Holidaying with Pets

If you're thinking about bringing your pet with you on your next vacation, here are a few steps to help everyone enjoy the experience.

Since the summer season is quickly approaching, holidays are top of mind, but choosing to include the family pets on the trip or not can be a tough decision. Including your pet on your trip might be harmful to its health; to ensure everyone enjoys the summer vacation, here are a few ideas to help you decide if you should bring your pets with you or leave them at home.

Some trips can be pet appropriate, including camping trips with appropriate facilities, or short stays in pet-friendly hotels. If you’re planning a short trip that involves air travel, save your pet the discomfort of the flight and choose to have someone look after it at home. Additionally, cross border trips with your pet should be researched early in the planning process, as there might be concerns about quarantine periods and immunization that will need to be officially addressed before you leave.

If 

you are bringing your pet on your next trip:

• Minimize the amount of change it will experience. New foods, new routines, and new rules can be very stressful on your pet, so try to make sure changes are made well in advance of your departure.
• Ensure they are in perfect health and fully immunized. It’s unlikely that an emergency trip to the vet is going to be enjoyed by anyone, pets included.
• Verify that the information on your pet’s tag is correct, and that the contact number on the tag can be answered by you or someone that can reach you in the event your pet gets lost during the trip. Kennels, crates, and leashes should also have tags with your contact information.

Depending on the length of your vacation, you might consider having your pet stay at a competent friend or family member's home, or ideally, have the pet stay at your home and have the friend/family member stay with it. In addition to reducing the stress on your pet, your home will be more secure if it looks like someone is staying there.

Another option is to have the pet stay at a trusted boarding facility. This should be budgeted into any travel planning to ensure there is no stress about additional costs. While you might prefer to have your pet with you all the time, leaving it in its home is the least stressful for it, allowing everyone to enjoy the vacation.

If you’re going to board your pet at friends or family, make up a “care kit” that includes some or all of the following:

• Favorite toy
• Favorite treats
• An old T-Shirt that you’ve warn (don’t wash it)
• Detailed schedule (feeding /play /exercise/bed times)
• Emergency contact info and access to medical history

If you choose to bring your pets with you on your trip, it’s important to ensure they have all of the comforts of home, since strange environments can be very stressful to your furry friends. Lots of love and encouragement can help your pet quickly adapt to minor changes.

Flying with your pet

Check to see if your airline allows pets in the passenger cabin. Many, but not all, allow this, providing they meet specific requirements.

The FAA’s rules regarding pets in the passenger cabin:

• The pet container must be small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you.
• The pet container must be stored properly before the plane leaves the gate
• The pet container must be stowed for takeoff and landing, as well as anytime the plane is on the airport surface

Your airline will likely have additional rules concerning pets in the passenger cabin, and it’s your responsibility to ensure everyone in your party abides by these rules.

If your pet is too large to fly in the passenger cabin, consult with your trusted veterinarian to create a plan to travel with your pet. There are a number of variables that must be considered prior to arriving at the airport, including sedation, kennel requirements, connecting flights, and expected temperature of your destination. The airlines have strict regulations about pets in the cargo hold, as this is an area of the plane that can be subject to extreme temperatures.

Driving with your pet

If you choose to drive with your pet in your vehicle, here are few simple tricks to ensure a pleasant road trip for everyone:

• Acclimate to your vehicle – Make sure your pet has spent some time in the vehicle with you prior to this trip. Let it get accustomed to the sounds and smells before spending extended periods in a new place.
• Keep your pet secure - Travelling in their crate can help them keep their balance, and if properly secured can prevent them from being launched out of the vehicle in the case of an accident.
• Keep your pet on a leash – Chasing your pet around a busy rest stop, or through a hotel parking lot is not as much fun as it looks on TV. For the safety of your pet and your sanity, ensure your pet is on a leash at all times. One effective technique is to use a two-leash setup, One leash to keep the pet secure in the vehicle, and the other to keep it safe outside of the vehicle. Attach one leash before you detach the other – this ensures your pet is on at least one leash at all times.
• Plan for bathroom breaks – schedule your trip to accommodate bathroom breaks for everyone. Include enough time to let your pet sniff around the new environment while they stretch their legs.

With proper planning, you and your pet can have a fun and relaxing vacation together. Your pets love you and your family, so help them build their confidence by taking a few extra steps before your next trip. 

Bon Voyage!