Travel is always relaxing and is often the ideal vacation. However, it does bring up several issues. One of these is your pets. Cats, dogs, and other animal companions will miss you a lot. However, if you can’t find a place for them to stay, then you might consider taking them along. Whether you are staying overnight on a boat or a road trip to a campsite, bringing them along has risks. But there are ways to lower the danger to your pets.
Be Sure
The first thing you have to be sure about traveling with pets is the absolute need for it. Don’t decide on traveling with your pet dog because you’ll miss them. If you can’t find a friend or family member who can take them in, you can check with kennels and other pet services. There are great ones that specialize in sheltering pets who can specialize in pet sitting. Ask around or check with the local veterinarian. When you do find one, you should ask them questions about how they will care for your pet. It is also essential that you look for reviews and feedback on the sitter to ensure that they are legitimate and have a good reputation.
Do Some Research
If you really can’t help but bring your pet, it is time to do some research. Fortunately, there are many resources on how to take your pet traveling. They will give you a lot of good advice and recommendations on what to do. For example, they might point out how to calm down your pet while they travel. It also gives some idea of which forms of travel are good for pets. Traveling by plane is the worst option, so you should consider alternate methods if you have to travel.
Find the Right Accommodations
As part of the research and planning, you should ensure that wherever you are going will have pet-friendly accommodations. Some hotels do not like to have pets on their premises. But some places are more than happy to have them. Simply call ahead and politely ask about bringing your pet along. You might have to pay an additional deposit, but it can be worth it. You should also look for information on the pet-friendliness of your destination. Check for what you can do with them, like hikes on a trail or walks on the beach.
Take Them to the Vet
Another thing to do before the trip is to consult with your veterinarian. They will be mainly doing a big checkup on the condition of your pets. This ensures that the pet is healthy. If you are traveling within the country, this should be simple. You’ll only have to ask for some advice on how to travel with your pet properly. If you are traveling abroad, besides the regular checkup, your pet will have to go through the various blood tests and vaccinations that are necessary. Microchips are also recommended since they are vital in tracking pets if they ever get lost.
Get the Necessary Equipment and Supplies
While at the vet, you should also inquire about the necessary equipment that you need. The most important is the pet carrier. It needs to be roomy enough for your pet. This can be a problem for the larger breeds of dogs. Depending on your type of travel, you might also need some pet food and comfortable bedding. Another thing to bring is a leash. Comfortable leashes that don’t strangle or choke your pet are available. These are mainly tied around the body to have a better grip on them. The leash is essential so that they don’t get away from you when traveling.
Keep an Eye on Them
An important thing to do is ensure that you will always have one adult in charge of a pet while on the move. This adult should be holding the leash or carrier and have eyes on the pet at all times. It is like traveling with a very excitable toddler so you need to be always on the lookout for them. They can easily get into trouble or get lost. It is better to have someone watching over them at all times rather than involving them in an accident.
Traveling with your pets can be an exciting experience. Your animal loved ones will also appreciate being with you. Taking proper care of them can add some complications, but they are worth it. You can then enjoy your vacation with your beloved companion with little worry.