Traveling with Pets: Tips for Stress-Free Vacations
Traveling with your pet can be a fun, memorable experience, and transform an otherwise ordinary vacation into a real family adventure. But then again, unless well-planned, it can also prove to be a real challenge. From pet-friendly accommodations to comfort in traveling with your furry friend, so much needs to be considered. Give the next vacation with your pet the right quality of preparation and right planning and it will indeed be stress-free and fun for you and your pet.
- Planning Before Time: Planning and Preparing
As such, therefore, the best trip with your pet is actually one that you can plan well in advance. A good research on whether to drive, fly or take the train will also help in avoiding any shocking experiences at the last minute.
Verify pet-friendly locations: Not all hotels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds allow pets. Thus, it is advisable to research in advance and find accommodations that allow pets. Many websites have filters that search out pet-friendly options to help narrow down your choices. Be sure to read the fine print on pet policy as some places do not allow dogs of certain sizes or breeds, or even a certain number of them.
Also, if traveling with your pet, it would be handy to know the policy of the airlines regarding traveling pets. Policies vary from one airline to another and even in the size or type of carriers that they allow, to mention whether or not your pet can stay inside the cabin or in cargo. Try to book direct flights and avoid the heavy times for traveling which include holidays and summer.
Go See the Vet: This is a pre-trip vet visit. Also make sure that your dog is current with all vaccinations. Talk to your vet about the travel anxiety and any other health issues. Depending on which state or possibly even an international border you will be crossing, your pet may need a health certificate for travel. You can also ask if there are some antidotes for motion sickness or any form of treatment against anxiety that could be prescribed for the trip.
Pack a pet travel kit: Store all these essentials in a pet travel kit that contains food, water, bowls, leash, poop bags, and a first-aid kit. Pack some of their favorite toys or a familiar-smelling blanket. This may be a big help when they are settling into new surroundings. If your pet receives some medication, ensure that you have enough for the entire trip plus a few days in case the travel is delayed.
- Car Travel: Comfort and Safety
When you are taking your pet to road travel, its comfort and safety are required. There are many pets that enjoy traveling in a car, especially dogs, but there are pets which are adversely affected by traveling by car.
Secure Your Pet: Just like humans, pets too have to be secured in the car. Some great alternatives for securing a pet include pet seatbelts or crash-tested carrier/car pet barrier when it comes to sudden stops or accidents. In most cases, letting your pet ride freely in the car is pretty dangerous for both of you.
There should be planned stops every 2-3 hours to let the pet stretch a bit, relieve itself/herself, or even have a drink of water. Keep them on a leash at such times to prevent them running off into strange places.
Prevent Motion Sickness: Many animals are prone to motion sickness. Food that contains a heavy meal in the stomach can cause them to develop this condition. You should instruct your vet not to feed your pet a heavy meal prior to traveling. You can even ask your vet for prescribed medicines for nausea in animals. Ventilation and temperature can be controlled so that an appropriate climate is maintained inside the car.
Never Leave Your Pet Alone in the Car: Never in your life should you ever leave your pet alone in a car, especially if it's either too hot or too cold outside. The temperature of a car can rise very quickly with just barely open windows for ventilation. As a matter of fact, this can be potentially hazardous to your pet.
- Flying with Pets: Flying Through the Air
Flying with your pet requires planning. One needs to know how the airways work when flying with your pet in cabin or cargo service. Hence, the preparation flying with your pet will save you and your pet stress.
Select the appropriate carrier size. The one chosen must be airline size compliant. The animal should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably in the carrier. Before you take your pet along on a journey, spend time introducing it to the carrier in your home. Allow him or her to enter and exit as often as they wish so that they are comfortable with the carrier's presence.
In-Cabin vs. Cargo: Anytime possible, I prefer your pet to travel in-cabin with you. Smaller pets can be carried pretty much across the front seat when you close it down while larger pets are cargo. If you find that the cargo holds are stressful for pets, try and avoid flying on this airline unless absolutely unavoidable, ensure also that the airline has a clean record when it comes to carrying animals.
Pre-flight exercise: The pet is exercised before takeoff. This will burn off most of the pet's energy when traveling. A fagged pet sleeps and is quite calm during the flight.
Monitor Food and Water Ingestion: Feed your pet lightly on the day before traveling. Do not feed your pet a big meal before traveling as it could cause your pet much discomfort traveling with a full stomach. Provide water but only in moderation so that your pet would not need to make unnecessary bathroom stops during travel.
- Places that fit Your Pet: Making Your Pet Comfortable in Its Environment
Now that you've finally reached your vacation place after weeks or months of waiting, it's time to make your pet comfortable with its environment. Here are some tips that will help your pet settle into the new vacation place.
Create a Cozy Space: Involve your pet by getting his or her space in the hotel room or vacation rental organized, putting in their bed, toys, and familiar items from home. This will provide your pet with a safe haven to retreat to when needed.
Stick to Routine as much as possible, keep the pets' routine: feeding times, walks, and play time. Routine is one key to help alleviate stress and feel comfortable in this new environment.
Obey the Rules: Obey the pet-friendly accommodation rules, such as keeping your dog on a leash in common places and cleaning after them. Then you'll become part of responsible pet owners ensuring that more places allow pets in the future.
Go Exploring Together: Take the time to find out about pet-friendly attractions and outdoor spaces. But also exercise and stimulate your pet, and chances are, you will have a chance to build that special bond as you and your pet create memories of the trip.
- Emergency Preparedness: Expecting the Unexpected
Accidents are just bound to happen whether it's bad luck or no fault of your own. Planning ahead of time makes the management of emergencies much easier while keeping your pet safe.
Make Locals Aware of Pets: Find contact numbers from local vets as well as the nearest emergency animal clinic in your area. Then you know where to go in case of an emergency.
Keep Identification Current: Make sure your pet's ID tags and microchip information are kept up to date with your current contact information. This way, in case your pet gets lost, the chances of a speedy reunion would be greater.
Know basic pet first aid: Even treat minor injuries or monitor for signs of distress, even if no actual injury is found, maintain a basic pet first-aid kit to be used during emergencies.
Traveling with your pet will, thus be a fulfilling experience that strengthens your relationship with your pet while leaving you with wonder memories forever. Planning for your pet, the pet's comfort, and above all, flexibility will help ensure a conflict-free vacation with your furry friend. Be it a road trip, flight, or a pet-friendly hotel, preparation certainly pays off in a happy, loose pet and a wonderful journey together.
