Ninety-five percent of people have thought about traveling with their pets at least once for an overnight. Yes, many families have considered having a vacation with their furry members of the family. Whether dogs or cats, these pets must not be left behind at home.
Keep in mind, however, that traveling requires proper planning and preparation. Having kids for travel can already be stressful for some families. But bringing pets is another story, as it’s hard to keep them as safe as possible.
Fret not, as we’ve prepared some safety tips for you. Here’s how to travel safely with your pets:
1. Ensure traveling’s safe for your pets
The initial step is to assess if it is safe for your dogs or cats to travel. Chances are, your pets are already old, sick, or unfit for traveling. Of course, you don’t want to compromise your pets’ health and safety. As such, it’s better to leave them at home and have someone to look after them. If not, consider putting them temporarily in a pet facility. But if these pets have no health and traveling issues at all, take the plunge and enjoy your vacation with your pets!
2. Have proper ID tags for your pets
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals underscores the importance of pet identification for traveling. No matter your travel route and destination, it’s best to have your pet microchipped for identification. While at it, ensure your dogs or cats wear tags with your name and contact details. In case they get lost, people who find them can easily and quickly reach out to you.
3. Have a list of vet centers in your travel destination
When traveling, you want to ensure that your furry family members are in top shape and condition. However, you have no control over what’s going to happen during the travel. These pets might get sick or even injured. To come in prepared and ready, you must have a list of vet centers in the area you’re heading. That way, these pets can get quickly treated in case of emergency.
4. Prepare your pets’ food and drink supplies
You and your family will pack your food and beverages for the long travel. While ensuring you have enough supplies, don’t forget your pets’ supplies as well. However, make sure not to feed your dogs or cats three to four hours before leaving. But during the actual travel, stop for a moment and allow them to eat, as you don’t want your pets to have motion sickness or feel unwell.
5. Don’t forget your pets’ medications
Apart from food and drink supplies, you must not forget your pets’ medications. In fact, the Red Cross Organization came up with an emergency kit for pets, the medicines included. Plus, don’t forget to include preventive drugs like those for heartworms, fleas, and ticks. Ultimately, bring this pet kit with you during the travel, as it’s better to be safe than sorry!
6. Obtain a health certificate for your pets
If you’re traveling from one state to another, you’ll most likely need to secure a health certificate for your pets. For the most part, you must show this certificate, apart from the proof of pet vaccination. Better yet, ask the travel authorities what the requirements are when traveling with pets. Be sure to obtain the needed paperwork so you won’t have any issues at all.
7. Prepare your pets’ behavior for travel
It’s crucial to assess your pets’ behavior to see if they won’t harm other people. If you have an aggressive dog, it’s a lot safer to leave your pet at home. The same is true for your mischievous cat as it might get lost during the travel. But if you’re confident about your cat or dog obedience training, consider bringing your pets. As long as you’re sure that your furry members will behave, you won’t have any problem at all.
8. Keep your pets secure while traveling
It’s one thing to plan for your pets’ safety beforehand. It’s another to keep your pets safe during the actual travel. That said, be sure to consider the following steps:
- Get your pet completely restrained inside the vehicle.
- Don’t allow your pets’ heads out of the car window.
- Keep your pet as cozy as possible in your car.
- Get your pet comfortable in a USDA-approved shipping crate (when applicable).
At this point, you now know how to keep your pets safe during travel. As such, be sure to consider the safety tips recommended above. With proper planning and preparation, you’ll promote the utmost safety of your pets. Ultimately, you and your family will have a fun vacation that you all deserve.
