Traveling With Your Pet

As your summer travel plans get underway, you may be thinking about taking your pet with you. Before you decide, ask yourself these questions:

• Will it be welcome at our vacation destination?
• Will it enjoy the trip?
• Is my pet in good health?

If you've answered "yes," accustom your pet to riding in your car. Begin with short rides each day and gradually increase the length of each ride.

If your pet is unable to adjust to short rides, a responsible sitter or a boarding kennel or cattery is preferable. If you board your pet, make reservations well in advance, especially for summer months and major holidays.

Here's a checklist to help ensure a comfortable and safe trip for your pet:

Health Check

• Are your pet's vaccinations up-to-date?
• Does your pet have appropriate heartworm protection if the mosquito season begins earlier or ends later in the area you will be visiting?

Packing for Your Pet

• Carry health and rabies certificates with you. They may be needed if you fly anywhere or may be required if you board your pet during your trip. They are required if you cross international borders.
• Pack your pet's water and food bowls, grooming equipment and any heartworm or other medicine it may require. If you are not certain that your pet's usual diet will be available at your destination, take a supply with you to avoid digestive upsets which could be caused by a sudden diet change.

Identification

• Be certain your pet is wearing an identification tag giving its name, your name and home address and telephone number including the area code. If possible, your vacation address and telephone number should also be included.
• Take color pictures of your pet and a written description of its colorings and distinguishing marks. Record your pet's body size and weight.If your pet is lost, these identification aids could make the difference in locating it.
• Do not feed your pet for at least three hours before leaving on a trip. Take your dog for a walk just before you start the drive. You will still have to stop along the way, but your dog will be more comfortable as the trip gets underway.
• During stops, provide fresh drinking water for your dog. You may also reward it with a dog snack for being a good traveler.
• If the drive is eight hours or longer, give your cat the opportunity to use a litter pan three or four times, and offer it fresh drinking water.
• Feed your pet shortly after you arrive at your destination or when you have stopped for the day.

Traveling Safety

• If your car has adequate space, using a carrier is the safest way for your dog to travel. A cat should always be confined in a carrier. Never put the carrier on the sunny side of the car where your pet may become overheated.
• If a carrier is not feasible for your dog, consider using a restraining harness. They come in different sizes to fit all breeds and are available at pet supply stores.
• Always put your dog on a leash before letting it out of the car. If you walk your dog on the highway at night, wear reflective strips on your clothing and place a reflective collar on your dog for visibility and protection.
• Avoid leaving your pet in a closed car on a hot day. Temperatures in cars can rise quickly even if the windows are open slightly. The heat and insufficient air circulation can quickly lead to heat stress, suffocation and death.

Traveling By Air

• Try to avoid peak travel periods when delays and stopovers are longer. Traveling in extreme hot or cold weather may be dangerous if your pet must wait very long before loading and unloading. Plan a trip with as few stops and transfers as possible.
• Make hotel, resort and airline reservations for your pet well in advance. Some airlines have limited space for transporting pets.
• Some airlines allow cats and small dogs to travel (generally for an additional charge) with their owner if the carrier fits under the passenger seat. Otherwise, rent or purchase a carrier or crate which meets airline regulations and affix a LIVE ANIMAL sticker. Mark it with your name and address and the name of a person who can be contacted about your pet at your destination if necessary.
• Put a cushion or blanket on the crate floor. Attach a water cup to the crate door. The cup should be deep, but not too full of water to avoid spilling.
• On the day of the flight, take your dog for a long walk before leaving for the airport.
• At the end of the trip, pick up your pet promptly.

Certain countries and island destinations require a quarantine period for animals at the owner's expense. Ask your travel agent or the consul of the country you plan to visit about quarantines.

A final thought
At your vacation site, observe all regulations regarding pets. Confine your pet in a carrier or restricted space when leaving it alone. Your consideration will help keep pets welcome guests.