Getting There With Your Pet

While on vacation, most people arrange for their pets to stay at home and have friend or family member take care of the animal. Others, who do not have this option, take to alternatives such as a boarding kennel or a professional pet sitter. There are several things that you must take into consideration before heading out of town!

Take out some time to think about whether your pet is physically capable of traveling. If you are not sure, ask the veterinarian. Let your veterinarian know where you’re going and for how long and how you’ll be traveling. This will help prevent health risks like flea, heartworm, or tick risks for places you will be traveling. Also, it’s important to ensure that all vaccinations are updated, besides obtaining current health and rabies certificates not earlier than ten days prior to your date of travel. You’ll need this in case your pet is flying.

If it’s the first time that you’re traveling with your pet, it’s worthwhile to take a short test trip. This will help you know if your pet gets carsick or restless while traveling, and obtain proper medications from your veterinarian. Also, when traveling make sure that you have your pets’ favorite toys, food and leash with you. This way, the pet will feel more comfortable at the new destination. Make sure that you use your leash when taking the pet outside, as the pets can sometimes get nervous in a new place and try to run.

While at your destination, your pet should always sport a special identification tag apart from the normal one. Be sure to mark this tag with the pet's name, your name, the person to make contact with at the destination, the person’s phone number, and a destination address. This will help you get in touch with the pet in case it’s separated. A foolproof way is to have the pet micro-chipped. Animal clinics, humane societies, kennels, and shelters all over use scanners that can read the implanted chips. This will help you reunite with your lost pet. Here’s good news! Microchip procedures are harmless, fast and inexpensive.

Don’t forget to notify the airline, bus, or train company if a Seeing Eye dog is accompanying you. This is because dogs other than Seeing Eye dogs accompanying blind persons are not allowed on buses and trains.

If you’re traveling by air, make sure that you’ve made all reservations and arrangements regarding delivery and pickup from the airport upfront. Rules vary from airline to airline. Follow airline instructions and check the airline's requirements for carrying pets. If you’re taking along smaller pets like birds, hamsters and tropical fish, consider transporting them by air express. You can obtain shipping containers from airline freight departments, pet stores and department stores as well. If you’re carrying tropical fish, have it packed by a local specialist pet shop.

Again, it’s important to make your pet comfortable with the new environment. If you’re obtaining a shipping container, have it a few days in advance so that you have time to get your pet familiar with the container. Start with placing your pet in the container for a few minutes each day and steadily stretch the time until the pet is at ease.

When traveling by air, feed your pet at least five to six hours before flight time, and give water two hours before flight. This will prevent hunger or thirst during the trip. Also, get the pet to the air terminal on time. You should get there 45 minutes in advance of your flight time if the pet is accompanying you, and two hours in advance if you’re shipping the pet. Upon arrival, you can usually pick your pet within 90 minutes from the destination airport. Don’t lose your air waybill number as it is required when making inquires.

It’s a difference experience altogether when your darling pet is at your side while on vacation. After all, for those who are passionate about their pets, getting there with the animal is half the fun!