Ready for some pet-friendly travel? If you have a serious case of wanderlust and want to take your pet along, it can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding Instagram-worthy experience, but it also comes with its share of challenges. Plan ahead to ensure your pet’s comfort, safety, and well-being, whether you’re hitting the road or flying to your destination. It takes some planning to avoid the stress and health risks of our favorite companions by avoiding these 5 common mistakes.
1. Skipping a Pre-Trip Vet Visit
It’s easy to just assume your pet is fit for travel without actually getting sign-off from a vet. A quick trip to CARA or your local vet ensures your cat, dog, rabbit, or other pet is in good health and up to date on their vaccinations, which may be a requirement, depending on the destination.
Your vet can also provide
- Travel documentation for airlines and hotels that require health certificates
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention if you’re traveling to an area with a high risk of pests.
- Motion sickness medications if your pet is prone to issues while traveling
- Sedatives if your pet is nervous or anxious on planes, in the car, or just while away from home
Scheduling a quick check-up is an easy way to prevent unexpected health issues from ruining your trip and keep your pet safe throughout your trip.
2. Not Keeping Your Pet in the Car
Free-roaming pets in the car are a disaster waiting to happen. If your pet isn’t secure, they can injure themselves or others, especially during a car accident. Pets can also quickly become a distraction to the driver and create unsafe driving conditions.
To keep your pet safe, consider these secure travel options:
- Ask your vet about pet seat belts that attach to your own vehicle’s seat belt system.
- Crash-tested pet carriers or crates for a safe and comfortable enclosure that also makes your pet feel secure.
- Car barriers that keep your pet from jumping up into the front seat or onto the pedals.
Whatever you do, never let your pet ride on your lap or stick their head out of the window. It may seem like a cute, photo-worthy idea, but a sudden stop or flying debris could cause a catastrophic injury. It’s not worth it.
3. Ignoring Airline and Hotel Pet Policies
It’s important to never assume anything on your vacation. From airlines to hotels and Airbnbs, never book your trip thinking every place shares the same pet policies. Many pet owners make the mistake of booking their flights and accommodations without checking on restrictions and guidelines and adding last-minute stress, fees, and heartaches along the way.
Before you book, check for:
- Size and weight restrictions, especially for airlines that usually have limits on pet carriers in their cabins.
- Breed restrictions. Some airlines won’t allow snub-nosed breeds like pugs or bulldogs to fly due to breathing issues, and some hotels won’t allow breeds they deem aggressive or over a certain weight.
- Hotel pet fees and rules. Most hotels charge extra for pets as a flat fee or by the day.
Confirm all details in advance for a stress-free experience for you and your pet.
4. Forgetting the Essentials and Backups
You may be diligent about packing all of your essentials and backups, like an extra pair of reading glasses, but you also need to think about what your pet needs. They need their own supplies and creature comforts to feel comfortable and secure.
Before your next trip, make sure to pack:
- Enough food, water, and snacks for the entire trip to avoid sudden diet changes that could upset their stomach.
- Collapsible bowls to make feeding as easy as possible on the go.
- Leash, harness, and waste bags for bathroom breaks and walks.
- Comfort items like a favorite blanket or toy to soothe their anxiety and stress.
- Medications and a first-aid kit in case of an emergency.
- The number of an emergency vet in your final destination
Keep a handy list of anything else you might need during an emergency, like the medication they take whenever their stomach is upset. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to take care of anything unexpected on the road.
5. Not Giving Your Pet Enough Breaks
If you have the mentality of, “Let’s make good time and just get there,” you’ll need to take a different approach. Traveling long distances without frequent breaks can be uncomfortable, stressful, and even dangerous for your pet. Your pet shouldn’t be expected to hold it for as long as they can.
If you’re on a road trip, stop every two to three hours to let your pet stretch, go to the bathroom, and have a long drink of water. Use designated pet-friendly rest stops and let them walk safely on a leash and meet some other furry friends—but only if they enjoy socializing.
If you’re flying to your destination, do your best to avoid long layovers unless you can find a pet relief area inside of the airport. Otherwise, do your best to factor in time to leave security and return through TSA to give your pet time to relieve themselves and get in a little exercise.
Make the Most of Your Pet-Friendly Travel
Pet-friendly travel can be a rewarding and memorable experience if you’re proactive and prioritize your pet’s needs. The team at CARA is always here for all of your pre-travel vet needs and advice to make your journey as seamless as possible. Schedule your appointment today!
