Learn these pet travel safety tips!
Traveling with your pet may be stressful for you and them, especially if you don’t feel prepared. Fortunately, we have created a pet travel safety checklist to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for you and your furry friend.
Flying With Your Pet
It would help to avoid air travel with your pet unless your furry friend is small enough to ride under your seat. Here are a few pet travel safety tips while flying.
- Before booking any flights, check with the airline, the departure, and destination airports for any regulations or criteria you will need to meet for your pet to travel.
- If possible, book a direct flight because this will minimize the chances that your pet is mismanaged by baggage personnel during a layover or exposed to severe weather conditions.
- Before your travel trip, ensure your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date and get a health certificate from one of our vets within ten days of your travel departure. Also, discuss with us the different ways to relax your pet if they tend to be anxious.
- Buy a USDA-approved shipping crate that is big enough for your pet to move around comfortably, along with bedding to absorb any accidents they may have. The night before your trip, freeze a small dish of water for your pet so it can’t spill during loading. That way, it will melt by the time your pet is thirsty.
- Ensure your furry friend’s crate has the correct identification in case your pet escapes from the carrier.
- Always communicate to every airline employee – air or ground – that you are traveling with a pet in the cargo hold. This way, they’ll be ready for any necessary attention or considerations.
Driving Long Distances with Your Pet
Moreover, driving with a pet in a car for long-distance trips is more than just loading the animal in the back seat. Here are several pet travel safety tips to prepare for an orderly and safe trip in a car.
- Prepare your four-legged friend for a long trip by slowly lengthening their time spent in the car. Taking them on longer rides will help them acclimate to being in the car for extended periods.
- Maintain your pet safe and secure in a ventilated crate or carrier. The carrier should be big enough for your pet to stand or walk around comfortably. Best practice is to maintain your pet in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. It should be big enough for your pet to stand and lay down comfortably. This will keep your pet safe should you get into an accident while on the road. You can also purchase a pet car seat or seat belt to keep them safe from injuries due to an accident.
- Create a pet-friendly travel kit that includes food, a leash, a bowl, plastic bags, grooming supplies, travel documents, medication, and first aid. Also, pack your pet’s favorite toy to provide them with a sense of familiarity. Always ensure to pack plenty of water!
- Allow for extra travel time. Your baby will need to go to the bathroom during the trip, so make sure you give yourself enough time to account for more frequent stops.
- Avoid leaving your pet alone in a stationed vehicle.
One More Tip to Remember
Regardless of where you’re traveling or how you plan to arrive there, ensure your four-legged friend has a microchip and wears a neck collar and tag that include your name and any essential contact information. It’s also a great idea for your pet’s collar to include a temporary travel tag with your destination phone number and cell phone number for your trip’s duration.
Lastly, being prepared is the secret to receiving excellent veterinary care while traveling with your pet. Make sure to research veterinary hospitals in the location where you’ll be traveling to. Additionally, ensure the animal hospital provides the following services: routine veterinary care, urgent care, and emergency veterinary care.
Here at Mount Carmel Animal Hospital, We’ll Treat Your Pets Like Family!
Mount Carmel Animal Hospital has been serving the Northern Baltimore/Southern York community for over 30 years and is proud to be an independently operated, small animal practice committed to excellence in veterinary medicine and client service. From grooming to wellness services, along with Canine Life Skills Training Courses, and surgical procedures, we have the expertise that will best serve the needs of you and your pet. Contact us at 410-343-0200 and follow us on Facebook!