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A pet is part of the family, am I right? So, it’s natural to want to bring along your pet when you travel! But don’t jump into the car too quickly. There are plenty of great ways to prepare ahead of time to make sure you and your pet will have a wonderful time traveling together. Below are 10 tips for traveling with pets that you must know before booking your next trip.

1. Make sure your pet is okay to travel

First things first when it comes to traveling with pets: make sure your pet is healthy enough and has the right temperament for travel, especially if it’s a long trip. Unfortunately, some pets cannot handle travel demands because of ill health, age, temperament, or injury. Don’t force your pet to travel if you have any doubts they aren’t ready for it. If you’re on the fence about whether they should go, consider leaving your pet with a reputable pet sitter, family member, or boarding facility nearby that can watch your pet while you’re away.

2. Prepare your pet for travel

If you’re traveling with pets by car, it’s a good idea to help prepare your pet for travel with some short bursts of driving. This ‘exposure therapy’ can gradually acclimate your pet to the feel and sounds of riding in a vehicle. Make these trips a positive experience to help ease your pet’s nerves. You can even start by taking your pet to fun places like the dog park! These small trips will help you get an idea of how well your pet may do on longer trips. 

3. Find a great pet-friendly rental

When traveling with pets, always make sure to check that your accommodations happily accept pets as guests—and your pet in particular! Some hotels/motels only accept pets that are deemed ‘small pets’ or are under a certain weight. When staying in a pet-friendly hotel or motel, try to limit the amount of time your pet is alone in the room. When away, make sure to place a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door and notify the hotel staff. No one wants to have hotel guests complain or come back to a mess of a hotel room.

4. Pack a pet bag

Just like packing your own bag prior to traveling, it’s a great idea to pack a bag for your pet’s needs too. Here are some items to include in an extra bag when traveling with pets:

  • Pet food and bowl
  • Freshwater and bowl
  • Crate
  • Collar, harness, and leash
  • Bedding
  • Medications
  • ID tags (with up-to-date information)
  • Chew toys
  • Grocery bags or poop bags
  • Pet treats
  • Grooming items 
  • First Aid Kit 

5. Take precautions before your trip

Some things that make traveling with pets difficult are the risks of vomiting, diarrhea, and having too much energy. Taking some simple precautions before your trip can help tremendously. To help prevent nausea and diarrhea, you can choose for your pet to skip breakfast or a meal right before your travels, so that they don’t travel on a full stomach. As for an energetic pet, expelling energy before your trip (e.g. going for a walk) will help keep your pet calm and less anxious.

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6. Gather the necessary paperwork

Gathering necessary paperwork for your pet is important to do, especially if you’re traveling to a foreign country. A health certificate, signed by an accredited veterinarian, for your pet is the most common documentation to carry with you. Sometimes airports require specific documents for pets. It’s also good to check with your veterinarian about approved medications for travel if your pet needs help relaxing.

7. Consider microchipping

If your pet is not already microchipped, consider having this simple procedure done before your travels. You never know if and when your pet may get loose and away from you. A microchip makes it much easier and faster for your pet to be located and placed safely back in your arms. If your pet is already microchipped, make sure the microchip’s registration information is still current. You’ll also want to make sure your pet still has a microchip tag on its collar. If not, you can easily request a replacement tag prior to traveling.

8. Keep pets safe and secure

Per the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), small dogs and cats should travel in a pet carrier (some are soft-sided). Larger dogs that cannot comfortably fit in a carrier can be secured by attaching their harness to the seatbelt. Pets shouldn’t ride in the back of a truck and a dog shouldn’t be allowed to stick their head out of the window (risk of debris flying into their eyes, ears, and nose). As always, when traveling with pets, never leave your pet in the vehicle without you! 

Extra tip: Don’t throw a bunch of toys into the crate with your pet inside. You want to make sure they are comfortable and have enough room to lay down and change positions.

9. Make frequent stops

If you’re embarking on a long road trip, make sure to make frequent trips so that your pet can use the bathroom, expel some energy, and breathe in the fresh air. Pets should be able to get out of the car and use the bathroom about every 2-3 hours. With this frequency in mind, you can better plan your trip when traveling with pets to make ‘all-in-one’ stops where you let your pet out, get gas, grab a snack, and/or use the restroom yourself. 

10. Check airline requirements

As we previously mentioned, check your airline’s restrictions and requirements for traveling with your pet ahead of time. Most airlines require you to have your pet’s health certificate (or Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) that has been issued within 10 days of travel. Many vets recommend that pets fly on an empty (or almost empty) stomach to prevent nausea and discomfort. Of course, your pet’s age, needs, size, and length of your flight should all be taken into consideration.

We hope these 10 tips for traveling with pets will help you feel confident to travel with your pet so that everyone can have a great time together. When it comes down to it, being well-prepared and aware of your pet’s needs is the most important part of traveling with them. Once you and your pet get a hang of traveling together, you’ll be able to do it more frequently. The skies are the limit! 

Have you traveled with your pet before? What tips did we forget to mention? Let us know below!