By Kim Jones Gilliam
The cooler weather means the holidays are fast approaching. The holiday season can be stressful enough as it is with family get-togethers to plan, meals to prepare and presents to buy. Don’t add to your stress by forgetting about your pet’s travel prep until the last minute.
Ask yourself whether your pet should travel with you or stay home
We all want to have our furry friend with us, but is that what’s best? To them, a holiday trip isn’t a happy reunion – it is a disruption to their routine in a strange place with new smells and people.
You’re replacing their predictable day, which provides comfort, with a potentially traumatic trip – via a loud airplane terminal or hours in a car – followed by the unfamiliar. Instead, consider a pet sitter that comes to your home and keeps your dog or cat on their regular schedule in familiar surroundings.
Be sure to find a pet sitter now; that way you can help them become familiar with your pet. Always leave them written instructions and vet details.
Check health certificate and airline carrier requirements
Virtually all commercial airlines require a health certificate, issued within 10 to 14 days of travel, for pets flying in the cabin or cargo hold. Some upscale hotels have started to require these as well.
If needed, you’ll want to schedule your vet visit now to get this completed prior to your trip. You’ll also want to confirm airline carrier rules for flying with a pet in the cabin and start getting them used to the carrier in advance of the trip.
Remember that the Transportation Security Administration requires owners to take their pet out of its carrier and carry it through the metal detector. That handoff carries the greatest risk of escape at the loud and crowded checkpoint.
A harness and short leash reduces the risk of your pet squirming free and disappearing. You’d want to fit this securely in advance and get your pet used to wearing it.
Consult your vet on necessary precautions
Talk to your vet about any health concerns that travel could make worse. Heart or respiratory conditions, anxiety, recent surgery and advanced age all affect how well an animal handles long days in a car or on a plane.
Your vet knows your pet’s medical history and can advise on appropriate precautions such as medications for motion sickness, sedation, anxiety or appetite. Be sure to share your destination in case there are parasite risks since ticks, fleas and heartworm vary by region. A vet can confirm what your pet’s preventive medication covers.
Have your pet’s documentation and medications ready
Get paper copies of everything from your vet’s office – health certificate, rabies certificate and vaccination records – and snap pics with your phone as a backup.
Pack enough of any regular medications to last the whole trip, plus a few extra days in case of travel delays. Save your vet office’s contact info in case your pet gets sick and the destination vet needs to request their medical records.
Update your pet’s microchip registration and ID tag
Check that your pet’s microchip info and ID tag match your current contact info. If someone finds your pet and their microchip references an old phone number, address or owner the search stops there.
An ID tag on your pet’s collar is helpful, but the collar can break away if snagged, so don’t rely on that solely. If you are staying in a location for a while, create a temporary tag with that address or phone number. A recent photo on your phone with a clear image of the pet’s face, size and distinctive markings helps describe a lost pet accurately and prove ownership once they are found.
Confirm pet accommodations and plan accordingly
Check a hotel or rental’s pet policy before you book; it may have fees, breed or size limits. Note that some hotels require animals be crated or always accompanied, which impacts plans for holiday dinners, services or outings where the pet cannot come along.
A relative’s home needs the same planning; maybe they have a territorial animal or household member with pet allergies that makes this a bad idea. They also may need to work with their toddler on approaching an unfamiliar animal, so your stressed pet doesn’t nip or scratch them when grabbed or hugged.
Ideally, they’d provide a quiet room away from crowds and noise where your pet can settle in with their own bed or crate as you keep their routine as regular as possible.
Remember that gatherings mean open doors as guests come and go. A pet kept in its room during the busiest arrival times is less likely to slip outside.
The writer co-owns Frolick Dogs, a canine sports club in Alexandria.
The post Keep travel with your pet stress-free this holiday appeared first on Alexandria Times.
