Your dog is your best friend. You love it; you’d spend all day with them if you could. The hardest part about leaving town is leaving your pup behind. Even if you’re cat person, leaving your animal behind can be hardest. So next time you go on vacation maybe take your four-legged best friend with you. Here are some tips when you’re about to travel with pets.
In Cars
1. Secure your animal
Make sure your animal is as safe as you are in the care. If you’ve got a cat, put them in a fully restrained carrier so that they don’t bounce around. With your dog you’ve got two options. You can either put them an a fully restrained crate or get them a dog restrainment or dog seat belt. Though the latter can prevent them from distracting you as you drive, the carrier has proved the safer method.
2. Keep all paws and heads inside the vehicle
While dogs may love sticking their head out the car window it can be unsafe. The Humane Society states “ Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs.”
3. Bring another Person
Bringing another person can make feeding your pet, giving them water, and keeping them generally content a lot easier. One of you can keep an eye on the animal and the other one can focus on the road.
4. Take plenty of Stops
Taking a lot of pit stops may lengthen your trip but your pet will thank you. You have to make sure they can stretch their legs, go to the bathroom, and get hydrated.
5. DO NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE IN THE CAR
Perhaps one of the largest risks that come from leaving your pet in the car is the extreme heat. An 85-degree day can result in a car with an internal temp of 110 degrees in 10 minutes, even with the windows cracked. Leaving your car in a hot car can result in internal damage or even killing your pet
In Planes
1. Pre-check with your Vet
Be sure your pet is healthy enough to fly. Checking with your vet, within 10 days of your flight according to the ASPCA, is the best bet.
2. Do your research
Though there are similarities not every airline has the same pet flying policy. Before you go on your trip with your pet check up on all your info. Can your pet fly with you or do you have to ship them?
3. Be prepared
Make sure to have everything in order before you fly with your animal. You need to have a USDA-approved shipping crate if you’re shipping the pet. Getting a comfortably sized carrier for them with food and water dishes, bedding, has “live animal” stickers and upward facing arrows is also important. Have all their papers and ID tags definitely before you fly.
4. Exercise
Tiring out your animal before the trip will make them more likely to sleep through the whole thing. So either play with them or take them on a trip before the trip starts, it’ll help.
5. Talk to airline employees
This tip comes from the ASPCA. Making sure to tell airline workers, on the ground and in the air, that you’ve got a dog in the cargo hold. This will help if, according to the ASPCA, “the plane is delayed, or if you have any concerns about the welfare of your pet, insist that airline personnel check the animal whenever feasible.
