper food with you at all times is paramount to their happiness and health. Abrupt changes in diet and environment can lead to a pet not eating, or in some cases gastro-intestinal distress. Especially if your pets are just moving from milk to solid foods, consider choosing one of PetAg® highly portable and easy to mix weaning foods. Ensuring your pets healthy diet is a cornerstone to their overall health.
• Separation: Micro-chipping your pet is one of the best ways to ensure that your pet can be reunited with you should they become lost during your travels. These microchips store all pertinent information about your pet, and allow animal hospitals, shelters and humane societies to quickly identify your pet.
• Travel Carriers: Make sure if you are travelling via any form that you have an appropriate carrier for your pet. Ensure that the carrier is roomy enough for your pet to move around in and be comfortable, and allow them time to become accustomed to the carrier before travel. Ideally you will place this in their vicinity a couple of weeks before travel is to commence, and allow them to explore it at their leisure.
• Tags: Even if you are practicing micro-chipping, ensure that your pet has up to date tags so that people who do not have scanners will be able to help you and your pet reunite. It is also important to ensure that basic vaccination information is available on your pets tags, such as rabies.

As with their people companions, it is always best to hope for the best while preparing for the worst. When travelling, make sure that you have a current photo of your pet and a written description so that you will be able to give all pertinent information to the local authorities as well as put up flyers. This information is best written at home in a calm environment, because if you are like most of us, little details that might be helpful tend to slip our minds when we are under stress.

We wish you Happy, Healthy and Fit trails!