Having pets is now very common. Pet owners will tell you that part of planning vacation preparations is deciding whether to take your pet with you or leave them in an animal boarding facility. Consider your pet’s needs and thoroughly examine the alternatives available, whether you’re traveling by air, car, train, or foot. Plan accordingly. If you want to take your pet with you or leave them at home with a professional pet sitter, keep your pet’s health, security, and preferences in mind.
Tips About Taking A Trip With Pets
Most pet owners become so attached to their pets that they prefer to travel with them than leave them behind. Therefore, planning for a pet-friendly journey is required. This post includes a pet travel tips checklist to help you get ready.
1. Recognition Tags
Pets can’t identify themselves. Therefore, whatever the mode of travel is chosen, it’s essential to tag your pet with proper identification before going out. If you get separated, this will help your pet find its way back to you. It also helps avoid owner confusion in situations where two pets appear to be identical.
2. Permanent Identification
According to the wise, you can never be too cautious. Therefore, in addition to marking your pet with the required identifying tags, you should consider implanting a more permanent means of identification, such as a microchip. This would also aid in tracking your pet if they became separated from you.
3. Train Them
You must train your pet when it is still young because animals need time to fully grasp commands and desired behavior. You must teach them to remain calm throughout the journey and respond appropriately to commands. A reward system is highly recommended because it helps retain learned lessons. If you have many pets, you need to train each one separately.
4. Protect Your Pet
After training the pet, many people believe it’s harmless to let them wander around the car/plane throughout travel. However, this is wrong. Pets, like people, maybe injured if the vessel of transportation makes an unexpected movement or if there is an accident. So, it is recommended that the pet be crated to keep them safe.
5. Carry a First Aid Pet Kit
We never know when or if an accident will happen. The best way to deal with this is to be ready for it if it comes. It is recommended that pet owners pack a pet first-aid kit with plasters, gauze, and hydrogen peroxide in case vomiting is required. Before treating your pet for suspected toxic substance exposure, you should always follow the measures prescribed by a professional.
6. Be Extra Cautious
You’ll never know how a pet will react to new stimuli, no matter how well you know them. Your cat, for example, may choose to seek refuge in between your legs while driving after hearing a loud sound such as a truck honking. This can result in a fatal accident, and hence it’s strongly advised that you keep your pet protected at all times throughout the trip.
7. Handling a Pet Throughout Flight
Many airlines will only allow you to bring your pet inside the cabin if it fits in the pet carrier under the seat. In addition, the pet’s size must allow it to stand and move in the carrier. You’ll also need to include a few pet necessities, such as a poop bag, a water bottle, a retractable bowl, and a recent photo of the pet.
Conclusion
The following guidelines are primarily concerned with your pet’s safety and well-being while traveling. Therefore, basic safety precautions are taken to ensure that your pet is in good physical condition before traveling. It’s also crucial to ensure that the trip destination is free of animal diseases such as rabies. Traveling with pets becomes less stressful and more enjoyable if you follow the advice above.
