Planning to travel with your pets

Pet Travel - Planning to travel with your pets

Pet travel should only be considered if your pet is in good health. If you are unsure, make a visit to your local veterinarian for a complete checkup. Bring your dog or cats health care record with you.

Here are some pet travel tips:

Let your veterinarian know about your pet travel plans.
Before you and your pet travel, consult your veterinarian to determine if mild sedation is necessary for you pet during travel. They may also advise for your pet to fast for 2 - 4 hours prior to traveling by public transportation, in order to avoid motion sickness.
Handle any flea or tick problem prior to leaving.
Make sure that all required vaccinations are current.
If your pet travel will be out of state or out of the country, keep your dog or cats health care record and proof of vaccinations along with your other travel documents.
Ask your veterinarian if they can refer you to another veterinarian in the area(s) that you will be traveling, or search the internet to find one. Keep the contact information along with your other travel documents.

Before you and your pet travel, make sure your pet is ready for pet travel.
Here are some tips:

Bring a leash for your pet. Walking your pet is more enjoyable if they use a dog leash or cat leash that stops tugging and pulling. If your dog or cat doesn’t typically use a leash, start using one at home in the weeks prior to your pet travel so they will become accustomed to it. ASPCA approved training leads are available for dogs.
If you have not traveled with your pet before, begin preparing your pet by bringing them on small day trips. Some pets do better than others when in unfamiliar surroundings and it is better to find out how they will react prior to your pet travel. If they do not do well, consider leaving your pet at home with a pet sitter or local kennel.
Choose a secure collar that properly identifies your pet. Traditional nylon collars are usually sufficient for dogs. You can also get nylon safety collars for your cat that will not snag. The collar should include tags that identify your dog or cat quickly.

Temporary tags can be used to indicate where you are staying during your trip. Keep on hand a couple of instant pet I.D. tags.

You can also use a permanent marker to write your temporary contact information on the nylon collar of your dog or cat.
To avoid injury to your pet, do not use a choke or training collar when traveling.
Before you leave, take the time to groom your pet.
When your pet’s nails are trimmed and filed smooth, there is less likelihood they will cause damage to floors, doors, or walls or scratch human companions. To avoid damage to hotel property and reduce the chances of injury to others, clip the nails of your pet. You do not need to bring your pet to the groomer for this, you can easily do it yourself with nail trimmer kit for your dog or cat.
Remove excess hair by brushing your pet. The brushes with lift away face plate for easier cleaning are available for dogs. For cats, try a dual sided cat brush. One side untangles mats and snarls, the other brings out a healthy shine.
Make sure you pet is bathed and clean. Cat bath wipes are an excellent choice for cleaning your cat and eliminating coat odors. Dogs may require bathing in a tub.

The majority of the pet travel products mentioned in this article can be purchased online at Drs. Foster & Smith - The Trusted Name in Pet Supplies!

What's New	Privacy Statement	Customer Service	Sign In	Tell a Friend	Get Listed	Contact Us
Travel Articles	Legal	Site Map	Register	About Us